| We in the artistic community must make up lost ground for our abandonment and lack of guidance of the younger generation who we now need for our own future survival. -Susan Veres, Exec. Dir. AYS |
"Put Music Back in the Marketplace"
Organization and Mission
AMERICAN YOUTH SYMPHONY
a non profit organization
Plight of American Music Initiative
The Plight of American Music Initiative is a free program
distributed to schools nationwide and other interested
institutions and individuals. It's purpose is to provide a format
for discussing the future of the MTV/Hip Hop Generation's
appreciation and patronage of traditional American music. A
national conference will be held at the Martin Luther King
Library in Washington, DC in February 2006.
From Jazz to Rock and Roll to Hip Hop, mainstream America
has always greeted the expressive music of young generations
with disdain. In spite of this, history has proven these musics to
be a valid part of American Art. However, for the first time in our
history several generations-- from kids to college graduates-- are
being brought up on a diet of electronic, non-melodious music.
The criticism is no longer about the moral or philosophical
content of a young generation's music, but rather the way in
which music comes to life -- which up until now was by
performers playing musical instruments.
The Plight of American Music Initiative provides schools with an
educational packet that includes a program template to
conduct class discussions, including demonstrative exercises
and suggested questions to spark debate, along with a DVD/CD
Soundtrack of the stage play It's a Hardbop Life.
Register for the Plight of American Music Initiative
About the AMERICAN YOUTH SYMPHONY
Susan Veres- Executive Director
Gregory Charles Royal- Artistic Director
Sara Keller- intern
The American Youth Symphony was founded in Washington,
DC in 1982 and operates on a per program basis. It's mission
is to promote instrumental and vocal music in young audiences
via popular music genre in an effort to ensure the future survival
of instrumental and vocal music.
In addition to the Plight of American Music Initiative, AYS also
produced the stage play of It's a Hardbop Life at the
New School University in New York City in 2004. The
organization has also been active in the state of Wisconsin
producing programs throughout the University of Wisconsin
System, public schools and libraries and will distribute the
DVD/CD of the play to educational institutions worldwide.
The American Youth Symphony also received funding from the
Wisconsin Humanities Council for its program Backstreet
Boys! Blackstreet Blues!, a demonstration and discussion
about the impact of black music in America, which received
critical acclaim.
262 16th Street Southeast Suite 3
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 302-6703
a non profit organization
Plight of American Music Initiative
The Plight of American Music Initiative is a free program
distributed to schools nationwide and other interested
institutions and individuals. It's purpose is to provide a format
for discussing the future of the MTV/Hip Hop Generation's
appreciation and patronage of traditional American music. A
national conference will be held at the Martin Luther King
Library in Washington, DC in February 2006.
From Jazz to Rock and Roll to Hip Hop, mainstream America
has always greeted the expressive music of young generations
with disdain. In spite of this, history has proven these musics to
be a valid part of American Art. However, for the first time in our
history several generations-- from kids to college graduates-- are
being brought up on a diet of electronic, non-melodious music.
The criticism is no longer about the moral or philosophical
content of a young generation's music, but rather the way in
which music comes to life -- which up until now was by
performers playing musical instruments.
The Plight of American Music Initiative provides schools with an
educational packet that includes a program template to
conduct class discussions, including demonstrative exercises
and suggested questions to spark debate, along with a DVD/CD
Soundtrack of the stage play It's a Hardbop Life.
Register for the Plight of American Music Initiative
About the AMERICAN YOUTH SYMPHONY
Susan Veres- Executive Director
Gregory Charles Royal- Artistic Director
Sara Keller- intern
The American Youth Symphony was founded in Washington,
DC in 1982 and operates on a per program basis. It's mission
is to promote instrumental and vocal music in young audiences
via popular music genre in an effort to ensure the future survival
of instrumental and vocal music.
In addition to the Plight of American Music Initiative, AYS also
produced the stage play of It's a Hardbop Life at the
New School University in New York City in 2004. The
organization has also been active in the state of Wisconsin
producing programs throughout the University of Wisconsin
System, public schools and libraries and will distribute the
DVD/CD of the play to educational institutions worldwide.
The American Youth Symphony also received funding from the
Wisconsin Humanities Council for its program Backstreet
Boys! Blackstreet Blues!, a demonstration and discussion
about the impact of black music in America, which received
critical acclaim.
262 16th Street Southeast Suite 3
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 302-6703
| Plight of American Music Initiative™ is a project of American Youth Symphony in collaboration with Susan Veres and Associates and GCR Music Company Comments? Questions? Problems? Contact patrons@hardboplife.com © 2005 American Youth Symphony. All Rights Reserved. Privacy |