The mission of the Davis Schools Orchestral Music Association (DSOMA) is to support the music students and the music program of Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD).  The Chang private lesson scholarships, made possible by a donation from the Chang Family Foundation, provide students participating in the DJUSD strings program an opportunity to achieve musical excellence. 

Students of DJUSD benefit two ways:  Elementary aged students, whose applications are accepted, receive up to 30 music lessons from an Approved high school student-teacher (teacher).  These lessons are valued at $10/lesson.   Teachers benefit by sharing their gifts and passion for music with a younger student.  The teacher also benefits from receiving Chang Scholarship funds deposited into that student’s fundraising account.   This money can be used by the student to offset the cost of their fieldtrips, DJUSD orchestra-related expenses, or used as a donation to the senior class gift.  The Chang Scholarship funds are not paid in cash to the teachers.

Chang Scholarships are intended to supplement a long-term commitment to private lessons.  Our Strings and Orchestral music teachers feel strongly that the best way for a student to improve on a musical instrument is to study one-on-one with a private instructor.   Most of our outstanding Junior and Senior High instrumentalists have taken private lessons from a very young age.  A committee of the Board of Directors of DSOMA and a representative music teacher evaluate the applications.   DSOMA and the Chang Family Foundation are most interested in awarding private lesson scholarships to elementary students who have a financial need and have the potential to make a long-term commitment to private study.

Each year the Orchestral Directors select high school students who they feel are qualified to instruct the Chang Scholarship recipients.    The list is provided to the recipients, and lessons can take place as soon as the parents of the student have selected a teacher.

Students receiving scholarships must be active participants in a DJUSD music organization relevant to their lessons, e.g., violin students must be enrolled in violin at his or her school site. Students unable to fulfill this requirement will forfeit their scholarships.  The teachers, students and parents must acknowledge the rules and guidelines of the program by signing a contract indicating their agreement to participate.