Project H. M. E.: Course Analysis

As a student at Curtis Institute of Music, we are required to take Curtis’s new one-semester course, Social Entrepreneur. The course teaches students to create and sustain social value through community-based service opportunities. My service project for this year is Project H.O.M.E, which is a Philadelphia non-profit organization empowering individuals to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness through affordable housing, employment, health care, and education. Neil and I, two percussionist, are honored to be selected to deliver some musics for the community. After I finished the project, I had many thoughts and feelings. As a musician, we always take advantage of music itself. We build our career path and future through music playing but neglect the other values of the …show more content…
We had a discussion about the event and process about a week ago. We decided to teach them some percussion instruments and at the end they can choose one of their favorite instrument to play and sing the song that they and Gabriella wrote together. Neil and I picked one conga, triangle, tambourine, shaker and other instruments that easy to learn with. After we arrived, the manager explained to us what they do and people who live there all had the experience of one to three years homeless situation. They may have metal illness, but definitely no harm to others. After the explanation, I understood the things they had been through and I was hoping I can help them through the fun of percussion instruments. Later, three women came in and one of them started to give us gifts. She gave each of us a red pencil, one red nose and told us she got them on the street and next month is the red nose day and we should put it on. I was very surprised. She doesn’t feel like people who had bad life experience. She was very open to communicate and optimistic. After the introduction the manager gave, Neil and I performed Steve Reich’s clapping music. I saw everyone was very