Help Urban Students Continue Their Music Education

Greetings,

My name is Dr. Darshell DuBose-Stone and I'm a certified music educator who builds music and performing arts programs for today's youth. Many of our youth live in communities that do not have funding to provide music programs within the school curriculum. Because they don't have the opportunity to engage in the arts in their schools, music and performing arts programs can be provided in after-school programs and summer camps. Last year, an after-school jazz ensemble for middle-school aged students was established in one of the largest cities in New Jersey. Unfortunately, the funds that were awarded for the program didn't cover the cost in its entirety. When the students return in the fall of 2025, there isn't any money to continue the program, that has new students lining up to join the jazz ensemble.

The current members of the jazz ensemble have worked diligently and made great progress in such a short period of time. After only picking up their instruments for the first time in October of 2024, the young musicians practiced enthusiastically until they were prepared to perform at a Youth Conference at Passaic County Community College and a youth holiday show in December of 2024. In February of 2025, the young men performed for the Black History month program in their school and then, in March, was invited by Mayor Sayegh to perform for a Women's History Month celebration. In June, the jazz ensemble was asked to perform at two Juneteenth events at the Center City Mall and the County Administration Building in Paterson, New Jersey. Their last performance for the year was at an eighth-grade graduation in which they performed Pomp and Circumstance along with two jazz pieces.

These young men are faithful and dedicated to this ensemble. We teach our youth about discipline and sacrifice. They've done their part by coming to rehearsals on time, setting up the music room in preparation for the rehearsals, practicing regularly and learning their music until it was performance ready. Please support this program. No child should be denied a music education just because there is a lack of funds. All of today's youth should have access to learning music; if not in schools, then in successful after-school and summer music programs. This after-school music program is off to a great start. The funds raised for this jazz ensemble will be used for new instruments and the dedicated instructors and band director who believe in this program and how it is already serving and making a positive impact on the youth in this urban community.