El Sistema Florida.
Social Action Through Music,
Music for Everyone.
El Sistema Florida is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that uses music as an instrument of social transformation, giving to the children and young people, the opportunity to acquire values and reach their full potential, positively impacting the society through the study and collective practice of music.
In an increasingly diverse society, music education is key to putting children and youngsters on a path to success in all areas of life. El Sistema Florida re emphasizes that point by stating that children can attain high achievements due to their participation in an orchestra. They are better prepared to manage stressful situations at school, better prepared for work-life, and gain a strong commitment to civic engagement. Students actively involved in the music learn how to articulate their intentions, receive and offer constructive criticism, and listen actively to others’ ideas.
El Sistema Florida, Preparing Students for the Next America, The Benefits of Music Education.
Music as a Vehicle for Social Change. The sequential nature of developing musical skills helps children unlock intellectual potential for academic achievement and gain the self-confidence needed to succeed, ultimately overcoming the disadvantages of poverty and inequality. The values of community, teamwork, responsibility and mutual respect, are embedded in classical musical training and performance. Children exhibit more pro-social behavior as they practice and perform music because they see themselves as capable of and responsible for creating positive outcomes.
Focus on Resilience. In spite of difficult circumstances, children can manage to overcome enormous challenges and thrive. Prevention research has identified protective factors, which, if developed in children, allow them to display resilience in the face of adversity. As such, in recent years there has been a shift away from applying a more traditional deficit model with at-risk youth deemphasizing pathology and focusing on resilience.
Path to Healthy Outcomes. The benefits of music education are powerful and far-reaching. Although research on the impact of music education is still nascent, youth involvement in music education has been linked to lower rates of substance use, elevated performance on standardized tests (math and verbal SAT scores), higher GPA, elevated self-esteem, and improved conduct. The rigorous process of learning how to play a musical instrument also enhances the development of critical life-skills such as discipline, self-control, patience, and perseverance.
Music programs are especially useful for youth in disadvantaged populations because they can increase self-confidence and help develop creative thinking and problem solving skills. Involvement in music provides a healthy escape from these at-risk youth’s everyday lives, gives them a sense of hope and belonging and facilitates reaching their untapped and boundless potential.
Project TREBLE – Impact
Here I share with you highlights of the year-1 preliminary results of Project TREBLE – a Ware Foundation funded study conducted by the Community-Based Intervention Research Group (C-BIRG) of Florida International University that examines, in a multifaceted manner, how participation in a Music program impacts the lives of youth.
Skills Improvement:
* Data taken from Project TREBLE preliminary report of Year-1 activities and a summary of data collected to date (8/21/2014)
In this way, the orchestra becomes a tool for social development and individual promotion.
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