In 2011 Clint Velazquez, known at AFIA as Mr. Clint, realized that access to affordable music lessons was extremely limited for many families in Kansas City. Knowing that change was possible, he began Base Academy of Music (BAM) to provide private music lessons to students. Mr. Clint and his fellow BAM instructors are not only great teachers, they are also talented musicians. They are excellent role models of the importance of music education. Music education is proven to help students not only develop their creative talents but leads to improved performance in math and science as well.

This summer BAM was accepted as part of LEANLAB’s Fellowship Accelerator. BAM was the only non-profit, service based organization of the six nationwide participants. Mr. Clint studied the impact of his program on students as part of the program. At the conclusion, BAM applied for additional funding to support program offerings and benefit studies. Organizations that applied then had to compete in a pitch competition for the funding.

BAM was the winner of the pitch competition and was awarded $16,000 to support and expand the study of social/emotional benefits of music for students at their partner schools, including AFIA. You can learn more about BAM’s LEANLAB experience HERE. Congratulations to BAM and Mr. Clint!

BAM has been part of our AFIA community since 2013 offering on-site lessons to our students. Each year the program has grown and we currently have forty students taking weekly music lessons through BAM. Recently, I saw one of our alumni play with his 7th grade middle school band. I remember this student as a 2nd grader taking drum, and later piano and trumpet, lessons all through BAM. When I watched him perform, I reflected on how the early opportunities BAM provides impacts students for the rest of their lives. AFIA appreciates all that BAM offers to our students, as well as other Kansas City students. As a school administrator, my highest priority is the success of our students and I understand that requires an environment where they are seen, heard, and feel safe to try new things even when they are hard.

As part of #GivingTuesday BAM is hoping to raise $15,000 to help them reach 150 students in the upcoming year. We hope you consider supporting BAM so that even more students can be seen, heard, and feel safe to learn music. You can donate HERE.