What’s Right With Our Schools: East Lake Expression Engine

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Music is an important part of what makes us human. Almost all of us have a song or two inside. Students in the East Lake Community have a great resource to realize their musical potential.

Libby O’Neil is the Executive Director and Co-Founder, East Lake Expression Engine

She explains, “We are an after school and summer school music program that serves primarily the neighborhood of East Lake, and we care about music for social justice. Expression Engine is a music program where the kids get to choose an instrument. Right now, we offer 11 different instrument choices. So, they play an instrument. They have group lessons. They play in ensemble.  They sing in choir. They play in a bucket band, and they also have lessons about learning how to read music and write music. They write a lot of their own songs. We are so excited that the Los Angeles Philharmonic gave us a grant. It is a really exciting opportunity to provide professional development from me and all the way through the staff even to our teenage student interns.”

Leyda Juarez is the Assistant  Office Manager at East Lake Expression Engine

She adds, “The East Lake community, the majority of the kids don’t have access to learning music; don’t know what music is or how it came about. So, I just think it is a really great opportunity for these kids to learn at a young age, and it is just awesome to watch them learn.”

Libby explains, “Music is such an important part of humanity. Every person I believe has music inside of them, but access to music is not equal, and so we have the distinct privilege of being able to offer that access here in East Lake.”

Leyda adds, “I didn’t know anything about instruments when I first got here; none of that, but now I love playing my flute whenever I can, and I love teaching these kids how to play a flute as well.”