Young Musicians Program
University of California (Regents)

The Young Musicians Program (YMP) at the University of California, Berkeley, is setting new standards for arts education. Instructors at the University of California, Berkeley’s year-round Young Musicians Program make a commitment to the artistic, academic, personal, and social development of each student.
YMP serves 80–90 young people each year, primarily from minority communities. A rigorous program, YMP has a zero dropout rate, and 100 percent of its graduates enter college.

Founded in 1968, YMP has three areas of concentration, which make up the “Power Triangle”: a young person’s musical training and performance opportunities, academic resources and training, and standards for personal behavior. Although all of the participants are from low-income communities, the program focuses on the students’ potential to succeed, not their financial circumstances. Consequently, YMP provides comprehensive, long-term services that improve all aspects of participants’ lives.

The program is divided into the YMP Institute and YMP Summer. During the YMP Institute, a 40-week school-year session, students participate in private and group lessons, rehearsals, master classes, and on-site academic tutoring. They also have opportunities to perform. The intensive, 7-week YMP Summer program engages students in full days of lessons; ensemble rehearsals; and training in all aspects of music, including history, theory, conducting, and composition. In addition, they receive help preparing for the SAT and filling out college applications.

Instructors in both components closely monitor the young musicians’ academic work and personal behavior. If a student is facing any type of crisis, then YMP provides appropriate outside resources. Both onsite tutoring and private instruction are available for students who need extra assistance. The Chancellor’s 4.0 Club rewards participants who maintain a 4.0 grade point average.

Experience is the best teacher, and YMP graduates who attend UC Berkeley serve as tutors, mentors, and ensemble coaches. YMP students also have regular access to role models, including core teachers and guest artists. Through its holistic approach, the YMP helps participants prepare for success in all aspects of their lives.