Music Academy
2025/2026 School Year
TUITION: $495 per school year
(23 one-hour classes, 1 rehearsal, and 1 concert)
CLASS LOCATION:
After-school classes are available at Hopkinson, Lee, LAE, Rossmoor, McGaugh, and Weaver Elementary Schools. Classes begin immediately after school ends.
Saturday morning and weekday evening classes take place at The Youth Center, located at 10761 Los Alamitos Blvd.
- Please contact The Youth Center for questions and further information.
INSTRUMENT RENTAL INFORMATION:
IMPORTANT: All students are required to bring an instrument to class.
Instruments can be rented through Applied Music Studio, with up to 50% off for our students! Contact them at:
Phone: (562) 596-1287
Email: appliedmusicstore@gmail.com
Alternatively, instruments can be purchased or rented from any other local music store or studio. [Click here to reserve your instrument]
Meet Our Music Instructors
Janet Cisneros
With over 20 years of experience as a clarinetist, Janet Cisneros brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to her role as a music instructor. Her journey in music began with the clarinet, a passion she has nurtured and refined over the decades. Janet spent two inspiring years teaching at Azuza Conservatory of Music, where her dedication to her craft and her students truly shone.
Janet’s love for teaching music to elementary school students stems from her belief in the universal language of music. She is passionate about helping children express their feelings through music, fostering both their creativity and emotional development. Her approach to teaching is centered on creating a positive and engaging environment where students can thrive. Janet is known for her kindness, infectious enthusiasm, and sense of humor, making her music classes both enjoyable and memorable for her young students.
Beyond the classroom, Janet is an avid cyclist who loves riding bikes along the beach. Her active lifestyle complements her vibrant personality, and she believes that staying physically active enriches her ability to inspire and connect with her students.
Janet is more than just a music teacher; she is a dedicated mentor who helps her students find their unique voices and embrace the joy of music.
Theodore Hom
Theodore Hom is an accomplished cellist with the San Gabriel Symphony and a current fellow at the California Young Artists Symphony. His impressive repertoire includes recent concerto performances of Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the LACHSA Symphony and Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major with the PSY Chamber Orchestra.
A seasoned performer, Theodore has shared the stage with Gustavo Dudamel at renowned venues like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, and Gagosian Gallery. His international performances have also graced places like Tanglewood, Kaohsiung Concert Hall, and the Segerstrom Concert Hall, among others.
Theodore has honed his craft under the guidance of world-class mentors, including Robert DeMaine, Paul Watkins, and Richard Aaron, and is currently studying with Dr. David Garrett of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. As a sophomore, he was appointed principal cellist of the conservatory’s Symphony Orchestra and was selected to perform as part of the University String Quartet.
Beyond his performance career, Theodore is passionate about teaching. He’s taught at the Saturday Conservatory of Music and Belmont Music Studio, and is excited to share his expertise and love for music with students at The Youth Center in the Los Alamitos School District.
Desiree Glover
Desiree “The Pharoah” Glover is an accomplished musician and passionate educator who brings over 30 years of experience to her role as a Music Academy Instructor. Hailing from Torrance, California, Desiree’s musical journey began in elementary school and has led her to master nearly 50 instruments. From the clarinet to brass and woodwind instruments, Desiree’s versatility and love for music have earned her accolades and opportunities to perform with legendary artists like Sarah Vaughan, Ornette Coleman, and Daryl Coley.
A graduate of California State Polytechnic University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance, Desiree has toured internationally and worked in various capacities within the music industry, including as a music director, studio musician, and sound engineer. However, her true passion lies in teaching. Desiree is dedicated to inspiring young students to explore the joys of music, whether through learning an instrument, singing, or developing their creative abilities.
In the classroom, Desiree’s approach is dynamic, engaging, and tailored to each student’s needs. Her goal is to nurture curiosity, build confidence, and instill a lifelong love of music in every child. Whether she’s leading group lessons or individual sessions, Desiree ensures that her students not only learn music but also have fun while doing it!
We’re thrilled to have Desiree as part of our Music Academy team, where she is dedicated to shaping the next generation of young musicians with patience, passion, and creativity.
Jon Lundgren
Jon Lundgren is a passionate and seasoned music educator with a rich history in both performance and teaching. A proud graduate of Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Music Education, Jon’s career spans over 25 years of experience. He’s played professionally at Carden Hall for seven years and spent 18 years teaching elementary and middle school students in the Fountain Valley Unified School District, shaping young minds and instilling a love for music.
