How After-School Music Programs Help Keep Kids Out Of Trouble | Music Think Tank

Quality afterschool programs, particularly music programs, are on the rise. Parents and teachers who traditionally thought that academics was the most essential part of a school program now appreciate that learners need to develop emotionally and socially, just in the same way they grow academically. Different credible studies have shown that when school-going kids take part in singing or dancing after school, their chances of landing in trouble are significantly reduced. On top of that, the kids can develop positive attitudes towards academics, and as a consequence of it, their school performance relatively goes up.

Curtailing Crimes

The Harmony Project is a good example of what after-school music programs can positively impact on the lives of kids and youths. The organization has been operating in Los Angeles County for over a decade, and has seen kids from its many after-school music sessions become responsible adults. Harmony Project kids are provided with classically-trained music instructors who train them how to use instruments such as violins, flutes, and clarinets. Training takes place nearly on a daily basis, with different genres of music taught, including orchestral and jazz music.

Statistics

One evident thing is that when a teen in the Harmony Project hits the age of 18, they go out to compete with the best the society has to offer – right across industries. Records of data that support this organization show that 97 percent of kids who participate in the after-school music program for at least three years never engage in crimes and move on to pursue prestigious careers in the university.

The Role of Public Administrators

When it comes to problems involving criminal justice, consider talking to a professional who holds a master’s degrees in public administration about this.  They are better-positioned to analyze and give long-lasting solutions to them. As part of coming up with those solutions, the professionals advocate for quality education for all children regardless of their poverty levels. This can further be narrowed down to co-curricular activities for youths, after-school music programs being one of them. With such programs, cases of HIV/AIDS among teenagers, teenage parents, and cases of drug and substance abuse are minimized. Public administrators in the United States are in the front line in ensuring that after-school programs are established as they strive to solve the many upcoming challenges in the general public agenda.

Building Confidence and Team Work

In most cases, after-school music programs bring kids together and have them play music in groups. The exercise is fun, engaging, and most importantly, a confidence boost. Surveys show that kids who take part in after-school music sessions for at least a couple of hours in a day end up becoming good team players in their adult life. This means that the programs do not only help kids to stay out of trouble in their youthful days but also later in their lives.

After-school music programs keep kids out of trouble, builds confidence, and nurtures teamwork in kids. NGOs and governmental organizations have a duty to play in ensuring that as many kids as possible take part in such programs in order to incubate responsible future citizens.

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