I am working on the topic of building a positive foundation for African American youth, to educate them about all genres of music culture, in a way that would interest them. I want to find out why African American youth predominantly like hip hop and not other music cultures. I would like to know the connection that African American youth has to hip hop and how possibly I can create a connection with other cultures. I think that maybe they see more in their lifestyles what hip hop talks about as opposed to other genres. In my opinion, majority of hip hop today does not have the positive message that youth need to see. The rappers and artist mainly talk about drugs, gangsters, sex, and violence. There is more to life than struggling. The youth think that they have a point to prove or a story to tell. They do not realize that if they broaden their horizons, they would be more positive and open minded. Being able to explore other cultures is very rewarding; you learn a new appreciation for others.
I recently read about a musician named Carl Grubbs who has done a lot for African American youth. He has organized many different music programs for the children. They can do anything pertaining to music such as; vocal, dance, and instrument. He provides these children with discipline and structure. Grubbs is an excellent mentor not only for the children, but for me as well. I feel that I can learn a lot from him. He encourages me to keep my dream alive. I would love to actually meet with him and ask how he got his foundation started. I want to know how to go about trying to get funding for my foundation. How do I get loans and grants? What is the process of being a business owner? I want to know what procedures I take to be a productive foundation. I want my children to willingly enroll in my program. Children should know how to sing in different languages and know why everyone sounds different. In order to help my reader better understand why I have such a passion to teach the youth about music. I believe bringing a positive outlook into children’s lives can make a significant difference. If you start to instill in them knowledge young, they can only continue to grow positively. I want to inspire children that they can be positive and affect others in positive ways. Music is just another form of expression, and can sometimes be better understood. African American youth could really benefit from my goals and I want them to better themselves. My goal is to make music, no matter what form, a positive and enlightening experience and challenge for the youth.
http://www.carlgrubbs.com/saxcamp.asp
http://jbp.sagepub.com/content/34/3/331.abstract
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