Faithin Omaha eBook Collection

Download or read book Music in Uban Youth Development Programs written by Amy E. Cyr and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 461 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Young people growing up in underserved urban areas face a number of challenges, such as overcrowded and underfunded schools, high levels of violence, a shortage of positive role models, low incomes, and/or structural racism. Taking an approach of medical ethnomusicology and using ethnographic research methods, this dissertation examines ways in which music-based youth development programming can help adolescents cope with challenges of modern urban living, particularly issues of urban violence. By focusing on a primary case study of one Oakland, California based organization, and offering a brief introduction to two others, this research provides narrative descriptions of how music-making positively affects the daily lives of youth. According to reports by youth interviewed, learning music skills through youth programs and creating music provides them with a sense of satisfaction and emotional benefit, in addition to helping some young people begin careers in the music industry. Additionally, through analysis using a framework of resiliency, this research suggests that incorporating music-making into empowerment-based youth programs may have the capacity to help adolescents improve mental and behavioral health by providing protective factors including creating opportunities for mentorship, improving self-esteem, and building skills and opportunities. Finally, the work of one organization examined in this research suggests that music and media arts programming may be successfully used to increase adolescents' access to and utilization of health and mental health services, educational and career services, and to encourage youth to spend time in safe spaces and positive activities.