Celebrating Youth Poetry Through Music

SCORES youth from Jefferson Elementary will have the opportunity to put their poetry to music next week, recording original songs with famous country songwriter Dave Berg made possible by ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.)  The America SCORES ASCAP Songwriter Residency is a mentorship program that provides a platform for songwriters to engage and inspire elementary and middle school students in under-resourced neighborhoods. For a sneak peak, see the music video above created by our Walbridge poet-athletes.

America SCORES youth create and perform original poetry each year, improving literacy by engaging in a creative writing curriculum after school.  Dave Berg will help our poet-athletes integrate music into their creative writing, while giving their work a platform to be heard. He will lead songwriting classes with Jefferson Elementary poet-athletes, and the students will then record their original song with him at Shock City Studios . The finished song will be included on a special compilation CD that ASCAP produces and distributes to schools in the SCORES network as well as to members of the music industry.

Dave says, "I'm really looking forward to the ASCAP @ America SCORES program in St. Louis. I feel honored to be a part of it. Music is such a powerful thing and I truly believe it can be a life changer. It was for me….. this program gives [kids] a voice that can provide a spark for their spirit that will inspire far beyond the music itself." You can read more about Dave and our upcoming songwriter residency on the Music Industry News Network.