Shure gives voice to Project RYTMO
(Dave Molter | Posted 2010-06-07)
For seven years, the non-profit Project
RYTMO (Reaching Youth Through Music Opportunities), has been keeping
kids in Anaheim, California, off the streets and engaged in music and
learning. The free after-school program, funded in part by the state
and federal governments, provides a creative, positive, and professional
environment for underserved youth who demonstrate musical, technical,
and/or business potential in the arts. Shure is proud to play a role in
Project RYTMO's mission of educating, empowering, and equipping young
people through music, music technology, and artistic development. Since
2003, the program has served more than 350 at-risk youth, many of whom
have been homeless or have had experience in the juvenile justice
system.
"As a Company, we take pride in giving back to the community," says
Shure President and CEO Sandy LaMantia. "These kids have shown great
promise, and we couldn't be more pleased to lend our support to this
program, which is helping them fulfill their artistic and professional
potential."
Project RYTMO offers nine-week sessions for young people between the
ages of 14 and 22, with classes including songwriting, digital
recording, music history, and live audio production. Students are also
taught life skills such as goal setting, project planning, leadership,
and professionalism. Most importantly, says Project RYTMO founder and
executive director Joey Arreguin, the program gives young people in
at-risk environments a healthy, positive outlet for their energy and
creativity.
One of the program's big challenges is finding professional-quality gear
for the students to use in class. When Project RYTMO first began, says
Arreguin, there was a lack of quality in the students' performances and
recording. Without professional audio gear, the students were getting
muffled and distorted results. Shure was one of several manufacturers
that Arreguin's team reached out to for assistance, and while it might
not seem like much...a few SM58(r) microphones have gone a long way
toward improving the quality of the kids' projects.
Many Project RYTMO graduates have gone on to start their own record
labels, video and audio companies, perform live shows, or produce music
for themselves or other artists. Arreguin is now looking to expand
Project RYTMO into other parts of California and has just entered into a
partnership with the Berklee School of Music in Boston that will enable
eligible young people to participate in online learning and even apply
for music scholarships.
For more information on Project RYTMO, visit www.rytmo.org.
From press release.
