South Philly Review

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Thirteen-year-old members of Self-Made, a troupe specializing in jazz, hip-hop and R&B, Dajanaira Simmons and Kiera King aspire to pursue dancing as a career, but won’t pass up the opportunity to learn firsthand about the rest of the music industry through the newly established Philadelphia Youth Music Program.

Organizers announced its kickoff Saturday as residents and City officials, such as Mayor Michael Nutter and 2nd District Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, enjoyed music from various acts at Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Wilson Park, 2201 S. 25th St. The site will serve as the initial host starting Feb. 15 where area youngsters ages 12 to 17 will receive hands-on training from some of the city’s established music professionals, like Carvin Haggins, a North Philly songwriter and producer, whose songs were nominated for five Grammys last year.

“When I first heard about this program, I was like, ‘I want to do that. It would be an amazing opportunity,’” Kiera, a resident of the 2600 block of Bailey Terrace, said.

“It would be,” Dejanaira, of the 2700 block of Bailey Terrace, added upon finding out mentors like Haggins have worked with acts such as Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott and Chris Brown. “Maybe I would get on the same level as they [are]. Maybe we’d be able to meet [the singers]. Never know.”

That is the plan, Dominic McFadden, who owns a North Philly studio and is the offspring of Gene McFadden of McFadden & Whitehead, said. He plans to bring in those well-known artists that the mentors have connections to in hopes it helps to drive the message home.

“What kid doesn’t want to work with their favorite artists?” he said. “And if that can’t change their mind to stay in school, what can?”

Residents told Adé Fequa, assistant managing director and head of South Division’s PhillyRising Collaborative, they wanted area youths to have access to an unutilized music studio at Wilson Park, so he approached McFadden, who immediately jumped aboard.

“Because kids have lost touch of what real music is,” he said of his desire to provide music education to youngsters, “so we want to give them the real foundation of what music is and not what they hear and see on TV.”

The six-week program will teach the fundamentals of using the recording studio and its equipment and software as well as setting up for a live performance. McFadden’s team consists of about 35 mentors, including Haggins.

“Just to give them a glimpse of hope, to give them a reality check that they don’t have to live up to the stereotype,” Haggins said of his desire to provide his students choices.

In order to ensure the program helps those who are already caught up in the criminal justice system, Fequa has teamed up with Bennie Price, Family Court’s director of probation, who will monitor part of the target audience.

“Our rule is simple,” Fequa said of being given the unique opportunity to partake in the program. “It’s don’t shoot people, don’t sell drugs, don’t get rearrested, don’t do anything bad.”

Although Dejanaira and Keira don’t associate with them, they know of others their age that are caught up in the violence and drug-dealing affecting their Grays Ferry neighborhood, but believe the program could keep those juveniles busy.

“It will keep them from running the streets and starting gangs,” Dejanaira said.

Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.