#yocm

[capechicago]

Students from Intonation Music and North-Grand High School CAPE After School Music Club met via Google Meets on Friday, March 5th, 2021 as part of DCASE’s Year of Chicago Music Youth Music Exchange program.

Offered in partnership with schools, park districts, and community organizations, Intonation Music’s year-round classes make music accessible to youth by providing them with instruments, instruction, mentorship, and the chance to perform on stages across the city. Today’s exchange group was led by Alex Wing and Uriah Gunn. You can explore Intonation’s bandcamp here: https://intonationmusicworkshop.bandcamp.com/ 

NGHS CAPE After School Music Club centers experimentation and collaboration in their music-making. The Music Club is led by NGHS Social Studies Teacher Michelle Livas and Interdisciplinary Sound Artist Nick Meryhew. The Music Club created a mixtape earlier in the year, which you can find here: https://nghsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/pog-through-the-pain 

The youth groups took the time to share all the work that they’ve been working on. Intonation Music shared the music that they’ve been creating and even a podcast episode based on King Kong vs. Godzilla. The Music Club shared a few songs that they’ve individually created and a spoken word piece about quarantine. 

Students expressed the importance of music. One student shared, “I’m a person that wants to have their voice heard and make a difference.” Another student stated that, “Music is an escape to everything that’s going on.” 

These spaces of collaboration allow students to learn new skills and experiment with creating their own work for themselves. Miguel C. stated, “I’ve learned a lot, talking to people. I’ve learned with Nick’s help how to take parts of songs and use it. And I’ve learned how to use the software...It’s working well so far. I love this experience, meeting all these wonderful new people.”

Thank you to Intonation Music and North-Grand High School Music Club for creating such an amazing experience for your students! Check back here for more information on YME events to come. 

[capechicago]

As part of the first Year of Chicago Music Youth Music Exchange event, the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA) and A Flor De Piel met via Google Meets on Friday, August 14th, to perform music for each other and engage in deeper dialogue about the meaning of culture, music, and community. The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance ensemble was led by Michael Scott and Jose Carrasquillo, and A Flor de Piel was led by Renato Ceron and Marisol Ceron.

The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, many of whom are centered around the Avondale/Logan Square neighborhoods, is a vibrant, 21-year-old music and arts nonprofit organization that develops culturally enriching and transforming programs, performances, exhibitions, and events while encouraging future generations to grow appreciation for Puerto Rican heritage and culture. A Flor De Piel, based in Little Village, works with Telpochcalli School and Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education to explore a diverse repertoire that reflects its members’ rich cultural heritage as well as their fresh and creative ways to make the “old sound new.”

The Exchange event featured high school students from the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance’s Latin Music Project Ensemble with elementary school students from Telpochcalli School. What was born out of such age gaps was curiosity, excitement, and an energy to learn more about each other through culture and music. 

The event began with the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance introducing its members to the Telpochcalli students with a performance. Afterwards, a student from PRAA reflected that he was initially drawn to the organization because of his love for jazz. He explained, “I’ve been able to improve my music skills here. Pretty much everything I know about music is because of [the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance].” He continued by stating that, “The environment here is incredibly nice. Everyone here is so ready to help me.” 

After Latin Music Project Ensemble’s performance, the students at Telpochcalli with Renato and Marisol Ceron introduced themselves with the song 'La Mariposa,' in the style of Morenada. The ensemble encouraged everyone to clap along, stomp their feet, and wave their hands in an imitation of the butterfly. 

The latter half of the Exchange event was a discussion of what music means to the students at PRAA and Telpochcalli. Many students expressed their passion for music in relation to their specific heritage. One student from PRAA explained that she is going to college to study music. She discussed how she discovered more about her cultural roots through the music that she learned at PRAA. “It’s different from other avenues,” she explained, in describing how music itself can be a learning tool that is distinct from other art forms.

A student from Telpochcalli asked, “What advice do you have for younger students who want to learn to play an instrument?” to which a student from PRAA replied, “You can learn whatever you want to learn as long as you put in the dedication and the practice. I'd say there's no limits." 

When PRAA students later played a rendition of the Super Mario Bros. soundtrack, the Telpochcalli students flocked to the chat box in praise and even suggested that PRAA should work on a version with the Sonic soundtrack. The excitement was felt by all ensemble members and CAPE staff who participated in this event. Thank you to the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance and A Flor De Piel for not only contributing to the Exchange event, but also for creating an environment so conducive to sharing stories, respecting each other’s cultures, and building community.

[capechicago]

Youth Music Exchange - a big success!

Last Friday students from Telpochcalli Elementary School in the Little Village Neighborhood of Chicago and students from the Latin Music Project, a Puerto Rican Arts Alliance community initiative met via video call to share their experiences this Summer.  This event, called Youth Music Exchange Project was the first of its kind in the city of Chicago and was a collaboration between CAPe and the the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). 2020 and 2021 were designated the Years of Chicago Music by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.  The idea was for youth from different neighborhoods to have a conversation about their experiences learning, performing and participating in their corresponding music ensembles.  The Telpochcalli students (most of them 3rd graders) shared with the Latin Music Project students (most of them teenagers) what they studied this summer while participating at a CAPE Music and Visual Arts Summer Program taught by Marisol Ceron in collaboration with teaching artist Renato Ceron.  LMP students also shared about their experience with the ensemble and performed some songs for the group.  The exchange kept students from both groups engaged and eager to participate by asking questions, playing and singing music for one another and creating new connections that will hopefully continue to grow.