Feel The Music by Lola

Feel The Music by Lola - February 2020 Scholarship Essay

Music is powerful. It can turn a bad day, into a good one, to heal the sick and to reduce the stresses that come with everyday life. Music is very powerful. Although it is available at our fingertips, there is something so beautiful about playing and composing a piece of music that holds significance to you. I have had the privilege of being a part of an orchestra, and the emotions that consume you when all of the instruments play as a union is an indescribable feeling; Euphoria.
Underprivileged youth are not given the chance to experience programs where they can express their creativity, which is why, if I were to start a nonprofit organization, it would be an instrumental music program for students aged 4-18 years in underprivileged neighbourhoods. The program would be known as “Feel the Music”.
Through my non-profit organization, I hope to make the instrumental lessons completely free. On average piano lessons can cost anywhere between $30-60.00 per hour and usually children who are underprivileged come from homes where money cannot be spent on leisure activities. Therefore, voiding all costs will allow parents and children to join the program without the fear of potential expenses and fees.
Several benefits would impact the lives of the children who choose to join the instrumental music program. Firstly, the crime rate in these neighbourhoods may decrease. Many children in underprivileged communities tend to spend their time on the streets of their community due to their being a lack of programs after school. With there being quite a few children on the streets with negative influences, this could lead to situations where they are endangering their lives and their future. With a program in place, the children and teenagers enrolled will not have the time to be engaged in criminal activity in their neighbourhood, which would ultimately lead to lower crime. Secondly, music has the ability to open up different avenues. We have heard the success stories of many musically inclined celebrities who have turned their lives around after pursuing their gift of music. Fortunately for them, they were able to make a career out of their talent. Although it is not a common occurrence to see someone become incredibly wealthy due to the art of music, I think it is more important the realm of music as an option for a long-term career.
Finally, music can be a medium where emotions can be expressed. In today’s age, many people struggle with mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, and do not know a great way to express how they are feeling. This is where music can step in. Music can be the safe place many teens and children can turn to when their backs are against the wall. Rather than self-medicating their feelings, they can express their internal emotions through music.
A music program for the underprivileged community may seem like something very minuscule when compared to the thousands of programs that support other amazing causes, the feeling that music brings people is a feeling that should be felt by each and everyone despite social class.