A Look Inside Our Summer Programming!
Los Angeles, CA (July 22, 2026) - Summer is in full swing at Harmony Project, and our students are continuing their music journeys across Los Angeles. Our young artists are exploring new genres, building friendships, and discovering their creative potential through music mentorship.
Mariachi & Drumline Camp
Group of drummers pose for the camera during camp.
In Pasadena at Octavia E. Butler Middle School, our middle and high school students immersed themselves in a fast-paced, two-week Mariachi and Drumline intensive camp. Spending three hours each day mastering their instruments, the mariachi students learned four complete songs under the direction of their three teaching artists. This creative space provided a much-needed sanctuary of joy for a neighborhood still recovering from the Eaton wildfire.
Three mariachi students smile before their end-of-camp summer concert performance.
Rock Band Camp
Teaching artists providing instruction to students.
At McKinley School in Pasadena, which houses our Eliot Arts students (the school was lost to the Eaton wildfire), our three-week Rock Band camp cultivated beautiful mentorship opportunities. Students ranging from fourth to eighth grade rotated between electric bass, acoustic guitar, drums, and vocals. The mixed-age dynamic allowed older kids to step into leadership roles, taking beginners under their wing.
Fourth-grader Eli expressed that he’s working hard to master the drums so he could help his dad who plays for their church. Eli articulated in a cute manner that he doesn’t want his father to “stay up too late practicing.”
The camp culminates this week in a final concert that continued the high-energy theme of the camp.
Summer Jazz Camp
A student melody ensemble practicing at the HP office.
Our summer jazz camp is also underway and has two parts. The first two weeks were group classes that were split up by instrument. We had melody classes for brass, woodwinds and string players. Additionally, we had a rhythm section class for students who play bass, drums, guitar or piano.
These classes were intended to help students learn the basics of playing jazz before transitioning to a four-day jazz intensive during the final week of the camp which is concluding on July 31.
As part of the camp, our young jazz artists are attending a field trip to the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art (LACMA) on July 24 to experience a live jazz show.
Musicianship in Hollywood
At our Hollywood site, we are continuing our partnership with Immaculate Heart of Mary school. Younger students spend their mornings exploring musicianship, singing, and the ukulele, while older students spend afternoons learning the clarinet and trombone.
Every note played this summer is made possible by our dedicated advocates, corporate partners, and donor support. Thank you for keeping the music going this summer in Los Angeles!
About Harmony Project:
Harmony Project is a nonprofit that provides high-quality music instruction and social support to children year-round at no cost throughout community hubs in Los Angeles. As one of Los Angeles’ largest music education organizations, Harmony Project is dedicated exclusively to serving children from low-income families and under-resourced communities. Harmony Project envisions a world in which all students have equal access to opportunities to learn how to play music and the resources needed to thrive in college and beyond. Harmony Project’s holistic approach to student success has resulted in impressive outcomes with 98 percent of the graduating high school class accepted to a college or university during the 2025-2026 academic year.