By Dantes Rameau and Aisha Bowden, Co-Founders of the Atlanta Music Project
Recently the Atlanta Public Schools decided to give their elementary schools the option to cut band and orchestra programs, potentially further reducing the amount of students who have the option to receive instrumental music instruction. Unfortunately elementary school is the perfect age to engage kids in instrumental music instruction because that is when they have more time and are more open to trying new things.
Perhaps more importantly, music can lay the groundwork for pathways to success. Music education requires kids to invest in themselves, and that inspires others to invest in them. We know this because as co-founders of the Atlanta Music Project we have seen our students’ musical development open many doors for them that will be life-changing.
The Atlanta Music Project was founded five years ago to provide intense music education to underserved youth right in their neighborhood. Our program builds after school youth orchestras and choirs in communities where intensive music instruction is not typically available.
Thanks to their own hard work and determination, our students have been able to experience several amazing accomplishments. Among them: performances at the Woodruff Arts Center and the Atlanta Film Festival, joint concerts with the Morehouse College Glee Club and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestras of Atlanta, and filming a commercial for broadcast on ESPN during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
Most music teachers can rattle off similar performance experiences of their own students. These musical opportunities are crucial, not only because they allow children to shine, but also because they inspire the community to action.
For example, taking notice of our students’ dedication and many accomplishments, an anonymous donor recently approached us to establish the Atlanta Music Project Endowed Scholarships at Clayton State University. Through this fund any Atlanta Music Project student can now attend Clayton State as a music major or minor, with all their expenses covered.
While the Atlanta Music Project serves a couple hundred students, we will never be able to reach as many children as Atlanta Public Schools can through taxpayer funded public education.
Our experience in the field of music education tells us that the Atlanta community wants to help children develop into great citizens. And it helps when the community sees children doing great things to improve their own lives.
Let’s remember that when we eliminate instrumental music education we reduce the chances for kids to show their best selves and inspire those around them to action.
from Atlanta Music Project http://ift.tt/1FytvKv
via IFTTT Promote your music, album, and products on Atlanta's best entertainment talk show, When We Speak, hosted by Jermaine Sain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3271kZZ4EoI
No comments:
Post a Comment