Michael Levine shares a dream

This past weekend was a busy, but educational, productive and inspiring one at the Hoverman home.  Michael Levine, founder and trombonist of Dallas Brass, returned to Van Wert to share with some of us a dream he has been working on for the past four years.

Dallas Brass performed at the Niswonger this past November and many of us were able to get a small glimpse of what his dream is all about.  It’s called Harmony Bridge.  It’s a program he is developing that incorporates music students, communities, nursing homes, veterans homes, parents, service clubs, and school music programs.

Back in November when Dallas Brass performed in Van Wert, Michael shared his vision for this project with my wife and me. It was easy to see the passion he has for this project. When asked what it is, he simply says, “It’s about changing the world!”  After a short lunch discussion, Michael could see that we shared some of his passion for changing kids’ lives through music.

This weekend, while staying in our home, we had many discussions about his project Harmony Bridge.  It all came to him several years ago when he coached a few kids on some simple songs, then took them to play for some elderly nursing home residents. What he witnessed was an epiphany of sorts to him. He saw these residents light up with life that had left many of them as they heard these students play simple songs the residents recalled from their childhood. He also witnessed the caring and loving interaction between the young students and the elderly residents. It dawned on him that he may be on to something.

Dallas Brass has been his passion and vocation for 30 years. He has enjoyed performing for audiences all over the world. However, when he saw the reactions of these people as they listened to the kids perform as simple a song as “The Muffin Man”, he felt more fulfillment than any standing ovation from a Dallas Brass performance. It is easy to see how much this project means to him as soon as you start discussing it.

Michael is a Julliard trained graduate in trombone performance. Upon graduation, he played three years in the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, then three years in the Dallas Cowboys Band (my personal favorite), before starting up Dallas Brass. An important element of nearly every Dallas Brass concert is the interaction they have with students.  Michael and his fellow musicians bring simple and fun arrangements that kids can play. In a short amount of time, they can make them sound good, while improving musical skills for the kids and developing more confidence as players.  This in turn helps develop better bands.

By adding the element of sharing the music with the elderly, it opens a whole new perspective to Harmony Bridge. Michael shared video of kids he has worked with all over the country using some of the elements of Harmony Bridge. The kids feel good about making music and sharing it with people who feel their better days are behind them. There is so much proof that the nerves in the brain that store musical memory are the last to leave a person as they grow older. In essence, music restores life!

After nearly four days and many hours of discussion about Harmony Bridge and how it can engage a school music program and a community, Michael left us to fly to Colorado for a performance with Dallas Brass at a state music conference. I don’t think we have heard the last of Harmony Bridge. It could change the world!

FINÉ.