Students who participate in the arts are more likely to be proficient in reading, writing, math, and develop skills that equate to more than just expressing creativity. As federal funding for arts education in U.S. public schools dwindles, the need for accessible learning programs for young students is growing.
We’re thrilled to partner with Michigan State University and the Berklee College of Music to collaborate with the Making It Happen Foundation’s (MIHF) to give Detroit students access to music and art courses and Specializations from their university catalog on Coursera. MIHF’s mission is to improve and sustain innovative technology and music programs within urban school districts and community-based organizations. They cultivate partnerships that inspire the development of programs and initiatives to close the digital divide by introducing career training and more for both Detroit students and residents.
“In partnership with Coursera and MIHF, we are building a series of online and localized learning experiences that introduce Detroit youth to the business of the creative industry and will feature programming in music, video and media production.” – Gerald Rhead, Director, Academic Entrepreneurship, Michigan State University
“The Coursera online platform has been the fuel that ignites and lights an additional pathway to higher education for Detroit youth and young adults. I believe our collaborative effort has the potential to inspire sustainable community-based change at a global level with endless possibilities.” – Mrs. Chetrice Gillon, Making it Happen Foundation, President
Through the program, 80 students took courses like The Art of Music Production or Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics, and Introduction to Ableton from Berklee College of Music on Coursera. With their new skills and certifications, the students created original music soundtracks inspired by the street art in Detroit’s Eastern Market that will be featured at “Detroit Voices Unlimited” Music, Technology and Art Intersection Exhibition in the spring of 2019.
“I joined the program to learn about songwriting. Mahogany Jones, our instructor, taught me how to flow with whatever type of music we were doing. She had us do cyphers at the beginning of our sessions which taught us how to write songs on the spot. Elijah Conner helped with my vocalism and taught me how to use my vibrato control” – Joshua A., Sophomore Early College of Excellence-Detroit Edison Public School Academy
“We were thrilled to co-create a learning space for youth in the Detroit program to discover how they can leverage technology to realize their musical ideas. Given the success of the students in the course, not to mention Detroit’s track record for producing great musical artists, I am confident that they will have much to contribute to the world.” – Carin Nuernberg, Vice President of Online Education at Berklee College of Music
Learn more about the Making it Happen Foundation and their mission to provide youth-centered technology and music programs to students and Detroit residents.