Paterson Music Project

The Paterson Music Project is a after-school music program offered by the Wharton Music Center, the New Jersey Youth Symphony. This El Sistema-inspired program that uses music as a vehicle of social change within communities that are may not have music programs. These opportunities are intended to empower and inspire children through the community experience of music education. The program provides grade-school students with a two-hour class, three days a week music program for the violin, viola, or cello. They also have diverse musical instruction and develops their musicality through singing, listening, and playing a variety of instruments. They focus on their primary instrument and creates a group identity. This fosters students responsibility and pride in themselves and their programs. This creates a sense of themselves as valued and successful members of their musical family and, in turn, the larger community.