By Sarah Lindsey
Northeast News
June 22, 2016

Are you excited to start moving to the music this summer?

Harmony Project KC will be kicking off the Kansas City Museum’s summer concert series along with the Kansas City Symphony on June 26th, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event will take place on the Kansas City Museum grounds (3218 Gladstone Blvd., KCMO), and it is free to attend. Harmony Project KC students will perform a short selection alongside members of the Kansas City Symphony, and then the Symphony will continue to perform. Attendees may bring a blanket and lawn chairs and picnic on the museum grounds.

Harmony Project KC is an intensive music education program of the Northeast Community Center that promotes the healthy growth and development of children through the study, practice and performance of music. In the year since Harmony Project KC launched it has grown tremendously, from the recruitment of students to the acquisition of new instruments.

“Starting this program has been one of the most meaningful things I have done. It is very rewarding to see how our children are progressing in such a short period of time; increasing their confidence, responsibilities and teamwork abilities,” said Carmen Espinosa, Program Manager of Harmony Project KC. “I look forward to seeing this program grow.”

The program has over twenty schools participating, with students ranging in age from 6-13. Harmony Project KC focuses on mentoring students, keeping them engaged, safe, and out of trouble. Parents are very thankful for this opportunity that has been presented in the Northeast community for children. It is more than just a music program; it’s a helpful environment that students and parents look at as a second family.

“I love coming to Harmony Project,” said 8-year-old Isabel, whose name has been altered for publication. “I am learning to play the violin and I have made a lot of new friends.”

Harmony Project KC provides a powerful year-round orchestral music program that’s combined with character development, helping at-risk youth succeed. Students meet three times a week; every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00-5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. All instruments and lessons are free as long as the students stay in school. Students perform in concerts throughout the community and attend live musical performances at various local venues. As they advance, they mentor their less-advanced peers and participate in workshops that musicians of different genres all around Kansas City are invited to. As of today, Harmony Project KC workshops have featured rock, jazz and blues, classic, hip-hop, Mexican music; the Pythons drill team, world music, African dance workshops, and many more musical styles. Each semester, they go on fun field trips and also have a summer camp that includes a variety of music genres. So far, they have had four performances since the program has launched.

Principal Nicole Goodman of nearby Scuola Vita Nuova Charter School walks the children to Harmony Project KC for their music lessons after school. So far, she likes what she’s seen from the program.

“Harmony Project students develop good work ethics and collaborative skills, and their learning transfers to the classroom,” said Goodman.

Recruitment for new students will start in August, and the program eventually hopes to expand into a K-12 initiative. Families interested in enrolling their children in the program can fill out enrollment forms at Harmony Project KC if they attend a Title I public school, are in the low-income poverty level and they do not have to have any musical experience. Students who are not low income can also be accepted. Space is limited, so contact Harmony Project KC as soon as possible if your child or children want to join. Contact Carmen Espinosa at 816.231.7738 or by email: carmen@harmonyprojectkc.org.