Elemental Music
Elemental Music is a Santa Monica-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that provides after-school music ensembles and instruction for elementary, middle, and high school students in Santa Monica and surrounding westside Los Angeles areas. Programs include youth orchestra, concert band, choir, chamber music, and free lessons for qualifying students through foundation-funded partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSanta Monica, California, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Elemental Music does
Elemental Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered at 1906 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, California, that delivers after-school music education to elementary, middle, and high school students in Santa Monica and surrounding westside Los Angeles neighborhoods. The organization operates a tiered portfolio of ensemble programs — Early Childhood Music, Elementary School ensembles (classical guitar, youth orchestra, concert band, music composition, jazz band, youth choir), Middle School programs, and High School programs — augmented by specialized initiatives including the Bergmann Program & Encore (free lessons for ~100 qualifying SMMUSD students funded by the Santa Monica Education Foundation's Peggy Bergmann Arts Endowment Fund), the audition-based Chamber Music Institute, school-specific programs at Broadway Elementary and Westminster, the Summer Sounds Academy, and a Teaching Fellowship for emerging music educators. Programs are delivered through weekly in-person rehearsals at family-friendly locations with low student-to-teacher ratios.
The organization has no proprietary technology platform — it is a labor-intensive service delivered in person. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: program tuition (annual subscriptions averaging $24-$48 per hour, with examples including $1,050/year for Broadway Choir programs and approximately $1,395 for the Chamber Music Institute season), tax-deductible donations under its 501(c)(3) status (including the recurring "Team Rondo" monthly donor program), and foundation grants plus corporate season sponsorships (Hudson Pacific Properties and Sander Architects for 2025/2026). More than 60% of students receive need-based aid or participate in tuition-free programs. Sliding-scale tuition reduction, multi-enrollment and sibling discounts, and bilingual (Spanish) outreach via a Translation Liaison extend accessibility. The go-to-market motion is community-led: enrollment is seasonal (spring campaigns for the upcoming academic year), demand is generated through parent testimonials, blog/newsletter content, and community events such as winter concerts and benefit concerts, and distribution leverages embedded relationships with SMMUSD school campuses and community partners including Broad Stage and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
Elemental Music firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Elemental Music
- Legal name
- Elemental Music
- Website
- https://elementalmusic.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Elemental Music is a Santa Monica-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that provides after-school music ensembles and instruction for elementary, middle, and high school students in Santa Monica and surrounding westside Los Angeles areas. Programs include youth orchestra, concert band, choir, chamber music, and free lessons for qualifying students through foundation-funded partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Elemental Music industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Education
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)
Keywords
Where Elemental Music is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Monica, California
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Elemental Music business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Program Tuition: Annual tuition for after-school music ensembles and classes, covering rehearsals and concerts for the entire school year. Need-based tuition reduction available on sliding scale. Yearly tuition averages $24-48/hour.
- Donations and Annual Fund: Tax-deductible donations through 501(c)(3) status supporting scholarships and music education programs. More than 60% of students receive need-based aid or participate in tuition-free programs. Monthly donor program 'Team Rondo' available.
- Chamber Music Institute Tuition: Approximately $465 per trimester ($1,395 total for the season) for Chamber Music Institute program, covering 24 rehearsals, 2 masterclasses, and 1 recital.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Program Tuition (Average) |
| Subscription | Annual | Broadway Choir Programs (K-5) |
| Subscription | Annual | Broadway String Programs (3-5) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Sounds Academy Full Orchestra |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Chamber Music Institute (2026/27 Season) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adventures in Music Summer Camp |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Elemental Music product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Elemental Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit music education organization offering after-school ensemble instruction, private lessons, and performance opportunities for K-12 students in the Santa Monica and westside Los Angeles area. Core programs include Broadway Strings, Broadway Singers, Broadway Orchestra, and the Bergmann Program, all led by professional teaching artists and delivered through in-person rehearsals, instruction, and recitals.
Product overview
Elemental Music is a music education nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of after-school music programs for students in Santa Monica and surrounding westside areas. The organization operates a unified platform of music education services spanning Early Childhood Music, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School programs, supplemented by specialized initiatives including the Bergmann Program & Encore (free lessons for qualifying students), Elemental @ Broadway and Elemental @ Westminster (school-specific programs), the Chamber Music Institute (advanced small ensemble training), Summer Camp and Summer Sounds Academy (seasonal programs), and a Teaching Fellowship for emerging educators. Programs feature weekly in-person rehearsals at family-friendly locations with instruction in classical guitar, youth orchestra, concert band, chamber music, music composition, jazz band, and youth choir. The architecture is structured as a single integrated educational platform with multiple age-appropriate program tiers that allow students to progress from early childhood through high school within the same organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bergmann Program: Free music lessons for qualifying SMMUSD students funded by the Santa Monica Education Foundation's Peggy Bergmann Arts Endowment Fund.
- Encore
- Chamber Music Institute
- Elemental @ Broadway
- Elemental @ Westminster
- Summer Sounds Academy
- Teaching Fellowship
Products and services
- Broadway Strings After-school string ensemble program for K-12 students, led by a dedicated program director and professional teaching artists, providing rehearsals, instruction, and performance opportunities.
