In October 2025 donations received through the El Paso Giving Day will be used to support teaching artist for EPSO’s Tocando Music Project.

Tocando provides education in the art of learning and performing music while strengthening self-confidence, self-esteem. leadership qualities and higher education goals. The program strives to instill high hopes and a strong desire to succeed in its students through hard-work, positive reinforcement and opportunities created by music education.

TOCANDO MUSIC PROJECT FUN FACTS

• In 2013, the EPSO launched the after-school program inspired by the El Sistema movement, Tocando (toh-cahn-doh) – “to play”, whose intended outcome is to empower underserved children to improve their sense of community and opportunity through immersive music learning and performing. • Tocando operates totally on donations, providing teaching artists and musical instruments for each student who participates. • Tocando uses music education as a vehicle for children to acquire valuable tools of teamwork, self-confidence, leadership, and academic success. • Through music, students are given an opportunity to excel, gain self-confidence and self-esteem and become exposed to opportunities of which they may otherwise be unaware of. • Tocando students receive intensive during and after-school music classes Monday - Thursday. In the thirteenth year of programming, Tocando will continue to concentrate programming to serve 3rd through high school students from five Title 1 school campuses in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio. • Music classes are designed to build confidence while preparing students to present regular community performances for their peers, families, neighbors and EPSO patrons. • Providing quality teaching artists has proven to be successful, as most of the Tocando students have no prior exposure to musical instruction. • Partnerships with UTEP has established avenues that connect Tocando students to the college. Tocando students visit UTEP during annual Career Day field trips allowing them to witness musicians in college environments.

EPSOs Education and Outreach Programs have an 86-yr. history and continues to expand into new areas. Tocando has a twelve-year history of providing free musical instruments, instruction and performance opportunities to the under-served community of El Segundo Barrio. Focusing on those schools in the feeder pattern of Bowie High School, one of the lowest-performing high schools in the state of Texas, Tocando provides programming for students from three elementary and a middle school 4 days a week throughout the school year. Tocando’s main goal is not to create musicians, but to offer students improved skills of leadership, self-confidence, and life vision to encourage them to pursue higher education as a means to break the cycle of poverty many live in.

The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) partners with EPSO by providing free programming space for the program. In addition, after-school snacks, instruments and instrument repair and bus transportation are also provided. The program partners with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to create a pathway to college. UTEP provides support for the program through their strong ties to the UTEP Music and Education Departments.

EPSO is very proud of the Tocando Music Project and all it accomplishes each year. However, it is only with the support of those who believe in the program that the accomplishments are possible.