Author: rachelznerold

Music Class is Jammin’!

IMG_4735_wThe Project HOPE Art Art + Music Lab is alive and thriving, celebrating the joy of song, movement and sound with Haitian children in Port Au Prince. Last November 2014, The Project HOPE Art Team brought down three giant suitcases filled to the brim with donated instruments- ukeleles, guitars, melodicas, horn instruments, a keyboard, recorders and drums- for the students to learn with!  The children were thrilled at the sight of the array of instruments, and during the first music class, each student had a chance to hold, play and experiment with each new instrument, and began practicing together on basic drum and recorder tunes. And man! Do these kids have rhythm! Every student is allowed to take home their very own recorder to practice on, while the remaining instruments stay at the art center for everyone to share for the duration of the music class.

The Rythmn and Recycling Workshop, led by artist Rachel Znerold and Haitian musician Gueldy René, and supported by PHA founder Melissa Schilling and PHA Technology Teacher Christine Rosacranse, kicked off the Music Class with back-to-back weekend workshops in late November. Using recycled materials, from t-shirts and trims to bottle caps and buttons, each student constructed a musical costume that made a joyful noise with every stomp, shimmy and shake. The students practiced drawing and painting their favorite instruments, and using tin cans and pebbles, the students even constructed their own handmade percussion instruments, and adorned them all using glitter and paint.

During the second weekend, local musician Gueldy René wrote a new song  for the children, who learned the song and dance routine by Rachel Znerold that same afternoon. They students caught on quickly, adding their own flair to each movement, and the very next day, complete with musical costumes and choreographed dance moves,  the Music Class performed together for the first time ever at the Project Hope Art Graduation Ceremony for the Gardening Class. PHA Artists Sarah Boll and Liz Ancker were on the scene to create a festive Graduation Party, bursting with the energy of all the people, plants, art, music, and dance! The performance was a great success and the music class was buzzing with the excitement of creating music together.

Now, each Saturday, the students come from orphanages and schools throughout Port Au Prince to the Music Class at The Project HOPE Art Center to be taught by Gueldy, Juré and Winter– it is a weekly chance to escape to a beautiful community center to practice their instruments, learn how to read music, share the joy of song and enjoy a healthy meal together every week. Thanks to our generous donors, Project HOPE Art is able to provide weekly music classes for these students for the next several months, but we need your continued support to help the music and learning grow through the end of the year!  If you can help, please DONATE NOW!!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING DONORS WHO HELPED BRING THE MUSIC CLASS TO LIFE!!!!

“I can’t find words to explain my gratitude to you, thank you…. Thanks for all the support, I hope when I play, that will make your ears fun!” -Luciano

“Thank you to Rachel, Melissa and Gueldy! With their help now I reading to play guitar.” -Wilka

 Help Keep the Music Alive!!! DONATE NOW to Project HOPE Art!


 

2014 Music Class: Meet the Crew!

Meet our Students, Teachers, and Class Supervisor  for the 2014 Music Class on the grounds at Haiti Communitere at our Project HOPE Art Center. They will learn to make their own instruments and costumes from recycled materials as part of the Rhythm & Recycling Workshop, take part in the creation of a live musical composition, and perform at the Gardening Class Graduation! The Music Class will then continue on into 2015 under the supervision of our on-site Haitian musicians.

Class Teacher, Gueldy Rene
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Class Programming: Rachel Znerold, Costume and Dance
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Class Digital Programming: Christine Rosakranse
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English Translator: Esnold Jure
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Creative Director: Melissa Schilling, Art
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Class Lead: Phara Dalmacy
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And our Students:

Music Class Schedule:

November 15th: First Day of Music Class at HC, at 9am with Aimee!
November 22nd: 2nd Music Class with Rachel, Ernie and Mimi onsite!
November 29th: Music Students at HC to practice for Graduation
November 29th: Gardening Students at HC to Decorate and Set Up Graduation!
November 30th: Music Class will perform at the Graduation
November 30th: Gardening Class Graduation || Music Class Performance

Rhythm & Recycling Workshop

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Project HOPE Art is excited to announce the RHYTHM & RECYCLING workshop this fall to kick off the Music + Art Lab at the Project HOPE Art Center in Port-au-Prince, Haiti!

Interested in donating Musical Instruments?
Click Here! 

This November 2014, Bay Area artists Rachel Znerold and Melissa Schilling will travel to Haiti to collaborate with art teacher and musician Gueldy Rene on a week-long children’s music and art program —a multi-dimensional music, costuming and performance workshop, all inspired by and using recycled materials. Gueldy Rene will work with the students to learn the foundations of rhythm, beat, flow and connection, creating a musical composition with their motley array of recycled instruments (PVC Pipe Drums and 2Liter Bottle Horns), alongside donated ukeleles, guitars, kazoos, accordians, and traditional RaRa and Konpa instruments. Rachel Znerold, supported by other members of Project HOPE Art, plans to lead the students through a musical costume workshop, creating sound-making outfits and props out of recycled materials—imagine bottle-cap-string skirts jingling and plastic bag dresses swooshing, while all feet are tap-tapping to the beat of the musical accompaniment.

Project HOPE Art RHYTHMRECYCLING

Using the students’ own choreography and music, they will collaboratively create a performance piece to be debuted alongside the original musical composition at the fall Graduation and Celebratory Dinner for the Gardening Class at the Art Center in Port-au-Prince.

DONATE NOW!! Project HOPE Art aims to raise enough money to host the RHYTHM & RECYCLING Workshop, supply the students with musical instruments and materials to experiment with, and continue to build on this musical foundation with weekly music classes taught by local Haitian art teachers throughout the following year.

Music is the quintessential vehicle for modern philosophy, a poetic gateway into our deepest existential truths and most sincere beliefs. Add in the visual treat of superb art direction, and you’ve got a powerhouse of cerebral-creative indulgence.

Music changes people’s lives. For some it is an expressive outlet. For others it is a way to stay focused on the everyday. It develops the brain and complements other intellectual and creative pursuits. It is a way for community to gather and share at concerts and shows, family events, and community gatherings. This creates a positive artistic synergy, which not only enhances students’ musical skills, but makes for a nurturing and enlightening experience for all.

Please help fund this amazing program, and be a part of inspiring our students to learn the beauty of music as a language—to communicate and connect with themselves and their communities through the enjoyment of this dynamic art form.

ATTEND THE DONOR DINNER ON AUGUST 8th, 2014 in Oakland!

Or

DONATE ONLINE NOW

To help support HOPE Art and keep art alive for kids in Haiti, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Your donation is greatly appreciated!! To Donate via Check: Please make checks out to Fractured Atlas with Project HOPE Art in the subject line and mail to: Project HOPE Art, 2601 Adeline Street, Suite 101A-Project HOPE Art, Oakland, CA 94607 HOPE Art is now fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, who make it easier than ever to DONATE!! We are always open to accept donations, large and small.  Thank you for your support!

How your donation helps:

$50 gives art supplies to a hospital $100 provides a classroom of students sketch books to keep a creative journal $250 employs local interpreters for our artists $500 offers the opportunity for orphans to learn a creative trade $750 buys an artist transportation from the US to Haiti $1000 supports “the frame”; what holds PHA together and keeps us creative