Amped Music Academy

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Amped Music Academy

Amped Music Academy

From a two-week summer class in 2014 to a nationally recognized year round program today, the Amped Music Academy is changing the lives of Louisville youth.

The Amped Music Academy is the organization’s founding program. It empowers youth to work as a team, learn how to express themselves effectively, and develop into healthy, productive members of our community and the world. Kids and adults are encouraged to express their creativity through music: writing, performing, and producing. The Music Academy also provides mentoring, using music to build connections. This unique opportunity attracts mentors who otherwise might not volunteer, and with whom our youth might not otherwise connect to. The Amped Music Academy is viewed as the gateway to the larger Amped ecosystem, first bringing in the kids while the adult family members find opportunities within Amped’s more adult-oriented programs.

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WHY SHOULD I APPLY?

Amped is a bright spot and a thriving community center where, as soon as you enter, positivity is palpable. Kids and adults alike are encouraged to express their creativity through music: writing, performing, and producing. Amped has expanded to provide mentoring, using music to build connections with our youth. The unique opportunity attracts mentors who otherwise might not volunteer their time, and with whom our youth might not otherwise connect. We have developed a thriving Out-of-School Time Program that is reaching and connecting with youth in our community.

Ready to Learn More?

Click the button below to send us an email letting us know you’re interested, whether it be as a student or a mentor!

Amped Dream Maker Awards

The Dream Maker Awards was started in 2017 as a way to celebrate the accomplishments of the amazing youth that go through the Amped Music Academy and to show our support for their future endeavors.

Each student that has participated in the Amped Music Academy will upon high school graduation receives a scholarship and a laptop to help get them started with the next stage of their lives. We present the Dream Maker Award to a deserving individual or organization who has made an impact on Amped and the Dream Maker Community Service Award to an individual or organization who has made a significant impact on our community. As a way to stay connected with our students their first year after high school graduation we offer the students what we refer to as “pizza money.” All a student has to do is to text an Amped staff member that they need pizza money, and we will send that Dream Maker up to $40. The reason behind the “pizza money” is that it gives us an opportunity to check in on them in a way that is initiated by them. The second purpose is to keep the students focused on their courses by having the ability to take a short break and literally have a pizza or pizza equivalent. The annual event also serves as a fundraiser for Amped and includes a cocktail hour, dinner, silent auction, music, and so much more.

Level Up – Mentoring With Music

Empowerment and Inspiration through the Power of Song.

Producing Positivity

The goal of the Level Up program is to empower students by inspiring comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking using culturally relevant materials, specifically hip hop and literature. Instructors use a combination of books, history, and songs/videos as the subject of analytical thought, not only for academic means, but also for its practical value. Students are taught and given the opportunities to produce their own beats, lyrics and songs as an outlet for creative expression and to show their understanding and critical thinking skills. Some of the major themes of the texts, history, and music include strong emotions, peer pressure, how to deal with loss and trauma, Black history, and how to generally navigate life as a Black American.

Equipped to Succeed

Level Up instructors tailor each program to the needs and limits of the students, facilities, and organizations we partner with. Furthermore, we bring in all, if not most, of the necessary equipment to run the program including books, speakers, instruments, and recording setup. Our programs run at least 8 weeks, but can be extended based on time constraints and needs. We have Level Up programs in several of the Jefferson County Public Schools and formerly at the Metro Youth Detention Services in Louisville, KY. The program is also taught onsite at our Greenwood Avenue facility. The program is in very high demand and we expect to go into more schools in counties outside of Jefferson County and into Indiana in the future.

A Positive influence

This program is intentional about serving Black middle and high school males and females that have an interest in music, and may need the mentoring, guidance, and the creative outlet that we offer. We do not turn away or reject any student. Although our approach is an Afrocentric approach to music focusing more on Hip-Hop all students are welcome. Students with current or past behavioral or grade issues are never turned away, in fact, we believe we can be a positive influence on both and we wholeheartedly welcome all students.