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Weekly Music Classes

Crescendo’s music classes are led by professional music therapists trained to help children with disabilities and disadvantages grow more capable and confident through music.  Each week, Crescendo children gather in their own Head Start, Early Intervention, or daycare centers to take part in musical activities designed to help them make gains in six skill areas – communication, gross and fine motor skills, socialization, attention span and cognitive skills – and in their self-esteem and self-confidence. Each year classroom teachers report that Crescendo helps more than 95% of children at their centers grow in their abilities and self-esteem.

One Early Intervention physical therapist said, “This is an incredible program for all children – including those with special needs!”


Parental Involvement

In 1992, with support from The Pew Fund for Health and Human Services, the Academy developed a Crescendo Parental Involvement Initiative. Through the Initiative, all Crescendo parents continue to  receive CDs filled with songs to sing with their children and activity books filled with activities to enjoy with their children.  Every year since 1992, parents who complete our evaluation forms report that Crescendo gives more than 95% of parents new ways to enjoy, understand and help their children.

One parent told us, “Every time we play [the Crescendo CD], we learn something new.  We play it over and over until we tire out.  Thank you for helping us teach more as parents with music.”


Annual Concert

On May 25, 2010, the Academy will host its 15th annual Celebrate the Children! concert.  As in the past, the concert will be held at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with beloved hosts Pat Ciarrocchi and Ukee Washington of CBS-3 Eyewitness News. And this year, the concert will celebrate a major Crescendo milestone:  25 years of bringing music to some of Philadelphia’s most underserved neighborhoods and to over 25,000 families and children at risk.

More than 500 Crescendo children will take part in the concert, performing with their Crescendo teachers and friends, and receiving the enthusiastic applause of hundreds of Crescendo families and Academy friends, in an event they will remember for years to come. The concert will also feature some of Philadelphia’s most engaging multicultural professional musicians.

Please contact Angela Hollis to learn more about this inspirational event and the many different and exciting ways that you can get involved.