WHY MUSIC? What Hopewell does is about more than just music, it is about equal opportunities and access to music education. Music education is scientifically proven to increase academic performance in children and enhance productivity and mental acuity in adults. Music has the added benefits of instilling values such as discipline, resilience, cooperation, and good communication while providing both youth and adult students with a creative outlet. Playing in a group provides further benefits of helping students find camaraderie among like-minded peers. Due to long-standing issues of inequity, North Minneapolis residents have not had the same opportunities in music as those living in more affluent areas. Our goal in empowering Northsiders of all backgrounds to express themselves creatively by removing barriers to music lessons, classes, and local events. Hopewell provides a safe and affordable option for music education on the Northside. We offer sliding scale tuition for folks on federal or state assistance, removing financial barriers to lessons, classes, workshops, and camps. In addition, we offer six ensembles that are free and open to anyone in the Northside community, so North Minneapolis musicians can come to make music with one another.