In 1975, José Antonio Abreu, an economist and musician, initiated ElSistema, a public welfare program designed to promote music education. The program has benefited tens of thousands of children. Abreu once said, “Music is the voice of civilization because it conveys the noblest values: solidarity, harmony, and compassion.”
Western Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) therefore launched the Crescendo program in 2014 to promote continuous music education in Kwinana, Western Australia. Tianqi Lithium was honored to be a corporate partner and funder since March 2017. We helped provide children from pre-school to Year 4 in two elementary schools with music education so that they can grow up happily with music and love. To date, hundreds of children have benefited.
The two schools are located in the industrial area of Kwinana, 35 kilometers south of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Most of the parents there work in the oil refining or petrochemicals industries. Cassandra Lake, the coordinator of the Crescendo program, is worried that "we have been working in Kwinana, but the reality is that children there are in adverse living conditions." Janet Homes à Court, a WASO board member, also noted, "Unlike private schools that invest heavily in music programs, music classes always bear the brunt whenever public schools narrow the curriculum."
Under the program, the children have the opportunity to feel the music by attending concerts, watching WASO performances, and learning to sing, read sheet music, compose music, and play violin and percussion instruments.
"Listening to music at break and lunchtime gives me great strength," said a third grader at the North Parmelia Primary School.
"My favorite part of school life is to relax and listen to the music.", said Kenzie Lauchlan, a fourth grader.
"The most important thing Crescendo brings to kids is confidence, which is so powerful that it makes you shine like no other. The children are now bravely trying and exploring the unknown," said Lisa Gilewski, a third-grade teacher.
Alan Harvey, a neuroscientist and musician, said the program may also profoundly change students' minds. "Music can change neural structures and enhance visual and auditory functions as well as motor, language, reading, and communication skills. Learning music at a young age is particularly helpful because it develops musicality, which enables students to multitask. It creates a neural structure that improves children’s lives in many ways."
Students get to learn math through number and finger games, develop literacy through reading, shoulder responsibilities through the maintenance of musical instruments, and learn social skills through playing music together. The Crescendo program teaches children not only the beauty of music but habits and qualities of life.
On October 8, the Western Australian Government announced the winners of the 2018 State Arts and Culture Partnership Honors, which acknowledge the outstanding contributions of individual philanthropists and businesses who partner with arts and cultural organizations in Western Australia. Tianqi Lithium received the Young People and the Arts Partnership award for its Crescendo program, along with BHP's program Awesome Arts Children's Festival.
Connecting people and communities with music, the Crescendo program benefits an increasing number of people and has a greater impact. Tianqi Lithium is delighted to benefit communities and help local children grow up happily.
