The Music Project offers 3-4 week sessions
that culminate in a concert of eight to ten songs
performed by both the professionals and students
for their families, peers and the community.
First Place
www.firstplaceschool.org
The Music Project Foundation is gratified to be able to work with the First Place, a service agency and school for kids grade K-6, devoted to educating and nurturing children whose families struggle with the risk or reality of homelessness, to bring our dynamic music program to their kids. Our mission is to bring music education and the performance experience to youth who are underserved, and this is a perfect match! We will be at the school in March & April with a culminating concert at the Langston Hughes Center.
We are looking for sponsors/donors to help fund this program.
If you wish to help us, contact Jim Geiszler at jgeiszler9481@msn.com
The Secondary Academy for Success, SAS, (formerly the Secondary Alternative School), has been in existence since 1969. It is housed in downtown Bothell, at the WA Anderson building. During that time, SAS has provided a highly successful high school alternative for "at risk" kids. Our students have to deal with, and try to overcome, a myriad of problems that complicate and hinder their growth and development. We provide a safe haven and help them build academic and social skills so when they leave us they have the confidence and skills to start being contributing citizens. Most of our kids were given no chance to graduate, but we have sent a few thousand on their way with a high school diploma. Some of our students go to college but most enter the work force, go to trade schools or apprenticeship programs and end up living productive lives. Many are very successful in business.
During all this time there has never been a curricular program for the performing arts. There was no theater, dance, band, orchestra or choir. Even though there is a lot of talent in our school, the conventional programs just weren’t attractive to them.
So it was a wonderful surprise to come across Bernadette Bascom and her Music Project. The Music Project provided students with a unique opportunity to express themselves in a positive musical way by singing and performing R&B and other popular songs on stage. Many of the participating students have had no previous musical experience. An interest is all that is required.
By performing music that is not only fun but has a positive message and is the result of hard work and commitment, the increase in pride and self-esteem that results from performing in these concerts is clearly evident to teachers and parents. The concerts are so well received that it catches the kids by surprise. It is obvious to everyone that something special has just happened. The kids are so proud that they don’t want to leave the stage. And as many of you know, a feeling of accomplishment and a positive stroke like this can be a catalyst for a child’s turnaround. It takes courage to get up on stage and perform and the respect they got from the other students was immediate. Suddenly they were somebody, someone knew who they were. I’m sure that for many of these kids it was the first time they were acknowledged for any talent This program makes a measurable difference in their lives.
The fundamental goal of the Music Project is to develop a prototype that will bring music education to youth that are underserved, or not served at all, by the music programs in school districts. The keys to the success of the program are playing and singing relevant music and then getting students up on stage performing a concert at a high level.
Also included in the Music Project are workshops throughout the year focusing on discussions of the musical experiences of the professional musicians. There are always many questions about the real life of the music business and possible career opportunities. To address this issue, we are planning to include aspects of the music business other than just performing the music. For every artist on stage, there are many people required to make that performance come to life. There are sound engineers, lighting technicians, audio/video recording, wardrobe, make-up, stagehands, marketing directors, box office managers, ushers, security, and on and on. By letting students know that these jobs and opportunities exist, they might consider looking at a career in this business.
Music is an important part of most people’s lives. Playing, singing and being around music are a dream of many but only a reality for some. This program will make it a reality for many of those dreamers.
Jim Geiszler
Executive Director
The Music Project
"We must support our children in every way we can. We must allow our children freedom to express themselves creatively. We must praise our children and thank them for their gift of inspiration. We must motivate our children spiritually. We must challenge our children to a higher level of achievement. We must increase our children’s self-confidence and improve their overall quality of life. So we say to our children, draw, paint, write, act, sing, dance, think, express, and be free to dream always”
Tupac Shakur
