The Harmony Program provides daily after-school music lessons to children from economically disadvantaged communities. Harmony’s unique model taps New York City’s college-and graduate-level music students as teachers, training them to develop the talents of young people who would not ordinarily be exposed to music education. Students in the Harmony Program receive musical instruments, daily instruction, and a variety of cultural experiences, all free of charge. At the same time, Harmony’s teachers receive professional development training, hands-on teaching experience, and hourly stipends for their work. Inspired by Venezuela’s celebrated National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras, known as “El Sistema,” the Harmony Program emphasizes the influence of music-making on social development, encourages learning through ensemble performance, fosters a supportive community for program participants and families, and requires of all involved a high degree of commitment to daily music study.

www.harmonyprogram.org