The Crescendo Music Program helps preschool children at risk grow more capable and confident through music.  Our music therapists visit shelters, daycares, Head Start and Early Intervention Centers throughout the Greater Philadelphia area to deliver a weekly music curriculum designed to improve fundamental cognitive, motor and social skills.  Since its inception in 1985, the Crescendo Program has helped over 25,000 children and their families to overcome the difficult challenges of disability and economic disadvantage.

During Crescendo classes, a professional music therapist/educator leads children in various types of musical learning and play, making use of activities proven to enhance communication, gross and fine motor skills, socialization, attention span, cognitive skills, and self-esteem.  Each Crescendo family is also given a take-home CD and activity booklet, filled with the same songs and games used in the classroom.  Parents are encouraged to sing the songs and play the games as often as possible in their homes, giving them a chance to take part and take pride in the musical and developmental progress of their children.  At the end of each year, Crescendo children have the opportunity to shine onstage in our annual Celebrate the Children! concert, performing alongside professional musicians and benefiting from the support and enthusiastic applause of their parents, teachers and community members.

With funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Academy developed teacher and parent evaluation forms which have now been completed for more than 11,500 Crescendo children.  On these forms, year after year, classroom teachers report that Crescendo classes help more than 95% of children grow in their overall development and self-esteem, while more than 95% of parents report that Crescendo gives them new ways to help and enjoy their children.  Our program received the Please Touch Museum’s Great Friend to Kids award, and in 2008 was honored for the third time with the Coming up Taller Certificate of Excellence presented by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.