What does classical music have to do with social change? Andre’ St. James, acclaimed bassist , teaching director and spokesperson for The Bravo Youth Orchestra in Portland, Oregon spills over with relentless enthusiasm wherever he shares his intimate orchestral pit view of this question. Social change is spinning positively upwards for the participants of BRAVO.

“Teach children the beauty of music, and music will teach them the beauty of life.” This quoted realization actualized into form in 1975 through Jose’ Abreu ,Venezuelan founder of the El Sistema music education programs .El Sistema has since transformed the lives of 150,000 children through rigorous musical study and performance. 60 affiliated programs run in the US.as well as in other 55 countries. Portland’s BRAVO Youth Orchestra is one of them.

Launched in 2013, BRAVO is a free, intensive, classical music education program for grades K-3 at Rosa Parks Elementary. It now serves 60 students with more on waiting list.

What makes BRAVO different from any other elementary school orchestra? One would expect to find an orchestra in an elementary school. One would expect its members to develop into more disciplined, successful students. It is often the natural byproduct of becoming a musician.

Orchestral instruction begins in fourth or fifth grade in many schools. The students are largely from musically trained parents who know its value. For the students, it may be one of many cultural experiences they participate in as they mature.

At Rosa Parks School in Portland, students begin study in kindergarten. “The Bravo Youth Orchestra is the first music education program for this school,” Tamala Newborne, the principal notes. Children of this school, Portland’s poorest, are born into poverty. The school scores in the lower 15 percent on standardized tests. 95 percent live in poverty.18 languages are spoken here.

“If I wasn’t in Bravo, I wouldn’t be seen by anybody. My life is full of problems.” Says Brent on his video journal. oregonbravo.org.” He speaks with an innocent eloquence as he thinks aloud.” All of us can do something as one voice in harmony when we play together.”

Children living in blighted areas are not expected to succeed. Their labelling begins early, ” at risk”, and lasts a lifetime, if no positive, intervening actions occur. As early as 2nd grade their eyes glaze over in defeat, succumbing to reality of being viewed as less than by others they may know. Hatred turns inward and the spiral downward catapults them to a life of opportunities never offered. The promise of tomorrow through succeeding academically is a carrot held out of their reach and no longer of interest.

“From the moment a child is taught to play an instrument, he is no longer poor, he becomes a child in progress who’ll later become a full citizen. Physical problems are overcome by the spiritual richness of music. Jose’ Abreu, El Sistema founder, confidently says that which his music graduates prove.” It produces an irreversible transformation in a child. He may not be a musician. He may be a doctor.”

Picture the long forsaken undernourished areas of despair that bathe the children of urban and rural communities in alcohol and drug dependency arresting their potential. Generations before them have known the journey they are destined to take. Choices unwisely cast in a moments of weakness can set into a motion a chain of painful consequences .

In playing music, especially classical compositions, a number of doors open over time. The course of history for that child redirects. Ample studies attest that classical musicians have an increase in brain volume and activity, solve problems more effectively and creatively, have enhanced critical thinking, develop higher levels of executive function, have reduced pain and anxiety, sleep better, develop spatial and verbal skills, experience reduced stress hormones , and intensified enjoyment.

Guest Artists, role models, visit on BRAVO FRIDAYS. This series features various musicians from the area covering a wide range of styles from classical to baroque. The Program Director is Mark Woodward and Executive Director is Seth Truby. BRAVO has performed for the Multnomah County Commissioners, the Portland Art Museum, the Portland City Hall, the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and at Portland Public Schools with Superintendent Carole Smith as guest conductor.

Blog By Linda Lawson

Image courtesy of Jimmy Emerson, DVM – Flickr License