Harmony Park

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Harmony Park is Virginia’s first outdoor musical classroom. Located on the campus of Colonial Trail Elementary School, the park offers a variety of handcrafted, waterproof musical instruments that are permanently stabilized in concrete. No sheet music or special training is require to play these instruments, allowing any child to both learn and play in a musical setting. The instruments are accessible to all, regardless of physical capabilities. They are tuned to be combined in many different textures, yet there are no clashing notes. Therefore, the joy and freedom of improvisation is discovered through experimentation as well as through guided instruction. Construction of the park utilized over $5,000 in donations. Moreover, hundreds of hours of volunteered time and resources have been invested into this project from parents, teachers, staff and community volunteers. As a result of Harmony Park’s ability to enhance students’ creativity and critical thinking, skills in music, math and science within its natural setting, Colonial Trail Elementary School was recognized by the Governor’s office through the Virginia Naturally Program.