A Fresh Beat

The music that pulses through our veins, makes us tap beats on the school lunch table, sing in the shower, and strive to get those ideas in our heads out into the world – that’s what inspires our dreams. Give A Beat’s Youth Music Production & DJ Program aims to make those dreams a reality. The series offers youth a visionary experience, an enhanced understanding of their capabilities, and equips them with essential life and  technical skills that can be applied to various career, educational, and social pathways.

Since 2015, Give a Beat has been delivering music production and DJ programs to youth from underserved communities and high-stressed environments.  And at the end of 2021 GAB became the 15th member of the Arts for Healing & Justice Network (AHJN), which will allow us to reach even more youth than ever. (Side note: through our over 50 workshops we’ve reached  over 1,000 throughout the last 6 years!)

What does the YMP  look like? For a taste watch our new sizzle reel. In it you’ll see a snapshot of the program participants (youth ages 12-26) as they explore and master production tools, recordings, and other avenues of music and DJing. 

“I came in here just to focus on lyrics,” said program participant RaShay. “But out of nowhere, I figured out I have a gift for making beats. Next thing you know, a brother told me ‘you have an ear for music, that’s a gift of a producer.’ It's really opened up a lot in terms of realizing what else I'm good at.” 

With nine residencies in schools, temporary shelters, care facilities, juvenile halls,  YMP pairs youth TA’s and professionals with young talent. One such collaborative program, Fresh Tracks, unites Give a Beat with Jail Guitar Doors (JGD), and Street Poets. All three organizations are connected and running this program through the Arts for Healing & Justice Network (AHJN). 

Located at the C.A.P.O. Center and taking place over 12 weeks, Fresh Tracks offers a diverse range of approaches to art and music making, companion trainings, seminars, and workshops for youth ages 13 +.  The mission is to provide  a pathway to music education, project completion, and avenues for monetizing participants’ original works.  

So, as you can see, the dreams are becoming real, one workshop at a time, one beat at a time. Watch the film,  and learn more to support us or get involved!

Video Credits:

In collaboration with Jail Guitar Doors, Street Poets, & the Arts for Healing & Justice Network Location: C.A.P.O. Center 

Filming: Emily Rifkin & Chaz Lewis Video Production & Editing: Emily Rifkin 

Music: Sun Children by Nickodemus feat. The Real Live Show

Blog written by Tomas Palermo