Decades of Music Education. Thousands of Young Musicians.
Before Music Fun Books became a catalog of music methods and arrangements, its teaching philosophy took shape in elementary classrooms, school rehearsals, and concert halls throughout Los Angeles.
From Musician to Elementary School Music Teacher
Larry E. Newman’s work with children grew from a lifelong commitment to both performing and teaching music.
Larry earned a Bachelor of Music Education, cum laude, from Temple University’s College of Music, followed by a Master of Arts in Music Performance from Eastern Illinois University. He also earned a California teaching credential. His experience as a professional trumpet player strengthened his belief that even young beginners should have opportunities to make satisfying music with others.
Seven Years Teaching in LAUSD Elementary Schools
Before establishing Children’s Music Workshop, Larry spent seven years as a public school instrumental music teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. As an itinerant elementary instrumental music teacher, he traveled from school to school, working directly with beginning musicians in different classrooms and school communities.
Teaching across multiple campuses offered a firsthand look at both the promise and the practical challenges of elementary instrumental music education. Students arrived with different levels of preparation, interest, and access to instruments. Instruction needed to be clear, well-paced, adaptable, and rewarding from the very first lessons.
Those seven years provided an essential foundation for the approach that would later define Children’s Music Workshop: effective music education begins with understanding the young students in front of you—not simply following a method book from cover to cover.
The Founding of Children’s Music Workshop
In 1994, Larry founded Children’s Music Workshop to help make organized instrumental music instruction available to more children in Los Angeles-area schools. Over more than three decades, the Workshop grew into a network of school-based instruction serving public, charter, independent, and faith-based communities throughout Southern California. Across his career, Larry supervised music programs in more than 80 public and private institutions.
Rather than focusing only on private lessons, the program worked with schools to bring music into students’ everyday educational environment. Instruction could be scheduled before school, during the school day, or after school, depending on each campus’s needs.
Programs Designed for Schools
Beginning band and orchestra, strings, winds, brass, recorder, and other instrumental opportunities brought music study to children who might not otherwise have had access to formal lessons.
Teachers and Families Working Together
Children’s Music Workshop coordinated experienced teaching faculty, student enrollment, materials, instruments, rehearsals, and performances—with close communication among schools and families.
From First Notes to Concerts
The goal was never simply to teach fingerings and rhythms. Young musicians gained confidence through steady progress, ensemble participation, school concerts, and the excitement of sharing their music.
A Practical Teaching Philosophy
Lessons needed to be age-appropriate and engaging while preparing students to play together. The daily experience of teaching beginners helped shape materials and methods developed specifically for children.
The All Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra
One of the Workshop’s most distinctive achievements was the All Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra, which brought talented elementary musicians together from schools across the Los Angeles area. Under Larry’s musical direction, students had the unusual opportunity to rehearse and perform as members of a large orchestra with peers from other school communities.
For many students, the experience meant moving beyond their individual school program to become part of a citywide musical ensemble. They learned to listen closely, prepare their parts, respond to a conductor, collaborate with other musicians, and perform in front of an audience.
Annual concert programs featured classical and popular repertoire, with memorable performances at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall and, more recently, Bel Air Church. Student musicians were sometimes joined by their teachers, emphasizing the shared joy of making music and the continuity between learning and performing.
The 26th annual concert took place in May 2026, continuing a tradition that began more than a quarter-century earlier.
From the Concert Hall to Television
The Honor Orchestra’s concerts became the subject of televised music-education programs and documentaries, including Orchestra Kids and Music Matters. Filmed in connection with performances at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall, the productions introduced viewers to the children behind the music—their rehearsals, families, teachers, and excitement about performing.
These broadcasts went beyond documenting a concert. They demonstrated what music education could mean in the lives of children and showcased the concentration, discipline, friendships, and sense of accomplishment developed through ensemble playing.
The productions earned five Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards in Children/Youth Programming, recognizing a collaborative effort involving young musicians, educators, families, and production colleagues.
Honored by the City of Los Angeles
In 2009, the Los Angeles City Council honored Larry Newman, Children’s Music Workshop, and the All Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra at City Hall for their contributions to music education.
The recognition celebrated not only the orchestra and its television work but also the young musicians themselves. The Council presentation highlighted an orchestra of 135 students and recognized 16 Children’s Music Workshop students who had received Los Angeles City Elementary Music Association scholarships for musical achievement.
The ceremony reflected a central idea of the program: music education benefits individual children while strengthening school communities throughout a city.
Additional Educational Honors
Eastern Illinois University
Larry received the university’s Outstanding Graduate Alumnus Award, recognizing his professional achievements after completing his graduate music studies.
Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award
Presented through the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation in recognition of dedication to providing outstanding opportunities for young people.
BRAVO Award Nomination
Larry was nominated for the Music Center of Los Angeles County’s BRAVO Award, which recognizes innovation and excellence in arts education.
A History of Teaching, Performing, and Publishing
Music education studies, a California credential, professional trumpet work, and seven years traveling among LAUSD elementary schools as an itinerant instrumental music teacher.
The founding of a school-focused organization that expanded instrumental music opportunities throughout Los Angeles.
The creation of an annual ensemble experience uniting elementary musicians from different schools for rehearsals and concert performances.
Five Los Angeles Area Emmy wins for productions documenting and celebrating young musicians and their music education.
Official recognition of Children’s Music Workshop and its students for contributions to music education.
A longstanding musical tradition continues with a concert at Bel Air Church.
Classroom-tested teaching ideas live on in a publishing catalog of more than 400 music books and arrangements for individual learners, private teachers, and school music programs.
How Children’s Music Workshop Led to Music Fun Books
Through years of teaching young musicians, Larry repeatedly encountered a need for materials that worked especially well for elementary beginners: readable notation, carefully paced introductions to new concepts, and enjoyable music that kept students engaged.
He began writing and adapting music to meet those needs. Over time, the materials developed in response to real classrooms and rehearsals became Music Fun Books—a publishing catalog now encompassing strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano, guitar, ukulele, recorder, solos, duets, and ensembles.
As Larry stepped back from day-to-day school program administration, Music Fun Books became the primary professional and creative focus. The shift from managing school programs to publishing educational resources made it possible to share decades of practical teaching experience with families and educators far beyond Los Angeles.
Individual musicians and families can browse and purchase books on Amazon. Teachers and schools can also explore coordinated beginning-band and string materials for classroom adoption.
The Philosophy Continues with School Music AI
Children’s Music Workshop established the value of experienced teachers and ensemble playing. Music Fun Books translated classroom experience into accessible teaching materials. School Music AI is a developing approach that seeks to bring these strengths together with new technology.
The vision is individualized, technology-assisted practice and instruction supported by experienced real-life educators who guide school ensembles, rehearsals, and live performances. It remains rooted in the belief that learning an instrument is both an individual journey and a shared musical experience.
Learn individually. Play together.
Three Chapters. One Commitment to Music Education.
From the elementary classroom, to the concert stage, to music books used by beginners around the world, the purpose has remained the same: help children experience the joy and achievement of making music.