"Let us reveal to our children the beauty of music and music shall reveal to our children the beauty of life"

– Jose Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema

Brazil Strings was founded in 2013 by Canadian musician Vanessa Rodrigues to help sustain her ongoing volunteer efforts at the Rocinha Music School, a non-profit organization in Rio de Janeiro, teaching string instrument lessons to the youth of Rocinha, South America's largest Favela (shanty-town).

Why strings, in particular?

The family of bowed string instruments: violin, viola, cello and double bass, form the backbone of the symphonic orchestra. Many projects all over Brazil similar to the Rocinha Music School have orchestra programs which help foster the creative potential of local youth.

Why have an orchestra at all?

Playing in musical ensembles fosters mutual respect as well as a sense of self-worth and self-confidence. But in a country such as Brazil, with its gaping economic and social inequality, playing classical music is unattainable for the vast majority of locals. Children of lower middle class families are too often excluded from the very after school programs that could help them excel in their education and social development. 

Thankfully, Venezuela's El Sistema (mentioned in the quote at the top) and other similar programs have changed all that, opening the doors for children from all walks of life to experience the joy of music for themselves.

“It is evident that music has to be recognized as an element of socialization, as an agent of social development in the highest sense, because it transmits the highest values – solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion . And it has the ability to unite an entire community and to express sublime feelings.”

-Jose Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema

Here's the problem...

As wonderful and important as these programs are, the vast majority are not government-funded and struggle to stay afloat from year to year. Many of them manage to secure instruments and rehearsal space, and may even get a sponsor for a year or two to offer regular lessons during that time. Then once the sponsorship runs out they can't afford to keep their teachers, and these kids who were working so hard on their instruments and learning orchestra pieces all of a sudden don't have any more lessons to go to. Not only is this very disruptive, it's also potentially dangerous for these young people, as music lessons are a kind of salvation for many of them who come from difficult home/family situations or are at risk of being influenced by local criminal activity.

This is where we at Brazil Strings step in...

We provide financial support for teachers to go teach during those short periods of time that ongoing programs are unable to hire a local teacher. This way we help avoid interrupting kids' music lessons and keep their positive momentum going until their school is able to secure more funding.

... but we can only keep this going with YOUR help!

Brazil Strings is a Canadian Not-for-Profit organization that depends on donations from people like you. Please help us continue to bring the joy of music to these deserving Brazilian youth!   Please note that we are not a registered charity and therefore unable to issue tax receipts.