My name is Storm Large and I’m happy to introduce the song, “We’re going Home” for My Voice Music. “We’re Going Home” is a heartbreaking song written by a girl who has lived in and out of treatment centers and foster homes for most of her life. She was separated from her parents and siblings after experiencing significant abuse and neglect and has since moved from place to place with in the “system”. When she arrived at My Voice Music she asked the song writing and recording staff to play something country and then he began to sing. There was only time to record one take so what you’re about to hear is it. It is the story of the day she was taken away from her family and talks about the possibility of returning home someday. Enjoy.
On Thursday, December 15, 2011, nine My Voice Music volunteer musicians decended upon the unassuming 4th graders at Kinnaman Elementary School in Aloha. The result was that 27 4th graders were able to have their words and stories put to music and recorded…Yup, that’s right, all 27 kids got their own words put to song and recorded by Portland musicians in one day! Below are the songs that were recorded in that session.
These songs are the final product a week-long “Conflict Mediation through Songwriting” class that was facilitated by My Voice Music’s music man and intern, Jameson Wandling. Jameson is working on attaining his Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution at PSU. He worked with My Voice Music to develop a curriculum that uses music to help teach conflict mediation skills.
The curriculum he implemented covers conflict related topics such as conflict styles, perception and judgement, and the steps people can take to navigate conflict effectively. As part of the songwriting portion of the class, each student was asked to describe a conflict and write two verses and one chorus about it. Emphasis was placed on making the conflict personal to the writer and making the story coherent.
On the second to the last day, My Voice Music volunteer songwriters showed up and helped guide the students through putting their actual words to music. After each student was happy with their words put to song, the volunteer musicians left the school and recorded all 26 songs in about 4 hours! Each of the songs were given to the youth the very next day – special thanks to our amazing musician volunteers; Buddy, Bethany, Peter, Erik, Chris, Andi, Mike, Ian and Jameson! Watch the video below to get a glimpse into how we were able to record so many songs so quickly!
“My Voice Music is a place where young people have the opportunity to share their voice, to be heard, and to use that experience to change their world. To work with such brave and passionate youth is invigorating.” - Ian Mouser
“I saw how Ian reached our daughter – I truly consider him a gift that showed up in our life at a crucial time. It’s that same compassion and ability to reach others through music that is poured into My Voice Music – Ian saves lives.” – Lisa Holmes, Parent of a Student
What is the Skidmore Prize?
Since 2004, Willamette Week has given the Skidmore Prize to four people 35 or under in recognition of the significant work they do with non-profits in the community. The prize is inspired by the inscription on the fountain that reads, “Good Citizens Are the Riches of a City.
This award includes a personal cash prize of $4,000 and inclusion in the Willamette Week’s Give!Guide - The Give!Guide is an innovative initiative to inspire donors age 35 and younger with the spirit of giving. By donating through the Give!Guide donors receive many incentives from local Portland businesses. Check it out and please make a donation of just $10 or more – we are hoping to bring the most number of donors under 35 this year and your $10 donation can help us earn a $500 reward! Click here to Give! through the Give!Guide
“MVM advocates self love and expression through music. It’s a group Amber (…my daughter) is involved in (she’s playing drums in some of that video). This group is alive because of charitable contributions and a vision by its founder that all children don’t respond by lying on a couch with the intro question of “How do you feel.” Music is their expression of feeling and it heals their heart and gives them a voice when words are hard to find. I recently learned more about its founder through Amber and the WW and it’s truly a wonderful vibe of hope, respect, encouragment, aknowledgement and happiness for each and every kid who is fortunate enough to be touched by a person with such a selfless vision. When the student is ready, the teacher will come. Thank you to Ian. From Amber’s mom ”
Mouser, with other Skidmore Prize Winners on the Cover of the Willamette Week, November 9, 2011
Below are Excerpts from Ian’s Skidmore Prize Application:
Why did you choose to work in the non-profit field?
“I grew-up witnessing the positive effects that non-profit organizations can have on individuals, families and communities. The area I grew up in in Southern Oregon was very poor. My own family struggled financially and experienced some very significant challenges that were only overcome with the support of churches, non-profit organizations and compassionate community members. As a child, I struggled behaviorally and emotionally for many years. I was not succeeding in conventional settings until a non-profit organization invited me to become a part of their community and, consequently, offered me the opportunity to be seen for my best, and not simply for my challenges, for the first time in my life. I understand on a personal level that non-profit organizations can provide opportunities that break negative cultural cycles and create positive support systems that are transformative for both individuals and communities.