Jon’s musical journey has also taken him to the stage, where he’s had the privilege of performing with iconic artists like Peter Frampton, The Champs, Sammy Davis Jr., and John Denver. With a deep passion for music, Jon is now excited to bring his wealth of knowledge and experience to the kids at The Youth Center, where he’ll inspire the next generation of musicians with his enthusiasm and expertise!
Johnny Flaim
Johnny is a college student who has been immersed in music for as long as he can remember. A natural talent with a deep love for melodies and rhythms, he’s honed his skills over years of dedication and practice. For the past two years, Johnny has brought his passion to the Youth Center, where he’s been inspiring and educating young minds through music.
Johnny’s two greatest passions are music and education, and he’s overjoyed to combine both in his teaching. Whether he’s helping a beginner find their first notes or guiding more advanced students to unlock their potential, Johnny strives to make every lesson fun, engaging, and meaningful. He’s thrilled to share his love for music with your children and looks forward to being a part of their musical journey!
Sophia Laurel
Sophia is a recent college graduate with experience in Piano, Guitar and Violin theory and performance. After graduating from the Certificate of Merit (CM) program with Advance Piano, she developed her passion for classical and jazz literature in branch competitions. Sophia has also had a love for collaborating with other performers with years of Violin performance for Oxford Academy’s Advance Orchestra. She hopes to guide other young musicians discover their passion and interests in music and build lasting friendships with their peers!
Angela Craton
Angela received her Bachelors and Masters in Music Education from Drake University where she won the Young Artist Award. Angela brings to the program a blend of 35 years teaching experience and professional playing. Angela plays professionally in the Encore String Trio and has performed as a guest soloist with symphony orchestras. She has played professionally in the Des Moines Symphony and has traveled Europe performing. Angela brings to the students her vast teaching experience with enthusiasm and excellence.
Instruments in Videos
MUSIC PROGRAM FAQs
My child is not sure which instrument they would like to study this year. Will they be studying one instrument the entire year and how do we choose?
Students study one instrument the entire year.
Do I need to rent an instrument and if so, how is that arranged and what is the cost?
All classes require your child to bring an instrument to class. Rental instruments can be obtained by contacting Applied Music Studio at (562) 596-1287, appliedmusicstore@gmail.com or any other music store or studio. You can also purchase your instrument.
Do you offer make-up lessons?
We do not provide makeups or refunds for missed classes. Please speak with your child’s music teacher in advance to make arrangements.
Why should children learn music?
Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music, and songs can help imprint information on young minds. Even when performing with sheet music, student musicians are constantly using their memory to perform. The skill of memorization can serve students well in education and beyond. Learning music promotes craftsmanship, and students learn to want to create good work instead of mediocre work. This desire can be applied to all subjects of study. Students who practice with musical instruments can improve their hand-eye coordination. Just like playing sports, children can develop motor skills when playing music. Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, but achievable goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be able to feel proud of their achievement. Students of music can be more emotionally developed, with empathy towards other cultures. They also tend to have higher self-esteem and are better at coping with anxiety. Students who have experience with music performance or appreciation score higher on the SAT. One report indicates 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math for students in music appreciation courses.
A CHILD’S BRAIN DEVELOPS FASTER WITH EXPOSURE TO MUSIC EDUCATION
From: https://musiceducationworks.wordpress.com
A two-year study by researchers at the Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI) at the University of Southern California shows that exposure to music and music instruction accelerates the brain development of young children in the areas responsible for language development, sound, reading skill and speech perception.
The study of 6-7-year-old children began in 2012, when neuroscientists started monitoring a group of 37 children from an underprivileged neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Thirteen of them received music instruction through the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles Program where they practiced up to seven hours each week.
Eleven children were enrolled in a community-based soccer programme, and another 13 children were not involved in any training programme at all.
The researchers compared the three groups by tracking the electrical activity in the brains, conducting behavioural testing and monitored changes using brain scans.
The results showed that the auditory systems of the children in the music programme had accelerated faster than the other children not engaged in music. Dr. Assal Habibi, the lead author of the study and a senior research associate at the BCI, explained that the auditory system is stimulated by music and the system is also engaged in general sound processing. This is essential to reading skills, language development and successful communication.