Paterson Music Project Film

PMP spent the weekend on set at the Paterson Art Factory, capturing footage of students, teachers, administrators, and parents in action!  PMP had the pleasure of working with Genevieve Castelino-Merchant from Chakra Media Group, based in Chatham NJ and Faroukh Mistry, Director of Photography, based in Los Angeles.  The two worked together to create a video for PMP’s upcoming Building Harmony Fundraising Breakfast. 

Genevieve has embraced this project with such enthusiasm and passion, exceeding our expectations in terms of commitment and artistry.  Her vision goes beyond creating just a video for the Building Harmony Breakfast.  She hopes to create a documentary about PMP which will follow the students and program for five years.  The footage captured from this September will be the first installation of the long term project. This project is an exciting opportunity for PMP to tell its story to a larger audience and to gain publicity and funding so that the program can continue for many years to come. 

The two days we spent on set this September were very special for the parents, teachers, and students.  Parents shared their personal stories and described the impact PMP has had on their children.  It was touching and emotional at times to hear how meaningful the program is to some of the families involved.  There were also plenty of joyful, fun, and even silly moments.  The PMP students basked in the opportunity to be on camera, play their instruments, get close ups with their teachers, dance and sing with the fog machine.  We are so grateful at PMP for this opportunity and look forward to premiering the film on November 21^st at the Building Harmony Breakfast.

PMP Summer Program

Paterson Music Project had a wonderful summer session this July in which PMP students had the chance to continue their musical study as part of the Community Charter School of Paterson’s Summer School.  About half of our soon-to-be fourth grade students participated in the program, which met for two hours a day, four days a week during July. 

Typically, PMP students spend time during the school year taking group instrumental classes, orchestra, and musicianship class with their prospective playing level.  The summer program was a nice change of pace in which students formed chamber groups, played in orchestra, and explored rhythms in bucket ensemble with all levels combined.  The chamber groups were a fun challenge for our students.  This was the first time that they have ever played in chamber groups with multiple voices.  Some of the arrangements they played included Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Ode to Joy, and the Imperial March from Star Wars (which was of course, a PMP favorite).

It was very exciting to see such a strong NJYS/WMC presence at Paterson Music Project this summer.  We had a record number of high school mentors from NJYS work with our students nearly every day of the program.  Our students had the benefit of extra private lessons and coaching from NJYS mentors.  We also had the great pleasure of a visit from NJYS alum, Zach Hatcher.  He did a harp demo and performed on his instrument for an enthralled and inquisitive PMP audience. 

We begin our full-fledged fall semester on September 29 and expect 75 third and fourth graders to be joining us!  There is so much exciting growth and change happening at PMP.  We are looking forward to what will be a fruitful and musical year.