As an adult, I am fortunate to have found fulfillment in experiences that inspire, connect and empower personal transformation, first in myself, and at times in others. To work for an organization that provides life changing opportunities to people who would otherwise would not have them, and who may need them the most, is a true blessing. Nothing makes more sense to me than investing in the lives our young people.”
What motivated you to work for your organization?
“I was motivated to found, and work for, My Voice Music after I witnessed the unique and powerful role that music can have in connecting with youth who are not being reached in typical settings. While employed as a Treatment Counselor at a residential treatment facility I worked with ten to twelve year old boys diagnosed with mental illness and who were exhibiting extreme behaviors. The environment was very stark. Every door needed a key to be opened, the walls were white, chairs and other furniture were bolted to the floor so that youth could not pick them up and throw them. Nothing sharp was allowed on the units and sometimes youth would be on “lockdown” for days.
One morning I brought my guitar to work and played it while the boys were waking up. Chaos was replaced with calm. The boys literally sat down in front of me and gazed up quietly while I played music . It was the first time I had seen the group of boys together with their defenses down, just being boys. That morning I realized how powerful music can be in bridging the gap between caregivers and youth.I witnessed music as it replaced the chaos and insecurity of a typical morning and replaced it with a sense of calm and security.
After that day, the youth on the unit began expressing an interest in learning to play music. I began teaching them the guitar bass, drums and keys. Children who were not given metal utensils, for fear they would hurt themselves or others, were allowed to learn on my band’s instruments. They were polite, courteous and excelled when around the instruments. During the days that music lessons occurred, negative behaviors and physical restraints were down. The boys eventually performed together during their school tallent show!
While teaching music, I received many letters from therapists, teachers, counselors, program managers and foster parents informing me of the positive ways music had impacted the youth; school attendance was up; youth with barriers to forming positive relationships formed positive relationships with “band mates”; youth began expressing themselves constructively through music and grew in overall confidence; youth used music to cope and heal. I learned that, while music is not a “cure-all” for youth experiencing difficult circumstances, it is amazing in it’s ability to create “normal”, engaging and fun experiences that can lead to significant breakthroughs and create life-changing moments in a very natural way.
Eventually, the programI taught music at was shut down due to budget short falls. After this, I began teaching private music lessons in addition to working full time so that I could ultimately afford to develop My Voice Music. One of my first private music student’s families ended up donating a vehicle so that I could form My Voice Music. Upon receiving this donation, I formed a board of directors and My Voice Music was recognized by the state of Oregon within a month. I spent the next year attending classes, meetings and seminars in order to figure out how to run a non-profit. We started our first programs in January of 2009 and were given 501(c)(3) status in March of 2009.”
What do you do that inspires or motivates others?
“…One of the best stories I can tell at this point is of a young women who had moved from foster homes into residential treatment and back again several times. Through My Voice Music’s groups she learned to play music and was not only inspired to become a singer songwriter, she was inspired to sing and play songs at her residential facility in order to help her peers to stay calm and feel better too. She tapped into a powerful way to change her community for the better – and that power was her own voice!…”
What are your dreams / ambitions for your organization? What do you see as your role in making these dreams / ambitions a reality?
“My immediate dreams for My Voice Music are that after five years, we will continue to recruit volunteers and board members with enthusiasm, skills, and strategic ties to Portland’s community. I hope we will be able to have a full-time, paid Executive Director position in addition to several part time Program Leaders. I want to see My Voice Music running a diverse set of music programs that reach a wide array of youth both on a short term and long term basis. I want our programs to be reaching over 700 kids a year. I want some of our students to be involved in volunteer work where they are using their unique skills and knowledge to help make their community a better place.
In ten years I want My Voice Music’s mission and organizational structure to inspire and empower musicians across the country to duplicate our model and bring life changing music programs to thousands of youth who need it most though often have the least access to it. We will continue to have music programs in the greater Portland area, as well as, launch satellite programs in rural areas. Our programs will have a reputation of compassion, excellence in service, and significant community involvement that all serve to provide opportunities for youth that would otherwise not them. Some youth from our programs will be inspired to become musicians and use their music to help people….maybe they will even work for MVM!
My role in fulfilling these dreams is to continue to; create a bold and inspiring vision; to develop realistic plans in order to achieve our vision; be able to effectively tell the story of MVM to anyone who is interested in hearing it; set an organizational and program culture that is open to feedback and change while at the same time is focused on achieving specific goals; enable volunteers and staff to help My Voice Music by providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to be effective; be vulnerable and resolute; understand what is changeable and what is not; create an organization that is thriving and sustainable long into the future.”
Thinking of your personal goals, what do you hope to be doing in 5 years?
