By: Maya Bharti, Founder of Melodies of Opportunity 

From June 7th to June 14th, Melodies of Opportunity had the privilege and honor of collaborating with TFFT to facilitate a musical immersion program for 72 TFFT scholars, none of which had ever before experienced the power of music; in fact, one scholar remarked, “In this camp I have learn[ed] to play with the guitar which I have never ever seen and never held.”

Throughout the program, the kids were able to learn how to sing, dance, drum, and play guitar, piano, saxophone, flute, clarinet, violin, and recorder. On the last day, the students came together to demonstrate all they learned in a culminating performance of Blackbird, a traditional African Ngoma, and many smaller demonstrations on specific instruments. While the program may have only been a week, the impact it had on the students is never-ending. In fact, one scholar noted, “Today, I loved music […] My dream is when I grow up I would like to be a musician.” 

Not only did this program have a vast impact on the 72 young scholars, but my experience in Arusha was one that I will never forget. As the founder of Melodies of Opportunity, I firmly believe that music, while a small thing, has the power to bring people together regardless of their background, socio-economic status, race, or religion. During my time with the scholars, all of us were able to come together and put aside our differences to make something beautiful, and for that, I am forever grateful. Thank you to TFFT for allowing Melodies of Opportunity to partner with you to foster an environment of creativity, education, and self-expression. Together, we were able to create a life-altering, memorable, and meaningful experience for so many wonderful people, which I alone could not have done, for as Brendan Slocumb once said, “Alone, we are a solitary violin, a lonely flute, a trumpet singing in the dark. Together, we are a symphony.”