Welcome Note from Anna

Several years ago, in preparation for my master’s thesis, I had the opportunity to work with a class of first grade students for an entire year. Although teaching music to 7-year-olds initially sounded like a fairly simple thing, something far more complex was occurring in the lives of those children. The significance of the role music played in the development, education and culture of each student was breathtaking. Profound joy was clearly reflected in each student’s smile; in each triumphant reaction after a song was sung, a rhythm clapped or a little musical puzzle was successfully completed.

Over the decades, researchers have worked to determine and measure the impact of music on human lives; searching to document evidence through bare numbers and charts. Yet all of the research that I was exposed to during many years of study came to life from the moment I walked into that first grade classroom. I was suddenly witness to the impact of music on my students’ lives. I experienced, first hand, how music activities stimulate memory, imagination, logic, creative problem solving, perception, motivation and emotion. I also saw music create in my students increased, positive attitudes toward learning in other school subjects. For my little friends, music became a pathway to building higher self-esteem. It taught the students that through their own efforts they can achieve anything in life.

Thanks to those first graders, it is now my passion to advocate for the reestablishment of music’s central role in the development and education of all young people. The Miami Music Project does just that by providing Miami and South Florida children with the opportunity to experience music’s life changing effects. Our main objective is to create not only great musicians, but also great human beings and citizens. Music education is a lifetime gift to our children that cannot be left to chance. For this reason, and for each and every smiling face, Miami Music Project is committed to social development through music education and community engagement.

Please browse our website to find out how you can get involved and help us in composing better lives.

Yours truly,

Anna Pietraszko
Executive Director of the Miami Music Project