Project "Gift of Music"

The members of Web Concert Hall participated in the Gift of Music project, which was sponsored by Music for One foundation. The foundation sponsored music educators and performers to travel to Tanzania and Cambodia during the fall 2010 and summer 2011 to promote music programs in schools that provides education services to underprivileged children. One might ask, why not send food and medical needs for these children? What good learning music does for them? Such questions are possible for many because in mainstream society, arts and music are usually looked upon as an extra discipline that it is not essential to the function of our society and culture. Developing countries need food and other means of survival tools to maintain their existence. For such, fortunately, we already have thousands of organizations and volunteers that are at the frontline addressing such issues and challenges for these children everyday. However, there are limited numbers, if at all, project such as “Gift of Music” that specifically promotes music education as an integral part of everyday school curriculum in the developing countries. The Gift of Music project is simply to provide the next step for these children’s needs, not a food for their stomach but a food for mind and spirit. The project hops to pave the next road for these children through music education. Specifically, it is our hope to use music to empower three areas for disadvantaged children populations: (1) use music as a tool for positive personality development, through concepts such as discipline, responsibility, teamwork, perseverance and strong work ethic; (2) use music as a tool to enhance intellectual skills such as logical thinking, decision making, language skills, memorization and motor skills; and (3) use music to bring artistic and cultural awareness to at-risk populations and to facilitate coexistence and positive relationships building within their community.

Like writing, it is all about learning to preserve one’s own culture and be able to discover one’s own identity. When a child learns about music, that is, listening and playing, music forges direct links between self and the world. Self-expression becomes more fluent, most importantly, the music can help interpret "who I am." Such is possible because learning music can open up a whole new world of experience that further enhances the mind, physical coordination, and expression. “In that spirit, “Gift of Music” was launched... For more information about Music for One Foundation, please contact Dr. Mijung Im at: mijungim@hanmail.net or Dr. Yoonil Auh at: yoonilauh@hotmail.com

You may view the trip to Cambodia in YouTube at:

• Part 1 (6 min)
• Part 2 (6 min)
• Part 3 (6 min)
• Part 4 (6 min)

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Costa Rica - SiNEM School and Orchestra	Costa Rica - SiNEM School and Orchestra
Costa Rica - SiNEM School and Orchestra	Tanzania with Dr. Mijung Im
Tanzania	World Vision Organization - Cambodia
Cambodia with Dr. Mijung Im	Hosanna Chorus of Cambodia
Joint concert performed by the Westline H.S. of Cambodia and Ye Won HS students.	Dr. Mijung Im during the opening speech - Cambodia
Siem Reap - Cambodia	Dail Organization on Hunger Project with students from Ye Won - Cambodia
Cambodia	Cambodia
	Music for One Foundation staff with Dr. Auh
"Roy" Photographer and Film Director of "Gift of Music" Documentary Film	Cambodia Music Performer Team (Students of Ye-Won High school of South Korea)

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