“I hope to be running a thriving My Voice Music and fulfilling our mission in the most effective ways possible. I hope to be independently releasing another album of my music that is interesting to me, my girlfriend, my mother, and, at the least, my most supportive friends. I want to have hiked to the top of Mt. Hood, Mt. Reineer and Mt. Whitney and be planning my next significant hike. I would like to be leading an international My Voice Music trip to build cultural connections between our youth, staff and other places (Haiti comes to mind) with kids in order to provide them with a life changing opportunity and a global understanding. I hope to continually be refining and renewing myself so that love may shine brightly through me, while that which dims it becomes less. (I hope to keep my feet on the ground so that statements such as that last one have relevance beyond the rear bumper of a Volkswagen.)”
”Almost everyone who works for a nonprofit is dedicated. For Ian, the dedication goes beyond showing up for work or envisioning what the future can hold for a grassroots organization. My Voice Music is at the forefront of everything he does, everything he thinks about, everything he dreams about. The exceptional part is how well-suited Ian is for this position in the community – his background, ethics, education (both academic and musical), people skills, and desire to help the community at large are all very present in what he does, every minute of every day.” Alison Arella, My Voice Music Board Member
Watch a video of Ian’s Award speech. He tells the powerful story of how music can help youth to cope, heal and thrive.
Recently Ian Mouser had the opportunity to sit in at Oregon Public Broadcasting’s studio and speak with Dave Miller, host of Think Out Loud. The discussion, which centered on up-and-coming leaders at Portland non-profits, was a great opportunity to explain why it is so important to get involved with youth organizations.
Mouser eloquently spoke about the power that music can have to help people, especially youth, gain self-confidence and work through personal issues in an informal setting. Music has the ability to transcend and break down barriers that people can build around themselves as a natural defense mechanism. It is great to see Ian Mouser recognized for the incredible work he is doing to get more people involved with youth in the community.
“Since 2004, Willamette Week has given the Skidmore Prize to four people 35 or under in recognition of the significant work they do with non-profits in the community. The prize is inspired by the inscription on the fountain that reads, “Good Citizens Are the Riches of a City.”
This year the four non-profits focus on kids and the arts. PHAME is an arts organization aimed at creating opportunities and community for those 17 or older who have a developmental or physical disability. The Circus Project teaches circus and performing arts to at-risk youth. My Voice Music provides music opportunities to for troubled kids. Friends of the Children mentors disadvantaged children — committing to them for 12 years, starting in 1st grade. We’ll talk with Ian Mouser of My Voice Music and Tammecha Turner with Friends of the Children about what drew them to their chosen work and what they’ve observed working so closely with kids in need.”
We have some great new programs coming up and we would love some program volunteers to help us run them! Do you have a passion for music and helping youth to have access to musical opportunities? Let us know what you are interested in!
Some details: We ask that volunteers sign up for an entire program series (most of our groups are multi-week programs) and that they are able to attend all (or most) of the programs in any that series. We require all program volunteers to fill out a volunteer application form and background check before attending our programs.
ROCK CAMPS AT FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
Wednesdays: 3:30 – 6:30 (Nov 2. – Dec. 14th)
Location: Friends of the Children Campus on NE Morris
Group Times: Rock Group 1: 4pm – 5:10 & Rock Group 2: 5:20 – 6:10
Performance: Dec. 16th – 5:30 – 8pm
Program Description:
My Voice Music’s Rock Camps teach youth to play music from the ground up, record it and perform it. Instruction is often very basic and covers the drum-set, guitar, keyboards and singing while developing the musical concepts of time, tone, pitch and rhythm. Students are encouraged to use music and poetry to express themselves while jamming, singing and writing lyrics. Participants work with experienced volunteers and staff in order to write their own song! They work together as a band to choose musical styles, instrumentation, lyrical content, and while rehearsing and performing. They learn about the recording process while they record their own music with help from teachers and volunteers. Participating youth are encouraged to give a final performance of their song to an audience of their community.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC PROGRAM (through SUN Schools)
Mondays: 2:40 – 4:30 (Oct. 24 – Dec. 16th)
Location: SUN Schools – David Douglas HS
Times: 3pm – 4:30
Program Description:
My Voice Music’s electronic music program teaches youth to create hip-hop beats, electronic compositions, lyrics and music in order to write and record original music. Students will learn skills such as rhythm, tempo, sampling, synthesis, sequencing, arranging, automation, and recording. By the end of a multi-week session, student’s will have a CD of their recorded music to take home with them. If students are self-motivated and wish to continue using open software, they can earn their own computer by volunteering 24 hours at Free Geek!
