At a time when the public schools are struggling for resources, the Miami Music Project provides unique supportive programming for teachers and vital music performances and educational activities for students.
Many public schools have de-emphasized, if not entirely eliminated music programs in schools. Most children in the public school system have inadequate access to live music in the classical tradition. In Miami-Dade, much performance is based in concert halls, but ticket prices, transportation and cut backs in music education programs make this incredible art form inaccessible to many public school students. This denies children an entry point to a world that spans centuries and different musical traditions, from ancient religious chants to folk songs to jazz, and to a globe-spanning musical tradition shaped by talented composers and musicians from Europe, Latin America, the United States, Asia and beyond.
Music education at schools fulfills a developmental, educational and cultural role. The impact of music to man’s life is extremely important. It plays a great role in general education and personal development. Music activities stimulate memory, imagination, logical thinking, perception, motivation and emotions. It creates a positive attitude towards learning which also affects other school subjects.
MMP Deliverables
Year 1- Funded, created and implemented the first ensemble In-School Residency to reach students in underprivileged communities.
- Created an active 12 member Board of Trustees.
- Received a one million dollar challenge grant in December 2008 by the John S. James L. Knight Foundation as part of the Knight Arts Challenge program.
- Became a partner with the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.
- Auditioned and identified 10 musicians to participate in the program.
- Gave 30 performances in 10 schools to over 2300 Miami-Dade children throughout the 2009/2010 school year.
- Headlined ‘Family Fest’ at the Arsht Center featuring over 80 members of the Miami-Dade High School Honors Orchestra side-by-side with MMP’s professional musicians and conducted by Maestro James Judd.
- Conducted pre and post-event testing to measure program educational success.
- To expand the In-School Residency program by adding ten additional public schools and doubling the number of performances.
- To offer a mentoring program for talented young students/musicians.
- To create a year-round performance curriculum in relation to the National Standards for Music Education.
- To headline Arsht Center's Family Fest with the performance of the most talented students from area school and after-school youth orchestras currently serving the community side-by-side with MMP professional musicians as an annual event.
- To create a Music Festival that will serve people of all ages.
