What impact does MVY make? Continuous music education is proven to drive positive outcomes for children from an early age. MVY provides students with ongoing music engagement during the critical birth-to-five year old period, a period of growth where music exposure amplifies brain development . Providing music education in pre-k classes enhances: -Detection and prediction of patterns; -Understanding and use of language;
Meet our Program Director, Kelsey Swanson
-Spatial-temporal reasoning; -Early reading development; -Lower rates of toxic stress -Neuroplasticity; -Kindergarten readiness; -Better grades; -Higher rates of college attainment; -Civic-minded behavior
Kelsey joined the team in 2015 as the Project Coordinator for our Trenton Makes - Words! partnership project with the Children’s Home Society of NJ and the New Jersey State Museum, then as a Music for the Very Young Teaching Artist, and now the Early Childhood Program Director since 2020. From the beginning she brought to the role deep knowledge of children, from her years as a Montessori educator, a youth sexuality educator, a diversity and inclusion facilitator, a Music Together teacher, and a mentor for youth-led tutoring programs. She loves to support young learners, colleagues, school partners, and families through continuous dialogue and life-long learning. Kelsey holds a B.A. in Sociology and Gender Studies from Manchester University and a Master of Education in Global Education Policy from the University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign.
Programs like Music for the Very Young are deemed essential to the NJ core curriculum for public schools and proven as an effective means for students to attain better educational outcomes. However, funding is not provided by school districts and must be attained elsewhere. Securing funding for preschool music and movement programs remains a challenge in urban New Jersey school districts. In order to grow this critical program, MVY seeks additional funding to reach more students, teachers, and families in the Trenton area.
CAPITAL HARMONY WORKS | ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24
06
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker