Learning About Music as Building Blocks of Society in “Serenade for Haiti”

Serenade for Haiti is a touching documentary that chronicles the story of the students and teachers at Sainte Trinite Music School in Port-au-Prince Haiti, before and after the devastating 2010 earthquake. A class screening of the film may supplement a social studies, global studies, or arts/music curriculum. Taught in conjunction with this guide, Serenade for Haiti will encourage students to consider art and music as fundamental building blocks of society and self, instrumental in the development of full personhood and culture. Discussion questions and supplementary materials facilitate further research into related topics such as global poverty, recovery from trauma and Haitian history.