TURNING HOPE INTO ACTION
How Miami Music Project went VIRTUAL to continue Composing Better Lives in the wake of COVID-19
During this time when the entire world is experiencing unique and unprecedented challenges due to the spread of COVID-19, Miami Music Project mobilized to ensure our students, families, Teaching Artists, and staff are all supported. We remain committed to perpetuating the transformative power of music in whatever ways we can.
The Board of Trustees elected Pia Leon and Daniel Mazanec as Board Chair and Vice-Chair respectively. The board then formed three special committees tasked with making informed decisions on the three areas most affected by the virus: our programming, finances, and fundraising.
“In this time of crisis as a people, we’ve turned to music, to cling on to a sense of stability and normalcy and find comfort. Music has always served as a creative medium, soothing our soul, and providing solace in the expressive works that make social distancing not only bearable but enjoyable.” – Maria Pia Leon Angell, Chairwoman
The Board then made bold, urgent decisions to ensure the mission of Miami Music Project remains the foremost priority, including:
- Establishing Miami Music ProjectConnect, reinventing the methodology and making it applicable to virtual learning,
- Ensuring that each student receives up to 8 hours of online music learning per week through individual and group classes,
- Compensating our Teaching Artists and support program staff for the classes suspended in the immediate wake of the pandemic, because we believe our most valuable asset is and always will be people,
- Committing to the entire full-time and part time staff that their jobs are secure during the time of crisis.
INSTRUMENTS OF EMPOWERMENT
After COVID-19 hit, Miami Music ProjectConnect was launched. As a fully realized virtual program, it provides over 300 classes collectively each week:
- 22 Large Group Music Lessons
- 186 String & Woodwind/Brass Sectionals
- Rhythm/Percussion Sectionals
- Choir/Melody Study
- Music Theory
Every student receives up to 8 hours of online music teaching, lessons, and support per week. While no substitute for the power and impact of face-to-face music learning, this provides an immediate resource to children with necessary programming to help them continue to grow musically, academically, and emotionally.