Youth-Led Nonprofit · Est. 2024 · 4+ Countries
High school students and seniors, together — through the shared language of music.
Our Mission
At The Melody Project, we bring high school students and seniors together through the shared language of music — helping older adults rediscover joy and companionship, while giving young people a meaningful way to serve.
No musical experience required. Just a willingness to show up.
Learn about our work →What We Do
37% of adults over 50 report a lack of companionship. We address that through consistent, recurring visits — not one-time performances.
Music activates memory and reduces anxiety in ways that conversation alone can't. Our sessions are built around that finding.
There's no shortage of volunteer programs. There's a shortage of ones that ask students to be genuinely present with another person.
Partnerships & Reach
CO—GENERATE
CO—GENERATE
The Melody Project, founded by Chapin student Gemma Wang, uses the universal language of music to bridge generations.
Inspīr Senior Living · Perspectives Blog
Evidence-Based Practice
Our sessions are informed by decades of peer-reviewed research on music, aging, and intergenerational connection. We build curricula grounded in evidence, measure real outcomes, and publish our findings in Oxford University Press — indexed in PubMed / NIH NLM.
Our evidence base →Rooted in music therapy and gerontological science
Shaped by leading researchers and field practitioners
Outcomes tracked across every chapter and session
In the Press
rewriting the narrative around elder care.
community-based, intergenerational interventions addressing loneliness and cognitive decline.
Also featured in: Innovation in Aging (Oxford University Press) · Inspīr Senior Living · GirlTalkHQ · See all press →
We're building an international network of 10+ chapters across 4+ countries. Join us.