Project Music

o inner city youth within walking distance to their homes. The current program is inspired by Venezuela’s “music education miracle” known as El Sistema, a program for social change created over 30 years ago by politician and musician Jose Abreu. In collaboration with the City of Stamford, Chester Addison Community Center (DOMUS), foundation and private supporters and future community partners, PROJECT MUSIC provides music education, instruments, and mentorship to Stamford youngsters. Like El Sistema, PROJECT MUSIC is intended not only to provide musical instruments and training, but also to address some of the extensive social challenges affecting Stamford’s youth. To this end, we use music to cultivate fundamental life skills such as self-expression, cooperative learning, discipline, leadership, and creativity— all of which have been linked to improved social and academic outcomes. The program, which is offered to children at no charge, fills a gap in accessible quality music education and after­school care in the City of Stamford.