WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF MUSIC. MUSIC HAS THE POWER TO BUILD ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS, UNLEASH CREATIVITY, AND DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. MUSIC IS THE MAGNET THAT ATTRACTS YOUTH TO A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW, AWAY FROM THE CULTURE OF DRUGS, GANGS, AND VIOLENCE WHICH IS ALL TOO PREVALENT ON THE STREETS OF THE LOW-INCOME URBAN AREAS WE TARGET. OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND OLDER WITH AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATION AS WELL AS ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AIMED AT SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING JOB SKILLS, AND COLLEGE PREPARATION SUPPORT; ALL OF WHICH HELPS BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.