Precinct Reporter Group News

Top Menu

  • Precinct Reporter News
  • Food
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy

Main Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Read Our E-Edition
  • ADVERTISE
  • Subscribe
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Precinct Reporter News
  • Food
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy

logo

Precinct Reporter Group News

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Read Our E-Edition
  • ADVERTISE
  • Subscribe
  • Black Chamber Hosts Job Fair in San Bernardino

  • Toy Drives in Gear

  • Free Technology, Wi-Fi, Phones, Even an $11 Tablet

  • New ‘Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth’

  • Feds Unveil Disturbing Disparities in Pandemic-Era Schooling

Latest PRGNews
Home›Latest PRGNews›Hip Hop Strikes the Right Chord with Academics

Hip Hop Strikes the Right Chord with Academics

By Precinct Reporter News
December 24, 2020
2046
0
Share:

by Dianne Anderson

For students who love music, the beat may prove a quicker study than what they’ve been missing in traditional classes or textbooks.

To the 120 students of CHORDS Enrichment Program, words and music are almost the same.

“A lot of kids don’t know how to write an essay, but if you tell them to write 16 bars, they can do that,” said Edwin Johnson, the founder of CHORDS youth program. “If you tell them to write their life story in rap or music or a song, they can do it immediately.”

Johnson has been involved with commercial music development for the past ten years, and has pulled multiple awards for his work with local kids. He continues to partner with programming at both San Bernardino city and county schools.

Music production, writing and music comprehension are a big part of his in-person programming. He said it’s mostly about getting kids and youth to channel their hip hop muse by opening up about their past.

Johnson, who grew up in an abusive family, said the creative process is the beginning of healing.

“For me, as a child things that I experienced growing up that I never talked about until I was able to, that gave me a different outlook. It gave me comfort,” he said.

All students participate virtually, and he said Google classroom has been easier for his students because they were already working with higher technology and software through his program.

They also learn how to record from the comfort of their own home.

“We’re teaching the kids a vocational skill that they would have never learned anywhere else. The pandemic caused us to be a little more creative and it gave us more access to students,” he said.

A lot of the teens in the program are learning to come out of their shell.

One shy girl didn’t feel she had what it takes to share her story with the virtual class, or the talent to compete, but her message on Black Lives Matter was powerful and surprising.

“I told her they couldn’t see her,” Johnson said. “She was talking about the struggle and the street. The way she recited was amazing, she is already talented.”

At Juvenile Hall, he hauls out the mobile studio where kids and teens learn teamwork, organizational skills, and the vocational aspect of recording and writing. Many kids are in for crimes, some are hard crimes.

“It’s poverty, it’s broken families, broken communities,” he said. “I use a tool called reflective writing, they’re reflecting on their past on things that caused them to be in the situation they’re in. A lot of it is coming from single parent homes or not having mentors.”

In his program, he holds daily virtual sessions with his regular school students, and host live virtual concerts. Former students are hired to teach newer students on production development, and they tutor to strengthen academics.

“We’re working on their English skills, metaphors and similes, all these things that are conducive to their education. We’re just teaching them how to do it through music,” he said.

Youth today and especially local youth need all the support they can get, not just from immediate family members, but also tutors or mentors, he said.

He always tells people to volunteer whenever possible.

“Get involved because we don’t know what they’re going through. It’s important to connect with the kids, not to judge them. They need our support, these kids are growing up wild especially in these urban communities.”

Recently, SBVC faculty film and media teacher Lucas Cuny recommended Johnson join their advisory board to bring industry standard professionals into the conversation as they build up a Commercial Music certification program.

“We both have a background working in After School and the arts. I know his voice is important for our community which is why I was glad that he agreed to support our programs at Valley, said Lucas Cuny, director of the Institute of Media Arts.

Margaret Worsley, a professor in the music department at Valley College is also excited to welcome Johnson to the board.

“Edwin will be integral in bringing his experience and knowledge of industry practices, as well as local community need into the conversation as we build this program. We are looking forward to sustaining a long-term relationship with Edwin for his guided wisdom as a content expert,” she said.

TagsCHORDSeducationmusic programprecinct reporterSan BernardinoSBVC
Previous Article

Annual Founder’s Kwanzaa Message

Next Article

S.B. Neighborhood Leaders Ponder Year Ahead

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Precinct Reporter News

Related articles More from author

  • Latest PRGNews

    Precinct Reporter May Not Be Here Much Longer

    August 22, 2019
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    Home of Neighborly Services Hosts Resource Thursdays

    October 10, 2019
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    Officials Urge Black Community to Take COVID Shot

    January 28, 2021
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    S.B. School Board Elects New Leaders

    December 30, 2021
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    COVID-19: Overeating, Overdrinking, Overthinking

    July 9, 2020
    By Precinct Reporter News
  • Latest PRGNews

    5 Things Schools Should Do to Foster News Literacy

    November 28, 2019
    By Precinct Reporter News

You might be interested

  • Latest PRGNews

    60th Anniversary of Birmingham Church Bombing

  • Latest PRGNews

    Black Women Accountants Offer Scholarships

  • Latest PRGNews

    CSUSB Perspectives on Education During Black History Month

Ads

Advertise with us!

Ads

Ads |

Ads V

ADS III

Find us on Facebook

Ads

Precinct Reporter News Group

Your local news resource for 50 years in the Inland Empire, Orange County, Long Beach and surrounding areas!

To subscribe or advertise, call 909.889.0597

About us

  • Broadcasting & Media Production Company
    357 W. 2nd Street
    San Bernardino, California, CA 92401
  • mailto:sales@precinctreporter.com
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • “Stop The Hate Showcase” Set for SBVC Thurs., Nov. 30

    By Precinct Reporter News
    November 23, 2023
  • Black Chamber Hosts Job Fair in San Bernardino

    By Precinct Reporter News
    November 23, 2023
  • Toy Drives in Gear

    By Precinct Reporter News
    November 23, 2023
  • IE/OC Prostate and Breast Cancer, Change the Menu

    By PRGNews
    July 16, 2015
  • Join our Recipe Competition!

    By PRGNews
    July 16, 2015
  • SB Budget Cuts CDBG

    SB CDBG Cuts Have Local Nonprofits Braced for the Worst

    By PRGNews
    July 16, 2015

Follow us

© Powered by Hotspotwebsites.net. All rights reserved.