Opus 118 Harlem School of Music

Mission

Opus 118 Harlem School of Music provides quality music instruction and teacher development in an environment that nurtures excellence and creativity.

Core Values

• Excellence in teaching, student activities, and everything we do.
• Access, inclusiveness and opportunity.
• A caring environment.
• A close relationship with our community.

Vision

By 2015, Opus 118 Harlem School of Music will be:

• A community music school of the highest quality, serving Greater Harlem and beyond, serving students of all ages to fully realize their musical gifts.
• A center for teacher development, nationally recognized for its traditions of excellence and creativity.
• An effective advocate for the study of music as an essential part of every child’s education.
• A home to a performing arts center in Harlem, a community hub whose concert hall provides performance space for our students and attracts artists from all over the world.

Philosophy

• Learning a musical instrument is a unique way of exposing children to beauty.
• Music education is a prime tool to awaken creativity and to teach concentration and focus.
• Focused study of a musical instrument affects a student’s academic performance in other subject areas in a positive way.
• Structured musical activities for students during the non-school hours are a means of preventing violence and drug abuse.
• Music is an instrument of peace, allowing students an emotional release in a time of social conflict and stress while teaching tolerance in a diverse community.
• In preparing young minds for a complex world, music education serves not only as a means to teach collaboration and cooperation, but also as a guide in solving complex problems.
• Music education creates and expands horizons for children who would otherwise lack the opportunity to experience the benefits that are derived from such an education.