Program Description
Task 1
Mosaic Steel Orchestra is a not for profit organization based in Norfolk, VA. It provides the opportunity to participate in Caribbean steelpan drum ensembles to citizens in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake. This agency facilitates discipline, focus and teamwork through musical collaboration with this traditional instrument from Trinidad and Tobago (Mosaic Steel...2014). The organization offers the community the opportunity to both engage in, and be exposed to world music.
Mosaic Steel Orchestra offers the opportunity to play steelpan drums through several after school programs. Children ages twelve and up have the opportunity to showcase their musical talent, and engage in a multi- cultural setting with peers. The company offers the Commitment Accountability Values & Education mentor program in Portsmouth and Suffolk. Any child ages twelve through fourteen can participate in these no fee junior steelpan orchestra ensembles. These students have the opportunity to advance to the no-fee senior Stage Side Ensemble which is for ages thirteen and up. They play professional musical concerts all over Virginia and occasionally to other states and countries.
In the Mosaic Steel Drum Junior ensemble, the company strives to instill discipline, focus, teamwork and professional etiquette for at risk youth. This is accomplished through year-round activities outside of school. Participation helps them build a sense of responsibility toward the community.
I believe that discipline and music have the ability to provide a healthy outlet for this population, which can promote resilience in adulthood. I am interested to find a long term solution for the negative factors that at-risk young adults face such as juvenile delinquency. This external evaluation was approved by the program director Dr. Hailey on May 27, 2015. It will examine how effective Mosaic Steel Orchestra Stage Side Ensemble at instilling leadership, focus, and teamwork in it's members.
The U.S. currently has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world (Tsai & Scommegna, 2012). At risk youth have a statistically high rate of incarceration and I am interested in working with this demographic in the human service profession. Being at risk for factors such as crime and teen pregnancy results in a lack of positive, affordable opportunities for their future. The community needs a long term solution. Mosaic Steel Orchestra gives it's musicians a space to develop self confidence and nurture artistic talent. I feel that this is a preventative way to create bright opportunities for the at risk youth community.
References
Mosaic Steel Orchestra, (2014). Retrieved from:
http://www.mosaicsteelorchestra.org/what-we-do/
Tsai, T., Scommegna, P., (2012.) U.S. Has the World's Highest Incarceration Rate. Retrieved from http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2012/us-incarceration.aspx