The Dickinson Music Enrichment Center
The Dickinson Music Enrichment Center (TDMEC) is a community-focused organization founded in February 2022, dedicated to providing high-quality music education to economically disadvantaged students in Galveston County. Our mission is to offer free, accessible music lessons and mentorship programs to young aspiring musicians from 4th grade through high school. By breaking down financial barriers, we ensure that students can explore their passion for music, regardless of their family's economic background.
TDMEC offers bi-weekly after-school lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays for beginner and experienced students alike, teaching instruments such as the clarinet, flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. Our structured curriculum includes five terms per year, each spanning 21 days. Students also engage in four weeks of ensemble practice during the summer, with a total of 67 instructional hours per year. We have seen remarkable growth, from serving 13 students in our first year to now providing lessons for 35 students in the 2024-25 academic year. Additionally, our students participate in local district band programs and perform as part of the TDMEC Galveston County Youth Philharmonic.
TDMEC employs high school marching band section leaders as part-time music coaches, offering them mentorship and teaching experience. This initiative provides our younger students with role models while preparing these coaches for potential careers in music education. This employment and mentorship program not only strengthens our students' musical foundation but also cultivates future educators.
To deepen community engagement, TDMEC organizes various events such as the annual National Native Heritage Month celebration, featuring Native-themed chalk art contests, traditional frybread meals, native dance performances by groups like Indigenous ACE and the Great Promise Dancers, and fundraising auctions with items created by local artists. Events like these provide cultural enrichment and raise funds to support our mission.