MISSION AND WHAT WE DO
There are destructive minds at work who are unwilling to accept culturally and philosophically diverse others. Being ‘different’ can result in ostracism, abuse, assault and homicidal shootings, and our innocent children are evermore the targets of horrific acts.
Music is the perfect vehicle for facilitating social change. We effect a positive change by bringing together and recording culturally diverse exceptional young musicians from around the world using Internet-based technologies in real-time.
We give peace a chance through music.
RECENT SUCCESSES
In our most recent project, we recruited and recorded 34 musicians virtually and in real-time from different locales across Maryland and Colorado. Distances between the musicians and the audio engineer ranged from 60 miles to 1650 miles apart. Not only did we successfully record an original song with these artists, we produced a commercial quality recording. Check out behind the scenes imagery and the final mix here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Po2RQLwYV4
In our post-project evaluation, every young musician stated they learned a great deal from the recording experience, were highly pleased with the results, enjoyed participating in the Project, and would definitely like to participate in another one of our Projects.
CURRENT PROJECT
With each Project, our organization selects a new genre of music, then explores the culture, arts and history that influences that genre. Thus, each Project becomes a teaching and learning experience for student musicians, for all supporting subject matter experts and the genera public.
Our genre of music for the 2019 Phase II Project is Native Music. While Phase I was a proof of concept Project which virtually recorded musicians across Maryland and Colorado, Phase II will expand to include participation by exceptional Native student musicians across North America.
An emphasis will be placed on recruiting from Tribal Reservations and from schools that historically serve Native populations and interests. Once funding for the project is secured, NAMMY & multi-award winner Wade Fernandez will engage and mentor the artists as our Phase II Project Producer.
https://wadefernandezmusic.com/
WHY A NATIVE AMERICAN PROJECT?
Multiple reports indicate Native youth are suffering across North America and one in three American Indian children live in poverty. Specific struggles that Native youth face often go unmentioned. Native youth have a special role as citizens of tribal nations in defining the future of this country, and in leading Native cultures, traditions, and governments. However, they experience significant challenges in reaching their potential.
Native youth struggle with single motherhood, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, and substance abuse, joblessness, failing educational systems, inadequate healthcare, violence against women and children, and an epidemic of youth suicide in Native communities.
I have a friend who lives on a reservation. Everyday she witnesses more and more families copine with suicide. It is sad. Sometimes kids will show up just to talk or they need some extra healing or smudging. It is a different world where music plays an integral role. It is used for ceremonial purposes, recreation, expression, and healing. Native vocals are passionate, used to invoke spirits, ask for rain or healing, or are used to heal the sick.
YOUR ASSISTANCE PROVIDES HEALING (AND MORE)
Your funds give a voice to marginalized young Native musicians. You will help bring together members of different Tribes across the US and Canada, and each student musician will serve as a cultural ambassador to their own Tribe and culture. You will have an opportunity to hear their story via video posts.
With your assistance, funding for the Project will create an Internet-based video docuseries providing behind-the-scenes looks of the Project. It will feature a personalized look at each musician - their culture, where they live, friends and family, and discuss musical influences. You will help shine a spotlight on the daily challenges faced by Native Youth. Through the shared experience of making music, cross-Tribal friendships will develop, our youth can learn about different Tribal cultures, musicians will create a new supporting network, new bonds of friendship, and the finished musical work will promote pride and unity across cultural and Tribal lines. Your assistance provides an opportunity for both participants and the public to get to know these individuals, discover their struggles and their joys, and learn what shapes their love of music.
We cannot do this without your help. Audio and video production is not cheap, so we need funding to make this happen. You can make this project a reality for these young Tribal musicians and provide an experience that brings healing, dignity and builds a supportive network across tribes.
· $15 will provide a musician with a microphone cable
· $30 gets a musician a microphone stand
· $50 provides a set of headphones we can ship to an artist
· $85 nets a webcam that allows the production team to assist the musician with microphone placement, friendship-building, and collaborating on the recording
· $100 pays for an artist’s microphone that can record a native drum
· $200 lets a student musician record their voice or instrument via computer interface
· $1000 provides a video camera with which our young musicians can be heard, seen, and celebrated while educating the publin on what it means to be a Native youth
HELP US HELP THEM
Help us help these excellent Native student musicians by providing them with an opportunity that brings joy, healing, unity, and a fantastic educational/professional recording opportunity that is highly unique and valuable.
