Project Overview
Music Matters is a community-based program for under served and at risk youth in the urban areas of America. The pilot program is established in the Metro Atlanta area and will focus on providing music education, intervention and appreciation to at risk youth from ages 8 to 18. The candidates for the program will be drawn from extremely low income families who otherwise could not afford music education outside of any public school program. It is expected that through the providing of this education the benefactors will experience not only knowledge and appreciation of music but a transformation of hope that will stay with them throughout their adult life, having a direct and positive effect on their well being and the well being of their community.
Empty Vessel Music will utilize volunteers who are either advanced gifted students or accomplished professionals of their instruments and/or craft. Each volunteer will be expected to successfully participate in a 2 week training program at the beginning of their work with Empty Vessel Music. This training program will provide basic core curriculum objectives and teaching methods covering any special understanding in the education and service of at risk youth. Each volunteer will be expected to contribute 2-4 hours each week and to continue with the program for a period of not less than 6 months.
The Music Matters program will operate with 5 full and part time staff members. Periodic evaluations will be conducted to assess the value of the Music Matters program (a) in helping the volunteers to become effective educators, (b) in the development of new understandings on the part of the students and (c) the improvement of the well being of the youth and community being served.
Statement of the Problem
Major obstacles to a child's social development in under served urban areas include gang activity, economic depravity, drug abuse, lack of self-worth, loss of hope, loss of aspirations and mental health issues. These are simply symptoms of the individual root "risk" factors assigned to these children from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2001 report "At-Risk Conditions of U.S. School-Age Children" . Conditions such as a disability , being retained in at least one grade, lack of fluent English language skills, not living with both parents , either parent imigrated in past 5 years , a family income below $10,000 , or neither parent/guardian is employed are all individual factors defining "at risk". Multiple at-risk conditions place youth in the greatest danger. When considering these factors, 46% of all children - over 24 million, or close to one-half of the child population - report having at least one of these seven at-risk factors in their life. Also, according to the report, only 11% of Caucasian children were exposed to more than one risk factor. However, 18% of Asian and Pacific Islander children, 27% of Hispanic children, and 34% of African American children have more than one risk factor in their life.
Examination of the regional data shows that over a quarter (27%) of the children living in central city areas have multiple risk factors, while children living in city-balance and non-metro areas had substantially lower levels of multiple at-risk children.
Public music education, if even available in these areas, focus on the academics of music and are limited not only by budget but in the amount of the individual attention they can offer a student regarding their social development and well being. Providing a supplemental, or in many cases the only program, Music Matters will enrich their entire education experience and will foster a rediscovery of their aspirations and rekindle lost hope. With this rediscovery their deep seated need for value, purpose and a sense of achievement will be met. Success in developing confidence and self-esteem through music will prepare the benefactors of the Music Matters program tobecome successful adults.
