How Drums Are Saving One of the World's Most Violent Countries From Gangs

http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/can-this-music-be-a-force-for-good/75516

Priyanka Borpujari

OZY

17 March 2017

Text / 800-1500 Words

Even in the face of rampant violence, corruption, and poverty in El Salvador, hope rises for youth in the form of TuYulu ("our hearts") batucada workshops. The organization promotes and encourages young groups of musicians and performers to foster community and positive change through the "turbocharged" beats of African-Brazilian drumming.

Musicians Add 'Counterterrorism Briefing' to Pre-Grammy Schedule

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/musicians-add-counterterrorism-briefing-to-pre-grammy-schedule-w515827

Molly McCluskey

Rolling Stone

26 January 2018

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For the first time, high-profile Grammy attendees this year received an all-day security briefing on how to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks. In light of recent mass shootings and bombs at concerts in Manchester, Las Vegas, and Paris, the musicians met directly with U.S. State Department and European Union officials to learn best practices to help protect themselves, their crews, and their fans.

Working with Dark Light: Puerto Rican artists are healing the spirits that Hurricane Maria broke

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/national/puerto-rican-art-hurricane-maria

Samuel Granados

The Washington Post

28 February 2018

Video / Over 15 Minutes

In the wake of Hurricane Maria, artists are putting on performances of all kinds in traditional and non-traditional spaces. These performances provide entertainment; express pain, loss, and anger; satirize and critique government inaction; and instill pride and hope.

They Risked Their Lives To Bring Music Back

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/03/21/595192877/invisibilia-they-risked-their-lives-to-bring-music-back

Alix Spiegel

NPR

21 March 2018

Radio / 5-15 Minutes

With the extremist group Al-Shabab active in the country, music has been a source of trauma for Somalis with music banned in Shabab controlled territory and musicians assassinated. A reality show centered around musical performance is hoping to bring music back into public life.

Women Fighting Sexism in Jazz Have a Voice. And Now, a Code of Conduct.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/arts/music/we-have-voice-jazz-women-metoo.html

Giovanni Russonello

The New York Times

30 April 2018

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The We Have Voice Collective, a group of female and non-binary jazz and experimental musicians, have developed a code of conduct in response to rampant sexual harrassment and abuse in the music community. The collective has urged the code—which is organized into “commitments” and “definitions”—to be adopted by festivals, organizations, venues, labels, media outlets, schools, and more.

A Map To The Line, And How Not To Cross It: A Code Of Conduct For The Performing Arts

https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2018/04/30/607142770/a-map-to-the-line-and-how-not-to-cross-it-a-code-of-conduct-for-the-performing-a

Michelle Mercer

NPR

30 April 2018

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The We Have Voice Collective is a group of 14 diverse female and non-binary musicians who have developed a code of conduct to address harrassment. Their goal is for the code to be instituted by venues, festivals, labels, schools, and for the code to be incorporated into artists’ riders.

Come together: how music is rebuilding bridges in divided Balkans

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/16/mostar-rock-school-bosnia-herzegovina

Gillian Dohrn

The Guardian

16 March 2018

Multi-Media / 800-1500 Words

Mostar Rock School is a school that takes students from both sides of the Nereta river, which divides the Bosnian Croat population and the Bosnian Muslims. The school allows students from different ethnic backgrounds to intermingle, create music, and it defies the ethnic division created after the Bosnian war. “There were 16 students in the first class. This year, there are 128 enrolled and 80 more on the waiting list.”

'We Are Going To Survive': Douglas Students Use Music, Art To Heal At Camp Shine

http://www.wlrn.org/post/we-are-going-survive-douglas-students-use-music-art-heal-camp-shine

Jessica Bakeman

WLRN

14 August 2018

Multi-Media / 5-15 Minutes

Camp Shine, is helping student survivors of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, heal. Through art, dance, and music, they are processing their trauma. The camp, was founded by two upperclassmen from MSDHS who believe in the idea of healing through art. Data shows it’s working. Researchers from the University of Miami who surveyed the students before and after the camp saw a reduction in PTSD symptoms. "They're here to have fun, but they're also here to heal.”

Alive and Kicking

https://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2018/8/Features/Alive_and_Kicking.html

Joshua Rosenblum

Opera News

1 August 2018

Text / 1500-3000 Words

The Young People’s Chorus of New York City uses music and dance to provide an emotional and creative outlet for children and teens from disparate communities. Through opera, dance, and chorus, this group creates connections between students who may never interact otherwise. The YPC now has a membership of 1,700 students and partnerships with famous composers, like Michael Torke, that produces original music. On top of everything else, the group also offers SAT tutoring, homework help, and guidance on applying to college.

Running and Singing to Improve Maths and English

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cswvrm

Dougal Shaw

BBC

18 September 2018

Podcast / Over 15 Minutes

Two innovative solutions in Great Britain in education are proving to be highly successful in improving students' performances in math and reading. A school in Edinburgh uses the Daily Mile (spending 15 minutes a day running 6 laps around the school at each student's own pace) as a tool to get students physically fit and intellectually engaged. In Bradford, England, a failing school centered musical education (with a minimum of 3 hours a week in music class) as part of an overhaul of their curriculum, which has been successful in fulfilling students spiritually and strengthening key skills to use elsewhere.