Project Music Heals Us Inc

PROVIDING ENCOURAGEMENT ARTS EDUCATION AND AWARENESS THROUGH FREE CONCERTS AND INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING FOR UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS: THOSE REHABILITATING INCARCERATED ELDERLY DISABLED AND HOMELESS.

OUR PROGRAM OF VIRTUAL 1-ON-1 BEDSIDE CONCERTS FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS BEGUN IN SPRING OF 2020 WAS EXPANDED INTO THE VITAL SOUNDS INITIATIVE. PROJECT: MUSIC HEALS US CONTRACTED WITH 46 MUSICIANS DURING THE 2020-21 SEASON IN PROVIDING OVER 375 INDIVIDUAL CONCERT SESSIONS IN 12 DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN NY CA MA TX AND MI. WE FURTHER EXPANDED THIS PROGRAM BY OFFERING VITAL SOUNDS GRANTS TO EIGHT DIFFERENT 501C3 ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTNER IN PRESENTING CONCERTS TO COVID AND OTHER PATIENTS IN ISOLATION USING PMHU BEST PRACTICES. THESE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR OWN MUSICIANS SERVED 9 ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN GA MI NY CA LA WI AND TX WITH OVER 500 INDIVIDUAL VIRTUAL CONCERT SESSIONS. A TOTAL OF 6100 PATIENTS AND THEIR HEALTHCARE WORKERS WERE SERVED THROUGH THESE VITAL SOUNDS VIRTUAL CONCERTS. PERFORMING ARTISTS WHO LOST MOST MEANS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE ALSO PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT; ALL GRANT MONEY WAS RESTRICTED TO ARTISTS FEES.

OUR PRE-PANDEMIC INTERACTIVE CONCERTS AND WORKSHOPS IN JAILS AND PRISONS IN CT AND NY WERE SUSPENDED DURING THE 2020-21 SEASON. DESIRING TO CONTINUE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH INCARCERATED STUDENTS ESTABLISHED IN-PERSON WHILE LEARNING FROM THE SUCCESS OF OUR VITAL SOUNDS INITIATIVE VIRTUAL CONCERTS IN OFFERING COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION TO THOSE IN ISOLATION WE BEGAN TO BUILD A 20-PART "HYBRID" DIGITAL AND IN-PERSON MUSIC COMPOSITION COURSE FOR INCARCERATED STUDENTS. THE CONTENT FOR A COLLEGE-ACCREDITED COURSE: MUSIC FOR THE FUTURE IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT - DESIGNING AND FILMING LECTURE MATERIAL BY TEACHING ARTIST BRAD BALLIETT; VIDEO-RECORDING STRING QUARTET PERFORMANCES BY PMHU MUSICIANS TO BE USED AS A BASIS FOR COMPOSITION METHODS; AND WORKING TO CONNECT THE FINISHED COURSE WITH CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

RECOGNIZED FOR THE SUCCESS OF PMHU'S PROGRAMS ARTISTIC AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS MOLLY CARR AND ANDREW JANSS WERE ASKED TO CONDUCT WORKSHOPS FOR MUSICIANS AS ENTRPRENEURS ENTERING THE NON-PROFIT WORLD ENCOURAGING YOUNG MUSICIANS TO USE THEIR TALENTS FOR SOCIAL GOOD. THESE INCLUDED SUNY-FREDONIA'S FALL STRING FESTIVAL TWO LECTURES WORKSHOPS A CONCERT AND A MASTERCLASS FOLLOWED BY FOUR MONTHLY WORKSHOPS ENTITLED "MUSIC FOR COMMUNITIES." SIMILAR ONE-DAY WORKSHOPS WERE ALSO SHARED AT THE COLBURN SCHOOL OF MUSIC WALNUT HILL SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS THE PERLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM DEPAUL UNIVERSITY BARD COLLEGE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND SOKA UNIVERSITY. NOTE: ALL ACTIVITIES WERE REQUIRED TO BE CONDUCTED VIA ZOOM LINKS. OVER 300 STUDENTS WERE SERVED BY THESE WORKSHOPS.