The James C. Harper School of Performing Arts

Music Together® is an early childhood music program designed to help parents and caregivers nurture the child's musical growth. Music Together is based on developmentally appropriate and research based practices that will enhance your child's musical development and bring much joy to your family.

World Music Drumming is an innovative idea that has shown outstanding success engaging participants in hand drumming traditions combined with singing, moving, playing other instruments, and creating. The purpose of World Music Drumming is not to turn participants into percussionists... Rather it is to teach that drums and making music can be fun – especially in groups! World Music Drumming brings you the enjoyment and excitement of music participation while building important life-skills such as communication, listening, cooperative teamwork, discipline and respect for others.

At the Harper School, we believe that music therapy is the art of music scientifically applied by a music therapist to meet the needs and promote the strengths of children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) defines music therapy as "the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program" (AMTA, www.musictherapy.org). The key difference between music therapy and other therapies is the use of music and its components as the means to address non-musical goals. Goals can include motor skills and physical functioning, self-care skills, cognitive and intellectual abilities, speech and communication, socialization, mood, and spirituality.