As federal support of the arts within educational institutions (such as public high schools and grade schools) is dwindling, Robby Takac, bassist for multiplatinum-selling recording artists The
Goo Goo Dolls and label president of Good Charamel Records, has been fine-tuning his
Music is Art High School Awareness tour to bring back the arts and especially music, one high school at a time. Implemented earlier this year to resounding local success within the Northeast Region of the United States,
Music Is Art (MIA) is a motivational program that fuses music and performance with positive messages of personal empowerment, character building and confidence.
Through live performances of Good Charamel bands The
Juliet Dagger and Last Conservative and presentations by Robby himself, students learn these values without being lectured.
"Due to our current social and political situations, music and the arts are being eliminated from many public school systems," explained Takac. "Our goal is to raise awareness with our bands and resources within the students regarding the possibility of careers and opportunities in arts, communications and entertainment. We hope to prompt them to explore the prosperous and satisfying fields that are usually offered through conventional scholastic programs. We also try to stress the concepts of personal responsibility and decision-making through the message of music, showing the life-long importance of the actions made in these crucial years."
The program consists of a five-minute film of Takac speaking about the importance of self-worth and confidence, followed by live performances from Last Conservative and The
Juliet Dagger, who embed their positive messages within their sets. The band and project organizers spend the whole day at the school, offering talks, career advice, and other interaction with the students, as a show of support and solidarity. Already, the program (which was launched in 2004) has shown a huge impact within the educational systems in the Northeast. 17 year-old Clotilde Dedecker (featured in Teen People's 20 Teens Who Will Change the World) who attends Nardin Academy in Buffalo, NY helped establish
Friends of Afghanistan, a program that helped rebuild schools in war-torn Afghanistan. Joining forces with Dedecker, the two programs work together in bringing messages of motivation and self-empowerment along with a humanitarian message of help overseas.
Friends of Afghanistan president Anthony Agnello (who also served in the Peace Corps in Afghanistan in the first half of the 1970s and a 33 year veteran teacher at Orchard Park H.S.) explains, "Since early 2002 we have run dozens of fundraisers and information sessions in more than twenty schools throughout Western, NY. Hundreds of students have participated and thousands have contributed to eight educational projects including five school construction projects for women and children in Afghanistan. Our signature event is the Bricks for Schools Faculty Basketball Tournament which has raised almost $10,000 in three years at Orchard Park High School alone. The Bricks for Schools Tournaments have demonstrated the largest outpouring of student spirit that I have ever seen in my 33 year career in education."
"Our interest in getting involved with the schools prompted the creation of MIA," explains Last Conservative guitarist
David Julian. "Our involvement includes a performance by the band and we also touch upon issues that face students ranging from the importance of music in education to teen suicide, communication, and personal responsibility. The best part is that this program is offered to schools for free so it makes it easy for schools to get involved."
The
Juliet Dagger's vocalist/lead guitarist Erin Roberts says, "Some children are born with a natural need and talent to create. If we take away their tools and outlet to do so, we are going to lose them. This tour brings these tools back into the curriculum and helps foster the importance of art within educational development."
Takac's MIA tour is planning on expanding nationwide in the next school year, broadening its reach and building the self-confidence of more teenagers, but for now, he's happy with the results. "I think MIA is growing at a comfortable pace as a grass roots idea that could be developed and used as a model for an even larger, more expansive program based on the concepts we've utilized locally."
Adds Last Conservative vocalist/guitarist TJ Zindle, "I honestly feel art and music are one of the most important things in education...there have been countless studies that have shown music and intelligence are linked. Plus, I know I'm not the only one who has had music save my life. Can anyone say Math has saved theirs?"
Last Conservative and The
Juliet Dagger are both on the road for the summer. Tour dates for both bands are below.
THE JULIET DAGGER
on the road
May 17 - Denver, CO Cervantes
May 18 - Aurora, CO Patrick's Pub
May 20 - Lander, WY Lander Bar
May 21 - Victor, ID Knotty Pine
May 23 - Bozeman, MT Filling Station
May 25 - Missoula, MT
Elbow Room
June 7 - Los Angeles, CA The Mint
June 10 - Lake Forest, CA Gypsy Lounge
LAST CONSERVATIVE
on the road
May 23 - Denver, CO Cervantes
May 24 - Aurora, CO Patrick's Pub
May 27 - Lander, WY Lander Bar
May 28 - Victor, ID Knotty Pine
June 3 - Grand Jnctn., CO Starlight Lounge
June 4 - Salt Lake City, UTCabana Club
June 6 - Bozeman, MT Filling Station
June 8 - Missoula, MT
Elbow Room
June 21 - Los Angeles, CA The Mint
July 1 - Cleveland, OH
Hi-Fi Club
More dates to be added!
