Music Makers Program
In an effort to keep music education strong in our community,
the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra,
in collaboration with
The Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor
has started a Music Makers Class!
Beginning its fifth year, Music Makers provides music education to children at The Boys & Girls Club and recently, students from
Martin Luther King Elementary, Benton Harbor. The program’s approach to music education emphasizes intensive ensemble participation, group learning and peer teaching. It also seeks a commitment to keeping the joy and fun of musical learning
and music making ever-present.
The program’s purpose is ultimately to create a daily haven of safety, joy and fun that builds every child’s self-esteem and sense of value. This intensive approach has allowed students to make substantial progress both as musicians and in life skills such as increased confidence and the ability to focus and collaborate as a group. The purpose of the program is entirely compatible with the vision of The Boys & Girls Club.
We believe that granting youngsters access to quality music education in a safe, nurturing environment is, in many ways, the ultimate example of “giving a hand up.” This is for two reasons: first, because it requires such a high degree of commitment from its participants and second, because the required skills of collaboration and focus (constantly modeled by the teachers) are applicable in every area of a child’s life.
We can imagine few more wholly positive ventures than
helping kids thrive through music.
The Instructors
Jordan Hamilton plays the cello for the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Currently, he is studying cello with Bruce Uchimura at Western Michigan University after receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin Wallace University.
Jordan is the lead instructor for the Music Makers team and is passionate about the outreach of orchestras in the community. Jordan's focus is to help the kids learn about music and engage in a community where they listen, support and learn from each other. This will enable them to eventually make great music together.
During his free time, Jordan enjoys watching the New York Giants, reading about various subjects, spending time with friends and practicing/listening to music. Since music has made such a valuable and positive impact on his life, Jordan is very passionate about sharing the gift of music with this community.
Nicholas is a musician, poet, writer, youth mentor, AmeriCorps VISTA and graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in German and Philosophy. He moved to Kalamazoo from Jackson, Michigan, in 2009 to attend school and has lived there ever since, continuing to strengthen his creative abilities and mentoring youth.
Nicholas has an insatiable thirst to see the world and learn about people from all walks of life as evidenced by his desire to meet and learn from as many international students and residents of Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan as possible. In this way he learns to appreciate his surroundings and get an up close and personal view of the world outside.
His dream is to establish a non-profit organization which will globally educate youth and ensure culture exchange and language learning opportunities between Americans and international residents and students. He seeks to one day write, perform and teach for a living. Nicholas loves to read, find new ways to create, think A LOT about life and society and is left handed.
Instruments needed!
Families have an amazing opportunity to give another child the joy of music and themselves a tax deduction.
We are accepting new and used musical instruments of any kind.
Anyone interested in donating a new or used instrument please contact us to make rrangements.
269-982-4030
Phone: 269-982-4030
Fax: 269-982-4181
Email: Info@smso.org