Schools

Port Chosen as Pilot Site For Music Therapy Program

Michael Levine brings Harmony Bridge project to town next week.

Port Washington has been chosen as pilot site for a new student program which brings quintets of musicians to nursing homes to play classic folk music to the elderly.

After having toured high schools throughout the nation last year, Dallas Brass chose Schreiber as one of eleven schools to jumpstart the Harmony Bridge Project, a program that encourages music ensemble performances in nursing homes, according to the school district.

Michael Levine, the founder of the Harmony Bridge Project and Executive Director of the Dallas Brass, will be in town next week to help Schreiber High School prepare Monday for a Tuesday concert at the Sands Point Nursing Home. Students began preparing in April for the show.

Patriotic sing-along songs that the nursing home residents might recognize such as “America the Beautiful” and “Camptown Races,” will be played at the show, according to the school district.

Last year, the Port Washington school district obtained a grant from its education foundation to hire the Levine's Dallas Brass group for a show. The band invites students to join them onstage at the evening performances. Rehearsals with each group take place during the day. 

Since its founding in 1983 by Levine, the Dallas Brass has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion, which creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges.  Its repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music.

While in Port Washington in March, band members worked with local middle and high school students before putting on an evening concert.

"It was hands down one of the best concerts we have ever been involved with," said Sheri L. Suzzan, director of creative arts with Port Washington school district. 

As part of the program, Tuesday's event will be will be filmed by Schreiber students who will document how the elderly often "come alive" when hearing music from their youth. 

"What makes this interesting, is not so much recording our musicians, but rather the elderly's response to the music," said Suzzan. "We're looking to do this next year on an on going basis."



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