Harmony, Hope & Healing

Music possesses a power that reaches beyond entertainment and performance.  Harmony, Hope & Healing harnesses the creative and therapeutic aspect of song as a way of offering dignity and spiritual healing to homeless and underserved women, men and children. This Chicago-based nonprofit was founded in 2000 by singer and educator Marge Nykaza.  Programs offer a chance to learn, heal, and experience a sense of community:

• Adult music sessions
• Musical English lessons for non native speakers
• Senior group piano lessons
• Senior choir rehearsals
• Parent / child music classes
• Children’s music classes
• Pre-school music classes
• Annual music event at each program site
• Choir performances in public or private venues

Harmony, Hope & Healing "delivers direct services in the form of therapeutic music programs that offer healing from the devastating effects of poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse and the isolation of aging."  (Mission Statement)

Rocking Music Education

Despite research which proves playing an instrument boosts overall academic performance, music education is often first to feel cuts when school budgets get lean.  Educator David Wish began offering after-school guitar lessons when music programs were eliminated at his school.  His efforts became wildly popular and eventually blossomed into the nonprofit, Little Kids Rock.

Wish dedicates his life to the restoration and revitalization of music education in U.S. public school systems.  His organization provides free instruments and music instruction to underserved schools around the nation.  K through 12 learn musical forms like rock, rap, blues, hip-hop.  Composing is stressed as much as recitation to inspire student creativity. The lessons interface with material on the Little Kids Rock website so that children have unfettered access to musical instruction.

Tunes for Troops: a gift of music

Kaylee Marie Radzyminski found a meaningful way to support the troops.  She began by collecting music for military personnel serving overseas because she had learned through contacts about the voracious appetite for good entertainment.  Her efforts yielded nearly 500 CDs in very little time.

Tunes 4 the Troops evolved from Kaylee Marie's original desire to find a unique way to help out.

As of January 21st, 2011, Tunes 4 the Troops has sent over 810,771 CDs and DVDs overseas with a value of more than $13.5 million dollars.

Kaylee Marie was eventually spotlighted as a CNN Hero.

Donations can be made here.

Find out about volunteering here.

Mind on Music

 A new study shows the human mind reacts to music in the same way it appreciates good food.  Pleasure centers are stimulated in both the anticipation and hearing of instruments being played. Vocals were excluded to limit the study's focus and rule out human voices as the possible source of pleasure.

Researchers at McGill University in Quebec found a dopamine rush that explains the "chills" and emotional euphoria of the listening experience.

The findings are published in the journal of Nature Neuroscience.

(Source.)