Harmony Bridge Project Brings Music 'Magic' to Elderly

The Harmony Bridge project, which encourages student musicians to play live for the elderly had them swaying in the aisles at the Sands Point Center for Health and Rehabilitation on Tuesday.

Students from Schreiber High School were chosen as one of eleven schools to jumpstart the project, founded by Michael Levine, the founder of the Dallas Brass music group that played in Port Washington last year.

Levine, who made a return trip to Long Island from Texas Sunday to be a part of the Port Washington performance and to help students prepare for the show, said the joy and energy in the room Tuesday was "priceless." 

"There's magic that occurs when you put kids and the music with the elderly people that need to here music," said Levine. "It's just a win, win in every way.

Residents of the nursing home that were very much to themselves at the beginning of the show seemed to come alive as various ensembles of students  volunteered for the 30 minute show which featured upbeat favorites such as "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home" and "America The Beautiful."

"It was like watching flowers bloom," said Levine.

In the future, Port Washington students might get the opportunity to play at the nursing home once per month, according to Sheri Suzza, the Director of Creative Arts for Port Washington schools.

"We coud see the response was overwhelming for both the students and the resident here in the nursing home," said Suzzan.

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

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.