About
A mission to bring music
to the lives of every child
About
A mission to bring music to the lives of every child
Watch the video about how and read more about us below.
Our Mission
We give children the opportunity to play musical instruments and create music in highly engaging
community-based programs.
Science shows us that learning to play an instrument helps overcome many obstacles children face in life – from improved attention, better reading skills through to heightened self-esteem and academic achievement. Our programs also help to build connections between parents and new opportunities for community engagement. We believe every child should have access to the benefits of playing an instrument regardless of socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds .
Our inspiration
Although we are not part of the
El Sistema program we have been influenced by its aims and success in other countries. El Sistema is a publicly financed, voluntary sector,
music-education program, founded in Venezuela in 1975 by Venezuelan educator, musician, and activist José Antonio Abreu. It later adopted the motto “Music for Social Change.” El Sistema-inspired programs provide what the International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies describes as “free classical music education that promotes human opportunity and development for impoverished children.” By 2015, according to official figures, El Sistema included more than 400 music centers and 700,000 young musicians.
Our Founders & Board
We are hugely grateful to our Founders Chris Nicholls and John Hibbard for their passion, vision and tenacity in setting up The Foundation. Their work has helped improve the lives of hundreds of children. You can read about our board here.
Child Safety &
Duty of Care
All employees, board members and volunteers aged 16 years and over must complete a Working With Children Check as legislated prerequisite for anyone in child-related work.
The Working With Children Check Number is then verified with The Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Community Engagement
Our programs also offer community engagement in the lives of parents and children from all backgrounds including immigrant communities from over 23 countries around the world. Learning music creates a common bond for everyone.
Our Mission
Our inspiration
Our Founders & Board
We are hugely grateful to our Founders and Board Members whose work has helped improve the lives of hundreds of children.
You can read about our Board here.
Child Safety & Duty of Care
All employees, board members and volunteers aged 16 years and over must complete a Working With Children Check as legislated prerequisite for anyone in child-related work. The Working With Children Check Number is then verified with The Office of the Children’s Guardian.
Our Music Programs structure
Symphony for Life currently administers two kinds of string programs: a beginner group focusing on the fundamentals of string playing, and a more advanced group learning how to play orchestral music.
All of our students learn their instruments in our programs, with lessons delivered primarily in small groups of three to five students. By focusing on group tuition students learn alongside their peers, making the whole process very collaborative and social.
Our teaching draws heavily on Orff-Schulwerk, with singing and movement at the core of our students’ learning. This way, our students are not just developing their instrumental skills, but are also achieving a high level of musicianship generally.
Community Engagement
Our programs also offer community engagement in the lives of parents and children from all backgrounds including immigrant communities from over 23 countries around the world. Learning music creates a common bond for everyone.
