Harmony Project program connects new American students in Columbus through music
David Brown passed around copies of the lyrics to John Lennon's song "Imagine" to about 30 high school students in the theater at the Franklin County Harmony Center.
As a musician played the opening piano chords, many of the teens, whose first language is not English, kept their heads down as they studied the piece of paper, unfamiliar with the song.
Brown sang softly and the others joined in slowly, getting louder with each line.
"If you do the work in getting your voices open and singing, we will do the work to make that happen," Brown said. "That is a promise. So, stand up and sing real loud for me now!"
The rehearsal earlier this month was part of Harmony Project's new outreach program with Columbus Global Academy and Columbus International High School, Northland schools that serve students whose families have immigrated to the United States. Since September, students have been heading to the performing arts center every two weeks to learn songs in English and form a choir.
On Monday, they performed "Imagine" on the football field at International High School, 4077 Karl Road, during a luminary event. The flagship chorus of Harmony Project joined students from both schools to create a giant peace sign and a human circle around it during the performance.
"At their age, when you hear a song like this, it can seem pretty boring and not feel very important to them because they want hip-hop or something more upbeat," said Brown, founder and creative director of Harmony Project, a Columbus choir focused on public service. "But once they get out on the field ... and they see these candles and they see the peace symbol, I think the kids are going to start to get it. That it's bigger than that."
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Music an universal language everyone can understand
Caryn Shapiro, Global Academy history teacher and program coordinator, said there are about 50 students involved in grades 9-12. The teens have moved to the U.S. from all parts of the world, including Sierra Leone, Haiti, El Salvador and Brazil, and they speak more than 14 different languages.
Shapiro connected to Harmony Project through her friend, Jen Robinson, former youth director for the organization. She said music is a universal language and that it can teach new Americans how to speak English in a nonthreatening way.
"I have a young man who's a 12th grader graduating this year from Honduras. He speaks English pretty well and I said, 'Where did you learn English?' and he said, 'Lil Wayne,'" Shapiro said, laughing.
Brown said he organized the program as a way to get to know his new neighbors in Northland. Harmony Project began leasing the Northland Performing Arts Center last year, which is now known as the Harmony Center.
"Anytime you moved into a new neighborhood, at least the way it used to be, is that you'd go over and meet your new neighbors and take them some cookies or brownies or something like that," he said. "We want the kids to know that this is a place they can come, where they're safe, where their voices are heard. And then by extension, that their parents will feel safe and comfortable coming here as well."
Mirma Mitial, who originally is from Haiti, said being a part of the outreach program is a way for her to be creative. In addition to singing, the 15-year-old from Columbus Global Academy likes to dance and draw.
"I love to sing," the 10th-grader said. "All of the songs we've learned I've never head of, but it's fascinating. I like all types of songs."
Miriam Ramos, 17, arrived in the U.S. a year ago from Mexico. The 11th-grader at International High School said her English was very limited, but the Harmony Project program has helped her improve. Ramos said she was excited for the event.
"I love the music," she said. "The music helped me with my English."
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mwalker@dispatch.com
@micah_walker701
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Harmony Project program connects Columbus high schoolers with music
