28 June, 2019

On May 17, 2019 I provided a Harmonikids session to High Road School, a facility designed specifically to meet the individualized academic, behavioral, and therapeutic needs of students requiring special education services. In spite of their broad range of acute learning challenges, the teen attendees had a joyful time learning about the harmonica as I engaged them and peaked their interest with performances of familiar songs they loved. Some were content and calmed by simply enjoying the music and singing along. Others became fascinated by the instrument and were very proud of themselves as they actually learned to correctly play the songs. Teacher Ms. Rose provides these and other insights of the therapeutic benefits the youth received from the uplifting Harmonikids session below.

~ Gary Allegretto, Founding Director of Harmonikids, www.harmonikids.org

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Thank you again for taking time out of your schedule to provide our students at High Road School, the opportunity to participate in your Harmonikids Workshop! I was very thrilled with the workshop and I know it was a great opportunity for the students to participate. I received very positive feedback from the students. They found it easy to get engaged with the way you were teaching them. Many of the students enjoyed learning a new style of music on an instrument that some of them had never heard or seen before. Some students found the music very relaxing and calming. Learning to play familiar songs was the favorite part for some, while others said they enjoyed listening and singing along. All of the students were very grateful to receive a harmonica to take home. I hope that you will be able to come back to teach our elementary school students. Our kids would really enjoy participating in a workshop with you in the future.

~ Ms. Rose, Teacher, High Road School of Delaware