Kosovo Children’s Music Initiative

CURRENT PROJECTS 2004-Present

GJAKOVË CITY CLASSES

Since August 1999, KCMI has offered children's music classes in singing, drumming, harmonica and pennywhistle at schools in Gjakovë, attended by children throughout the city. The groups perform often and are becoming fine musicians. A group of these students were invited to the USA in July 2004, and performed concerts throughout the Midwest. Many graduates of this program are now Youth Teacher Volunteers.

SLOVENE VILLAGE MUSIC CLASSES

KCMI has established weekly music classes at the Slovene Village, a "transit shelter camp," for families who lost homes and parents in the war. Our work at Slovene Village best represents our basic mission: to offer war-impacted children opportunities for play, creativity, learning, self-expression, and relief from the hardships which surround them.

YOUTH-TEACHER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

KCMI is based on the premise that a locally run program is in the best interests of war-affected communities. Through our Youth-Teacher Volunteer Program, local youth receive bi-weekly training in reading, writing and counting music; singing, playing pennywhistle, harmonica, drum, and ukulele; using ukulele to teach singing; conducting; teaching children to read rhythms, count, sing, and play instruments; lesson planning and reporting; time management and employments skills; tolerance; and leadership. Senior volunteers teach in all of our classes and assist in training new volunteers. Because of the immense success of our youth volunteer program, we are now able to teach more children in more locations than ever before.

VILLAGE OUTREACH

KCMI is providing villages outside of Gjakov? with music classes including singing, music-reading, pennywhistle and harmonica. We supply pennywhistles, harmonicas, and music all for participating children. Classes include members from Kosova's diverse ethnic groups, and provide music education to locations which have few opportunities for growth and development of children.

SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER TRAINING

KCMI sponsors weekly pedagogical training sessions for Gjakove-area music teachers on how to read, write, and count music; how to play the pennywhistle and harmonica; how to teach children to read rhythms, count, and sing; and how to conduct. We provide these teachers with pennywhistles, harmonicas, and music to take back to their classrooms, and observe their teaching throughout the year. Training is offered on three levels, each level taking nine months to complete. Teachers are awarded certificates at the completion of each level of training.

KOSOVO CAMPS, PROGRAMS, AND PROJECTS FROM THE PAST

We have been involved in many projects over the years which were not ongoing:

• Summer Camp For Children With Missing And Dead Parents In 2000
• Tolerance Summer Camp In 2001
• Program For The Disabled In 2001
• Tolerance Songwriting Course In 2002
• Programs In Various Shelter Camps, Now Closed, from 1999-2003

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