ROCK CAMP (Independent Ongoing Music Mentorship Program)
My Voice Music’s independent rock camps can look very different depending on what is going on each season. These groups are essentially “artist mentorship programs”. Youth in these groups have typically attended MVM programs before. They are usually working toward a specific goal such as a major performance, writing and recording a collection of songs, or putting together a “give back” program where they volunteer their music talents in the community. Programs are often collaborative in nature between students, volunteers and instructors.
PDXPOPNOW! OUTREACH DAY AT BOISE ELLOIT MS
Monday – Nov. 14th 8am – noon
Location: Boise Elloit Middle School
My Voice Music partners with PDXPOPNOW! to take over a middle-school for the day in order expose them to all sorts of music and arts experiences. They offer workshops by morning and concerts in the afternoon. My Voice Music runs a music exposure workshop in the mornings. We bring 30 buckets, 10 guitars, and 10 keyboards into a classroom, set them up and teach a group of 20 – 30 students to jam on them, all together, at once in 45 minutes! This is a hurricane of a morning – and it’s super fun!
LYRIC AND SONGWRITERS CLASSES
Stay tuned for this one – it is coming soon!
My Voice Music is starting a new program that focuses primarily on lyric writing. The multi-week groups focus on different styles of lyric writing and vocal expression. Each student is paired with a musician who is experienced in writing and recording music. The student and volunteer work together to create a song. The student writes lyrics and the volunteer works with the student to write music and a vocal melody for the lyrics. The program ends with a performance where the student’s introduce their song and mentor and then the mentor performance the piece.
My name is Brian Alfrey of Radio Room. “Some Day The Sun Will Shine” is a truly beautiful song written and performed by a group of young women living in a residential treatment facility for youth who face mental health and behavioral challenges. The girls play all the instruments despite only one of them having ever played music before. After just six weeks they showed up for their final performance absolutely glowing with excitement. They invited family members, therapists, friends and teachers to the show. They had truly found their voice through music and were proud to share it. This song was chosen as the last song on the computation because the subject matter reflects an attitude that it central to My Voice Music’s mission. That attitude is some up to be seen for one’s best despite facing difficult circumstances. In all of it’s programs, My Voice Music provides opportunities that truly help youth become identified with their strengths and not simply the challenges they face. Thank you for taking the time to listen and supporting My Voice Music.
This blues jam illustrates the that way music can bridge the gap between people who are coming together from very different places. This jam included three people. A young man who literally walked off the streets and into the jam session; A young woman, a singer and a poet who was also living on the streets, and a local musician working for My Voice Music. These three people connected intimately in this jam despite their differences and not knowing each other well. It is this type of connection that can help to build long term positive relationships that transform lives.
My name is Courtenay Hameister, and I am the host of Live Wire Radio. I am happy to introduce the song, “I Need You Like” for My Voice Music. “I Need You Like” was written by a young girl who learned to play guitar and sing at My Voice Music Groups. When she first attended My Voice Music she had never played music before. After attending My Voice programs for nearly a year she now identifies herself as a musician who writes her own songs, plays the guitar and sings, she even plays the drums and a bit a keyboards. “My Voice Music has helped me so much,” she says, “If it wasn’t for you guys, I would not be able to express myself in this way. I love music and I use it every day to cope and to stay calm.” Even more significant is that she often plays her music to younger kids at the treatment center she lives in to help them calm down when they are sad or upset. Her story illustrates the effective roll music can play to shape a young person’s self image and help them to cope, thrive and even help others no matter what their circumstances are. This is “I Need You Like” for My Voice Music.
This is Dennise Kowalczyk with KZME Radio. Runaway was written by a young man living in a residential treatment facility who was prone to frequent violent outbursts, and was frequently restrained and secluded due to the significant risk he posed to himself and his peers and the staff. During the nearly two weeks that My Voice Music facilitated song writing and recording work shops at his facility, the youth transferred all aggression into song writing and developing his flow for songs. He had no violent outbursts. His treatment staff was amazed. This is an often seen example of how youth who are struggling can thrive when given a relevant and engaging way to express themselves, and be seen for their best.
My name is Chelsea Cain. I am happy to introduce this electronic song called “Tribute to Gaga” for My Voice Music. “Tribute to Gaga” was produced by a young man who, according to his foster mom, may not work well in My Voice Music groups as he is very very shy. One of My Voice Music’s volunteers however, was able to teach him to play the drums and connect the rhythms he was making to electronic music, a style of music he was interested in creating. He was quickly able to participate fully and produced his song with the help of My Voice Music volunteers, molding it into a piece that expressed his specific musical tastes. By the end of My Voice Music’s group he was proud to share his song with the group during a final performance. This is just one example of many, that shows the various ways that music can help youth to come out of their shell in order to share their voice and be heard.
”
Folders
