Why Harmini?

Harmini is a project I created in the summer of 2023 to introduce music to babies and kids in primary school. Although there are many organizations collecting instruments for older children, there were none in New Jersey focused on early developmental instruments such as shakers, hand drums, and chimes for day cares and pre-schools in under-resourced communities.  I believe music is so important for learning and development, and I want to provide every child with an opportunity to experience its advantages.

The idea for Harmini first came to me when I learned that many children don't have the opportunity to engage with music at the same level that I have. My own experience with music has shown me it's ability to transform people's confidence and personalities, and I want to share this with other kids. 

Research shows that music has a significant impact on brain development and learning. According to research from Johns Hopkins, "certain types of music can stimulate areas of the brain responsible for expressive language, problem-solving, and improved memory. For babies, music can have a profound effect on learning and development in a wide range of critical areas." 

Johns Hopkins researchers also show studies that involve fMRI machines, which illustrate all the different places performers briains light up during improvisation. Highlighting the deep connection between music and intelligence, these studies emphasize the importance of introducing music to children as young as possible.

Harmini's goal is to inspire children to pursue their passion for music. Through this, we want to encourage kids to pick up an instrument and experience the joy of creating melodies and songs. We want to help make sure kids have the opportunity explore the transformative power of music.