Atlanta Music Project

Beneficial Program: The Atlanta Music Project offers free classes in both choir and classical instruments. Photo credit: Contributed

Music education starts with hitting the right notes. It can lead to so much more, according to the Atlanta Music Project, which offers free, world-class instruction in classical instruments and choir.

Dantes Rameau cofounded the Atlanta Music Project in 2010 as a partnership with the city of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, at the Jeremiah S. Gilbert House. This holistic afterschool program provided transportation, homework assistance and meals, along with lessons in band, orchestra and choir. The program since has added career and college counseling and scholarships to help alumni continue to succeed.

“We are a friendly home for music nerds,” Rameau says.

Today, the organization serves more than 1,000 students across three sites.

Rameau, whose skill with the bassoon earned him a spot at Yale University, used to teach public school students, who often were surprised to see that the virtuoso playing Mozart was a person of color. So cultural representation became a priority.

“When we started, we had an emphasis on helping students from underserved areas,” says Rameau, “and today most of our students still come from south of I-20, but we’re open to everybody and in such demand that some kids commute from Alpharetta and other parts of Metro Atlanta. We welcome any child who wants to connect.”

Students now travel for international competitions, and the majority have gone on to college, including such schools as the Berklee College of Music and other prestigious programs.

“Research shows that music study enhances all academic disciplines,” he says. “Even if our students do not make music a career, they earn scholarships with their instruments that enable them to pursue careers in law, medicine, architecture.”

For more information: atlantamusicproject.org