Around the Corner–Participating School Upbeat Music and Arts

03 Apr Around the Corner–Participating School Upbeat Music and Arts

Teens “just around the corner” from their adult lives are being given an opportunity to exhibit their work in one of Chicago’s most respected art galleries, Hairpin Arts Center, 2810 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago. This year’s theme: Dreams for the Future. Artist reception is 1:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday, May 14. The art will remain on display Sunday May 15 1:00-4:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Teen visual artists are from Luther North College Prep, Lydia Urban Academy, Steinmetz Academic Centre High School, and Aspira Early College Prep. Teen musicians performing at the reception are from Upbeat Music and Arts, a non-profit organization offering music and art classes as well as a summer camp for young people. Teen event volunteers are from buildOn, an after-school program at Schurz High School; they will earn community service recognition.

Upbeat Music and Arts students are excited to be participating in Around the Corner.

They will perform at the Around the Corner reception. Each will be introduced individually, come to the front, and play a piece they have prepared. We expect to hear piano pieces, guitar pieces, and more?

Many students have experience playing for the public at the school’s annual Spring Performances concerts–about 60 students performed on Saturday, April 2nd.

Upbeat offers top-notch music education classes, both group classes and individual lessons, for kids ages 6-17. It also offers summer camps and has developed a new program to teach kids the fundamentals of art. Scott Barbeau, musician and philanthropist, founded the school in 2013 with the goal of establishing an arts community center.  He takes pride in its growth–from 5 students initially to 110 currently, 15% of whom are on scholarship.

Upbeat has developed a curriculum that focuses on giving students a good foundation. Kids learn scales and other fundamentals. Besides private lessons Upbeat offers group classes with individual lesson plans. In groups, younger kids can watch older ones, and older kids can help the younger. At the end of the class they perform for each other.

Ultimately, the students build self-confidence, discipline, and accountability. Scott says, “I’m proud of our students and how they continue to grow as musicians (and people).”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MF6YzdnyWs&w=560&h=315]

The Upbeat studio is located at 4318 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago
http://www.upbeatmusicandarts.org/
773.384.3469