Artist & Ensemble Development
Heartbeat emphasizes two youth programs: Amplifying Youth Voices for high school students (ages 14-20 years old); and The Graduate Program (ages 20-24).
Within Heartbeat’s Amplifying Youth Voices core program, local, city-based ensembles come together weekly or semi-monthly for sustained music-based dialogue programs. The Heartbeat Graduate program (ages 20-24) supports Heartbeat youth musicians and youth ensembles entering the next phase of their lives post-high school to continue their music and media co-creation in an equalizing safe space.
Weekly Meetings
During weekly sessions, Heartbeat youth explore each other’s cultures and narratives through a critical pedagogy in music education enabling creativity and developing skills in improvisation, song-writing, performance technique, music theory, communication, and leadership while engaging in dialogue about their daily lives and the conflict that surrounds them, participants raise their critical consciousness, and harness their agency to change the status quo in and between their communities.
Retreats
Heartbeat leads retreats numerous times each year, which supplement both the Amplifying Youth Voices and Graduate Program. Retreats take place in an environment away from the participants’ normal routines. These formative experiences enable participants to connect with their fellow band members on a deeper level, using facilitated music activities and group dialogue. These 3+ day retreats also provide an invaluable space for the creation and improvement of compositions and arrangements.
Field Trips
Heartbeat also leads supplemental dual-narrative field trips several times a year for youth musicians to learn about and explore the multiple realities and narratives of their cities and region.
Audio and Video Production
Heartbeat staff members, who are trained dialogue facilitators and professional musicians, manage programs and also professionally record the youth musicians’ music and produce music videos to amplify youth musicians’ voices to the wider community.
Performances and Workshops
After months of composing, rehearsing, dialogue, and raising of critical consciousness, Heartbeat ensembles offer performances and workshops throughout their own communities, performing in schools, community centers, and music venues, spreading awareness, mutual-respect and inspiring thousands. Since December of 2011, Heartbeat ensembles have performed and led workshops for over 6000 people.
Heartbeat graduate youth musicians also take their music and messages for equality and a just peace abroad on tour. Please visit live.heartbeat.fm to host a performance and see upcoming tour schedules.
