ew Horizons Music programs provide entry points to music making for adults, including those with no musical experience at all and those who were active in school music programs but have been inactive for a long time. Many adults would like an opportunity to learn music in a group setting similar to that offered in schools, but the last entry point in most cases was elementary school. We know that for most of the last century, about 15-20 percent of high school students nationally participated in music. From that, we can estimate that at least 80 percent of the adult population needs beginning instruction in order to participate in making music. New Horizons Music programs serve that need.

The first New Horizons program at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York was designed to ... [read the entire article]

To read the Grand Masters Series article from the Music Educators Journal entitled “Music For Life” by Dr. Roy Ernst, click the PDF icon to the right.

A new DVD entitled “Chordially Yours,” a one-hour interview with New Horizons Founder, Roy Ernst, is now available for purchase. Roy talks about his school days and early music experiences. He also talks about his early career and his time at the Eastman School of Music. Of special interest to those involved in New Horizons is the description of his original idea for a band for retired people and how his philosophy has grown into an international program. To order the DVD, send a check for $25.00 (which includes shipping) to Peggy Hall, 508 Panorama Trail, Rochester, New York 14625. Click the DVD to send an e-mail for any questions you may have.

Welcome to the New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA) website.

I am honoured to be the President of NHIMA for 2010, and I am truly grateful for the knowledge, wisdom, and enthusiasm of the eight fellow directors that will make up our team. The New Horizons Board of Directors is made up of nine members from across North America, and this ensures broad geographic representation within the organization. It also allows the board members to address and acknowledge the diversity in individual band development, structure, and operations. Please meet and learn about each of these dedicated board members by selecting the “NHIMA/Biographies” link to the left of your screen. Roy Ernst, our founder and our inspiration, is advisor to the Board, and his presence guarantees that we will never lose sight of the vision and purpose of NHIMA.

Our webmaster, John Morgan, is a multi-faceted brass player as well as a conductor. John and his wife are currently in the process of relocating to South Dakota, and we wish him well in his new surroundings. In his official capacity as webmaster, John makes it truly easy to explore, find answers to some of your questions, or learn about the organization. Simply follow the titles in the sidebar on the left of the screen to view numerous topics of interest... [read the entire article]