Research indicates that the participation of disadvantaged students in extracurricular programmes such as music and culture is important to raise their Educational achievement. Out-of-school activities not only supplement in-the-classroom learning, but also foster character development, and teach students valuable social, creative, and critical thinking skills.
Given the centrality of self-discovery and self-expression to artistic practice, research finds that community youth music and cultural programmes help young people develop self-confidence, self-efficacy, and self-awareness. An education rich in the creative arts maximises opportunities for learners to engage with innovative thinkers and leaders, to experience the arts both as audience members and as artists, and to the values of cultural understanding and social harmony that the arts can engender. However, customized programmes to meet the needs of young people at-risk experience the transformative power of music and cultural intervention are not readily available to all youth. Even though Involvement in the arts is an unparalleled means for young people to develop the strength, resiliency, and self-image that allow them to participate in society on healthy terms, disadvantaged youth do not freely have access to formally organised and accessible arts and cultural activities of their choice. The creative process of music study revolves around daily evaluation, discipline, risk-taking, planning short and long-term goals, and achieving these goals in front of one’s peers and family members. Many of these initial elements are also essential when fostering youth empowerment and transforming conflict.
At the Amy Foundation, we subscribe to research findings that the positive development that young people experience in community music programmes is related to success in other areas of their lives. Youth who participate in such programmes, for example, are less likely than their peers to engage in delinquent and violent behaviour or exhibit behavioural and emotional problems, and they are more likely to participate in school leadership and have better attendance and higher academic achievement. Having experienced personal growth by learning about themselves, one another, and social issues addressed in their performances the youth relates to the world with more awareness, openness, confidence, and understanding, and in doing so, have positive effects on their families, schools, and communities.
Amy Foundation promotes the positive development and resilience of youth by enhancing their competence and sense of autonomy. The Foundation strongly buys into a resilience-based approach to youth development. Resilience is a strengths-based construct, meaning its focus is on providing the developmental supports and opportunities (protective factors) that promote success, rather than on eliminating the factors that promote failure.
Kevin Chaplin, Amy Foundation Managing Director explains. “ Partnerships are paramount to the success of the programmes that we run. One international partnership is with Milton Academy Jazz. We are so grateful that they have chosen to partner with the Amy Foundation year after year. “
After seeing the documentary “Long Night’s Journey into Day” in 1998 Milton Academy donated its fee to a township music school, but it did not “reach its intended destination”. Peter and Linda Biehl came to Boston later that year and came to the school to speak with the students. Milton Academy Jazz students donated their fees to the Amy Foundation from playing at the Green Dolphin Jazz Club. In early 2002 the Biehl’s invited Bob Sinicrope to come and consult for two weeks with the Foundation. Bob Sinicrope recalls, “ This began a wonderful relationship between the Foundation and Milton Academy Jazz. The Foundation’s music director Dumisani Ncapyi spent a week at Milton Academy and Milton Academy hosted Linda Biehl and Ntobeko Peni spent a week at our house in 2004 and interacting with our school and attending the 1st Desmond Tutu Award dinner with Desmond presenting the award to Danny Glover. “
Milton Academy students visited the Foundation every two years from 2003, excluding the period during COVID-19 and are back again now in 2023 performing at the Amy Foundation Township Jazz Festival hosted at Bongolethu Primary school, Browns Farm, Philippi.
Sinicrope continues, “ Our students are looking forward to Tuesday’s township Jazz Festival and the visit to the Amy Foundation on Wednesday.”
100% of the ticket price will go back into the performing arts programme.
