Arts Educators Group is a California non-profit organization that began in 2010 as an extension of The Music Place.
Because The Music Place already had a history of customizing its music education to meet the needs of each unique student, it was very natural to begin to care for a increasingly diverse spectrum of students with special needs. Our creative teachers grew more and more skilled, developing tools and approaches to address each unique child regardless of their abilities or disabilities. These patient, intuitive teachers became "adaptive " music educators. Then, in order to care for those with more severe needs, The Music Place began to hire music therapists.
Sunnyvale!
Not long before, Music Place director, Janice Morris, felt a strong stirring to serve families in the Sunnyvale area and in cooperation with a local church, secured a large facility in the heart of Sunnyvale in a former bank building. Soon after, upon moving to another church facility, it became apparent that in order to protect the non-profit status of the churches we were sharing, a separate non-proift organization needed to be established.
As we did the legal work to become a non-proift corporation, we felt it was not only appropriate to serve on church campuses through the new organization, but also to emphasize the outreach to the community for those who have special needs and also need financial assistance. Although for various reasons, AEG is not yet a federally tax exempt non-profit, our current goal is begin to seek pursue grants to help those in need, particularly those who have special needs.
A Woman with Vision
Within a couple years, we hired Melanie A, a Nordoff-Robbins trained therapist who had an extensive background serving clients on
the autism spectrum. She had a vision for a Music Therapy Department at AEG and eventually became our first Clinical Director, overseeing the development of processes and training and support for a growing number of therapists. Under her leadership, therapists were able to develop reporting methods and assign CPT codes in a way that began to facilitate insurance reimbursment for our clients.
As the she moved on to serve in academia at the end of 2021, Melanie's vision for a "therapy department" was well underway. Even upon her departure, she left a team of eight strong therapists, having raised up team members with experience and skills to continue her work in leading the team.
Not just Music Therapy or Adaptive lessons!
There is something for everyone at Arts Educators Group--not just music therapy and education for those with special needs!
Since Arts Educators Group was born out of a well established music school, it not employs music therapists (most of whom also teach music ) but also non-therapists who teach neuro-typical students. In addition, AEG clients have access to the extensive staff of Teachers, Educational Specialists and Therapists who serve through The Music Place. Some teachers and administrative staff are employed by both organizations, and the Main Office in Willow Glen is the mailing addres for both companies. Both companies share locations, leasing from one another. The Music Place leases the three San Jose locations and AEG leases the Sunnyvale location (hence "Arts Educators Group" on the door.)
We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the community and look forward to continued growth of Arts Educators Group under the fine care and leadership of our gifted faculty and staff.