Venezuela music project helps low-income kids even before birth

By Diego Ore

CARACAS (Reuters) - When Adan Bello was born in Caracas, he barely cried.

The state-run System has since its inception in 1975 trained 2.5 million youngsters, mostly from low-income backgrounds, including Gustavo Dudamel, the renowned conductor of The Los Angeles Philharmonic.

“A child who takes up a musical instrument is a child who will never raise a weapon,” said Leonardo Mendez, coordinator of The System’s latest “New Members” initiative.

In a nation awash with guns and with one of the world’s highest murder rates, The System has for decades sought to counteract poor children’s exposure to violence with the gentle and inspiring influence of classical music.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-music/venezuela-music-project-helps-low-income-kids-even-before-birth-idINKCN0I21IH20141014