About the Nonprofit
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YEAH! amplifies the voices of youths from all communities through music education and exploration.
VALUES
YEAH! fosters inclusive spaces through collaboration, not competition, to develop creativity, leadership, and community for youths of all identities and backgrounds, especially those who tend to be marginalized.
PURPOSE
To further empower Middle Tennessee residents ages 6-17 through music and a community culture that assists in their development and expression of self by providing:
Music and arts education
Abilities to develop self-expression and welcome others
Supportive environment to advance communication, expression, and character development
Teaching artists as positive role models with opportunities to pursue musical goals and inspire the next generation
Encouragement to become contributing members of society
Access to a range of cultures, tools, and life skills
Opportunities to experience live music and the arts
OVERVIEW (Overview Video)
YEAH! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable arts organization in Nashville, Tennessee, founded to further empower young people of all backgrounds ages 6-17 through music education.
YEAH! prioritizes expanded diversity among its students, teachers, volunteers, staff, and its board. We encourage their participation in our organization and programs, making YEAH! reflective of the community’s strength. YEAH! maintains strong partnerships with Title 1 Metro Nashville Public middle and high schools (MNPS) with additional support from the Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA), as well as community and nonprofit organizations whose programs reach diverse and underserved communities (e.g., Boys and Girls Club, Conexion Americas, Advocates for Women’s and Kids’ Equality (AWAKE), UnScripted Improv, etc.) As a result, in FY23 our youth participants were 27% persons of color, and 40% from lower-income families, 23% from the LGBTQ+ community, 22% with disabilities and 54% scholarship recipients.
Our summer camp, weekend, and public school programs support social responsibility and self-esteem. Participants gain proficiency on an instrument of their choice (bass, drums, guitar, keyboard, ukulele, or vocals); work together as a band; songwrite and compose music; attend workshops and live performances; and showcase their work at the end of each program.
More broadly, participants take risks and create art representative of their similarities and uniqueness. Band collaborations develop entrepreneurial and life skills that lead to future success in all fields.
YEAH!’s lending library provides personal instruments, and our scholarship program removes financial barriers for applicants.
HISTORY
YEAH! traces its roots to 2003, when Middle Tennessee State University student Kelley Anderson organized the first Southern Girls Rock Camp – the world’s second females-only rock camp ever. It was a joint project of the Women for Women student organization and the June Anderson Women’s Center. Inspired by her experience volunteering at a girls’ rock camp in Portland, Oregon, Anderson envisioned a more egalitarian music community in Tennessee.
YEAH! was founded in 2006 by Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald, Courtney Vickers, Andrew Jacks, Ryan York, and Nicole Tekulve. YEAH! enables self-expression for youths from all communities through yearlong programming. YEAH! connects participants who have limited access to the arts, and provides fair wages for local teaching artists. The organization’s scholarship fund is available to all applicants, regardless of economic background or status.
PROGRAMMING
YEAH! builds on partnerships with government and community organizations to support our young people. We strive to engage 250 youths annually in instrument instruction and related disciplines that represent and supply music creators, with workshops and panels on arts advocacy, songwriting, zine making, synthesizers, light, sound, recording, podcasting, and branding. All programs increase the appreciation of music and its historical impact on positive social change. YEAH! emphasizes the joy and value in expression and collaboration over competition through the following programs:
YEAH! Rocks - A one-week summer day camp for youths ages six to 17. Previous camps include Southern Girls Rock Camp, Tennessee Teens Rock Camp, and Ready2Rock Camp.
Community Music Workshop - A condensed three-day-weekend rock camp for adults who seek to develop musical interests and community.
Rock Block – An abbreviated 10-week camp offering two-hour sessions on Saturday afternoons for participants age 11 - 17.
Rock Block MNPS - A 10-week after-school enrichment program in the Spring and Fall meeting twice weekly at a title 1 Metro Nashville public middle or high school.
Workshops – For participants age 11-17, including arts and activism, technology, songwriting, and artist development. Virtual programming is under development for these and others.
Scholarships - available for all applicants to increase accessibility to music education.