Thousand Bridges Opera: Kindermusik Bridges Fund

Hi, my name is Bridget Johnston, a mezzo-soprano and the co-founder of Thousand Bridges Opera Company, a brand new group in dedicated to bringing joyful music to all through educational programming, inclusive performance, and social justice initiatives. I am proud to be fouding this company with my dear friend and accomplished operatic soprano, Alicia Jayourba.

We are currently getting help incorporating as a 501(c)(3) in Pittsburgh. Part of our job in order to make that happen is to establish proof of concept, which we aim to do by gathering grassroots funding for programs that we plan to make integral parts of our company!

As a student at Carnegie Mellon, I completed an independent study on music therapy and intergenerational therapeutic techniques to lessen, prevent and soothe the symptoms of neurodegenerative disease in senior citizens. My grandfather was a musician, and was suffering from dementia in his final years in life. It was truly outstanding to see how hearing music, or even talking about music, brought so much life and vibrancy back for him, even if for a short time. I knew I wanted to help in whatever way I could to celebrate his memory and bring music to others. Alicia's father also was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He was a musician, and Alicia had a very similar experience with music acting as a healing tool for him while he was living. We do this in memory of our late family members.

Bridges by Kindermusik is a research-based program that uses music and movement activities, as well as instrument play, to build readiness skills across all learning domains for young children. By incorporating Seniors into the experience, it brings the added benefits of intergenerational play: promoting increased satisfaction and quality of life for Seniors, improved attitudes toward the elderly for children and their families and contributing to the encouraging of values and positive behaviors in children.

For Young Children: Bridges helps develop and strengthen skills such as receptive vocabulary, expressive vocabulary, fine-motor skills, gross-motor skills, motor planning and coordination, executive function skill, self-expression, confidence, and healthy risk-taking. All these benefits are realized through integrated music, rhyme, poetry, storytime, vocal play, and movement activities. The program supports the early childhood standards and requirements for high-quality programs as defined by the National Institute for Early Education.

The program also aligns with the Common Core State Standards and the Early Head Start and Head Start Child Development and Learning Frameworks.

For Seniors: Bridges® is a research-based program that helps to improve quality of life and sense of purpose for participants. Seniors enjoy “teaching” the children, and they also get to enjoy the added benefits associated with intergenerational learning. Developing con-

nections with a younger generation can help older adults feel a greater sense of fulfillment.

Thousand Bridges Opera is delighted to be talking with Kelly Green, a leader for the Kindermusik: Bridges program about securing a Bridges curriculum kit , so that Thousand Bridges Opera can bring these sessions into local nursing homes and skilled care facilities!

However, as a brand-new group, we need help to raise money for one of these kits.

Our goal is to raise $3,000 so that we can successfully provide the full Kindermusik: Bridges experience in the Pittsburgh community.

As soon as we raise enough money to purchase a kit, we can start this project immediately. I hope you consider making a small contribution to help us get to our goal, and make the world a more musical place. Thank you!

-Bridget & Alicia