Gulf Coast New Horizon New Music Program

New Horizons Music programs provide entry points to music making for adults, including those with no musical experience at all and those who were active in school music programs, but have been inactive for a long period. Many adults would like an opportunity to learn music in a group setting similar to that offered in schools, but the last entry point in most cases was elementary school. We know that for most of the last century, about 15–20 percent of high school students nationally participated in music. From that, we can estimate that at least 80 percent of the adult population needs beginning instruction in order to participate in music-making. New Horizons Music programs serve that need.

New Horizons is an International Music Program. MC is starting a local chapter and known as Gulf Coast New Horizons Music.

 

50 and up welcome. No experience needed.

Venue: Music Compound

Classes begin the week late October.

 

Benefits: 

Active participation in music fills important needs for adults—the need for challenging

intellectual activity, the need to be a contributing member of a group, and the need to have exciting events in the future. For many people, music can serve these vital needs better than anything else.

 

Adults participating in such a music program meet new friends and become an important part of a group. They have events to look forward to—concerts to play, concerts to attend, and trips. Such goals give added meaning and purpose to life. Strong friendships are formed in New Horizons programs (and there

have been several marriages).

 

A New Horizons Band or Orchestra is a new kind of Community Band or Orchestra (CBO). Traditional CBOs provide enjoyable musical opportunities for their participants and are important parts of the cultural life of their communities. Nearly all the people who play in them, however, were able to read music and play an instrument before joining. In some CBOs, most participants have music degrees, and auditions are required to participate. In most cases, CBOs are not appropriate entry points for beginners.