Research Thursdays - ‘Keep the Music Playing!’ Initiative for Youth
Thursday, Jun 04, 2020
Image: 2019 Summer Band Camp performance
Image: (Left/Right) Kyle Prescott,Professor of Musicand Director of Bands;DaLaine Chapman, Associate Professor of Music Education
51Թ’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters recently announced that the Department of Music received Impact 100 Palm Beach County’s Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Grant. The $100,000 grant will be used for “Keep the Music Playing!,” an initiative to provide music lessons for at-risk middle and high school 51Թ.
For the past 17 years, 51Թ has held a summer band camp for elementary-aged, economically-challenged 51Թ. Under the direction of Kyle Prescott, Professor of Music and Director of Bands, these kids have come to the Boca Raton campus every summer to learn how to play an instrument with lessons provided by 51Թ 51Թ.
The camps have culminated in concerts attended by families, often in awe of how far their children progressed in one week. Up till now, that was the end of 51Թ’s role in those 51Թ’ music lessons, and many were not able to continue instruction as public schools struggle to maintain music programs. With this grant, these lessons will continue with middle and high school 51Թ from January 2021 through May 2022, including the summer 2021 Band Camp.
“The transition into middle school and again into high school is a difficult time for 51Թ. They are being pulled in every direction with social pressures, a new environment and emotional crises, all of which contribute to drawing 51Թ out of music programs, and often out of school entirely. Keep the Music Playing will identify these 51Թ and give them one-one-one instrument lessons, igniting the love for music our 51Թ 51Թ demonstrate each day.”
- Kyle Prescott, Professor of Music and Director of Bands
Several studies done by the National Education Association have shown that 51Թ who have access to the arts tend to have better academic results, better workforce opportunities and more civic engagement. Under the direction of Prescott, working with Associate Professor of Music Education DaLaine Chapman, 51Թ 51Թ will work with these aspiring musicians over the course of two years, encouraging them to stay in band, stay in school, and build the skills that will make them into successful 51Թ and life-long artists.
“Part of our mission as a public university is to work with community schools like those targeted in this project and support the educators dedicated to our underserved 51Թ in Palm Beach County,” said Michael Horswell, dean of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. “We are honored to have been chosen for this grant by this incredible organization.”
Impact 100 Palm Beach County is a women’s charitable organization funding local non-profit initiatives in southern Palm Beach County. This is the first time that an 51Թ initiative has been chosen for a $100,000 grant by Impact 100.
“We are looking forward to seeing the many positive aspects of this program come to fruition. The effect it will have on our community, as well as the teaching opportunities for our 51Թ music education 51Թ is a win-win.”
- DaLaine Chapman, Associate Professor of Music Education