- Broadway Singers/Chorus After-school choral/vocal ensemble program for K-12 students focused on group singing, vocal technique, and recital performance.
- Broadway Orchestra After-school full orchestra program for K-12 students, expanding on string instruction to include additional orchestral sections, rehearsals, and ensemble performances.
- Bergmann Program Specialized ensemble program within Elemental Music's portfolio, directed by a dedicated program director, providing advanced ensemble instruction and performance opportunities for enrolled students.
- Private Music Lessons Individual music instruction offered alongside ensemble programs, allowing students to supplement group learning with one-on-one coaching.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60%+ of students receive need-based aid or participate in tuition-free programs, ensuring accessibility
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Elemental Music
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Elemental Music technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Elemental Music partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Santa Monica Education FoundationcoreElemental Music works with Santa Monica Education Foundation to provide free music lessons for qualifying SMMUSD students through the Peggy Bergmann Arts Endowment Fund. Approximately 100 students receive 18 free private lessons annually through this partnership.
- Broad StageminorCommunity partner providing free concert tickets to Bergmann/Encore students for performances.
- Los Angeles Chamber OrchestraminorCommunity partner providing free concert tickets to Bergmann/Encore students for performances.
- Hudson Pacific Propertiesminor2025/2026 Season Sponsor providing financial support for Elemental Music programs.
- Sander Architectsminor2025/2026 Season Sponsor providing financial support for Elemental Music programs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Elemental Music competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Community Music Center of San Francisco: San Francisco nonprofit offering accessible music education, ensembles, and private lessons across age groups with sliding-scale tuition. Operates an analogous mission-driven, multi-program, ensemble-inclusive model on the West Coast.
- Harmony Project: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing tuition-free, intensive music instruction and ensemble experience to students from low-income communities. Highly comparable mission and operating model to Elemental Music's Bergmann/Encore program and broader ensemble-based youth music education.
- YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) — LA Philharmonic: LA Phil's youth orchestra program providing free, intensive instrumental music education to LA-area students. Operates a comparable ensemble-based, tuition-supported model with foundation and institutional funding, serving a similar school-age demographic.
- People's Music School: Chicago nonprofit providing tuition-free, high-quality music instruction and ensemble performance to youth. Comparable mission, funding model (foundation + donations), and ensemble-centric pedagogy targeting school-age children.
- Community MusicWorks (Providence): Providence, RI nonprofit providing intensive, tuition-free music education and ensemble experience to urban youth. Operates a closely analogous model combining free lessons, ensemble instruction, and community partnerships.
Regional players
- Inner-City Arts: LA-based arts education nonprofit offering arts programming to underserved youth. Comparable as a regional nonprofit arts-education organization serving LA-area children, though with a broader arts (not exclusively music) focus.
- Opus One Music: A Southern California youth music education nonprofit offering ensemble and private instruction to school-age students. Comparable in target demographic, ensemble focus, and tuition-supported operating model.
Broad incumbents
- Kaufman Music Center: NYC-based performing arts center offering pre-college music programs, ensemble instruction, and community programs. Comparable as a multi-tier, multi-age music education organization with a strong community/ensemble identity.
- Music Academy of the West: Santa Barbara-based music education and performance organization offering conservatory-style training, summer festivals, and youth programs. Comparable as a regional music-education institution serving Southern California families, though with a more advanced/pre-professional focus.
- Colburn School: LA-based performing arts institution with a pre-college program, community school, and conservatory serving young musicians. Comparable as a Los Angeles-area music education provider for school-age children, though with a more elite, audition-driven focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Elemental Music social profiles
Digital presenceElemental Music financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Elemental Music leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Elemental Music funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Elemental Music M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Elemental Music
What does Elemental Music do?
Elemental Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit music education organization offering after-school ensemble instruction, private lessons, and performance opportunities for K-12 students in the Santa Monica and westside Los Angeles area. Core programs include Broadway Strings, Broadway Singers, Broadway Orchestra, and the Bergmann Program, all led by professional teaching artists and delivered through in-person rehearsals, instruction, and recitals.
Is Elemental Music a public or private company?
Elemental Music is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Elemental Music founded?
Elemental Music was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Elemental Music based?
Elemental Music is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, United States, in the North America region.
How does Elemental Music make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Tuition is the primary driver. The others are donations and Annual Fund and chamber Music Institute Tuition.
Who are Elemental Music's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Community Music Center of San Francisco, Harmony Project, YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) — LA Philharmonic, People's Music School and Community MusicWorks (Providence). Regional players are Inner-City Arts and Opus One Music. Broad incumbents are Kaufman Music Center, Music Academy of the West and Colburn School.
Does Elemental Music have an API?
No public API is recorded for Elemental Music.
What industry is Elemental Music in?
Elemental Music's product category is Music Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMANAC, Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir), with a secondary code of EDAMANAA, Private Music Lessons (Instrumental). Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 8200.