I spent an hour researching Monday.com. I explored their pricing plans, compared their features, and evaluated how the platform could streamline team collaboration, task management, and project tracking.
Last week, I met with my PAA team to identify and delegate possible softwares that Austin Soundwaves could use to develop their enrollment tracker. I was assigned to research Monday.com
I met with my teammates today to make a list of potential websites we could use to develop a recruitment and retention tracker. This meeting lasted for approximately 30 minutes. I was assigned to research Monday.com. Afterwards, I spent the rest of the hour looking at the pros/cons of this platform, including cost, scalability, accessibility, features, and long-term maintainence.
After the book discussion in class today, we spent the rest of the time collaborating as a group. My team and I worked on the Work Breakdown Structure as part of the Module 3 assignment.
Today in class, my group and I worked on our Project Badge Mod 2 assignment. We discussed key stakeholders. We also talked about our community partner meeting and future directions.
Earlier this week, we had our meeting with TX LEAD and a separate meeting with our community partner. I was not able to make it to either of these meetings, as I had a class conflict at those times. I made sure to review the meeting notes, and reach out to my project manager with questions that I had. Last week, I also completed the necessary PAA assignments (Project Badge Mod 1 and the collaboration and teamwork reflection).
Here are some questions that I would like Austin Soundwaves to answer:
1. How do you currently collect and record student enrollment information? What platforms or tools are currently used to manage enrollment data (e.g., Excel, Google Sheets, forms, databases)?
2. How often is enrollment information updated, and what are the biggest challenges or frustrations with the current system?
3. What information do you currently collect from each student?
4. Do different programs collect different information from students?
5. What information would help you understand why students stay in or leave a program?
6. What outcomes would you like to be able to measure but currently cannot?
7. What information do you regularly need for grant applications, annual reports, or funders?
8. What questions about your students are currently difficult to answer with your existing data?
I spent some time researching Austin Soundwaves. While looking through their website, I found that they are an Austin-based nonprofit founded in 2011 with the mission of making music learning accessible and equitable. The organization began as an El Sistema-inspired program serving 42 students at one school and has expanded substantially.
One of the earliest major articles is from UT Austin News, describing the organization's launch and early partnership with the UT School of Law. The Austin Chronicle has featured Austin Soundwaves in its nonprofit coverage and has promoted its summer programming. Austin Soundwaves was also officially recognized by the City of Austin, with October 17, 2025 proclaimed Austin Soundwaves Day.
Austin Soundwaves has an active social-media presence across several platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. It may be useful to connect enrollment records with the recruitment source. This could allow us to determine which recruitment channels actually produce enrollments.
Austin Soundwaves has already demonstrated that it collects and analyzes program data. During the 2021-22 school year, they evaluated their Private Lesson Program and reported its demographic information. Austin Soundwaves also received an $18,800 Impact Austin grant in 2022 for its Private Lesson Program. The grant initially supported 25 students, but Austin Soundwaves leveraged the funding to obtain additional support and ultimately serve more than 70 students through the initiative.
Their website has an entire Partners & Supporters page, separating relationships into government, foundation, corporate, in-kind, and program partnerships. Particularly relevant program partners include Austin ISD, Austin Symphony Orchestra, UT Austin College of Fine Arts, UT Austin College of Education, and YMCA of Greater Austin. They also have partnerships with organizations such as ATX Chamber Music and Jazz. That organization reports that it donated more than 350 tickets to students and chaperones during its 2024–25 season and identifies Austin Soundwaves as one of its school/community partners. Austin Soundwaves is part of the Community Arts Collaborative, a planned 25,000-square-foot arts facility in Central East Austin. The facility is expected to open in 2027 and will house Austin Soundwaves alongside several other arts organizations.
Several other organizations are pursuing similar initiatives. Notes for Notes provides young people with free instruments, instruction, and recording-studio environments. They reported serving more than 8,500 youth across 23 studios in 11 states/14 cities as of 2024. Their Austin location has also participated in showcases with Austin Soundwaves and Girls Rock Austin. Girls Rock Austin focuses on music education and mentorship for girls, gender-expansive youth, and BIPOC youth ages 8–17. Austin Classical Guitar is another relevant Austin comparison because it focuses on classroom-based music education and scaling its model beyond individual programs.
I spent 10 minutes setting a group chat with my team.
