Grant strikes a chord with dynamic Coachella Valley music nonprofit
Thanks to a recent Creative Corps Inland SoCal grant, The Academy of Musical Performance (AMP) is broadening its impact.
The grant, which was made available through Inland Empire Community Foundation, will assist the east valley non-profit organization with several in-house initiatives, while another portion of the grant has allowed one local artist to shine creatively.
Singer/musician Courtney Chambers was the beneficiary of the resources. The Palm Springs resident spent several years working with AMP in various capacities — from band coach and private piano and guitar instructor to songwriting instructor.
Chambers used the grant resources to assist with a musical performance, which took place in March. The artist hired several instructors and a social media manager and nabbed a local catering company for the event. The rest of the funding will assist with an upcoming promotional video featuring her work.
When asked about what makes AMP so unique, Chambers was candid.
"AMP is a great place to come and to learn how to work together," she says. "It's really about getting kids to work together and find solutions. Because, you know, you don't always have the same agenda. But at the end of the day, you have to learn how to work together.
"What I love about AMP is that they create an environment where you might be into punk rock, or pop music, or you might be into country, but everybody has to come together and figure out how to make music together," she added. "The time that I spent there has been amazing."
Overall, the results produced rank high up there, too.
AMP sprang to life back in 2015 when Coachella Valley Community Trust (CVCT) board member Roman Whittaker realized many local schools were lacking music instruction. A meeting with Goldenvoice, the brainchild behind the Coachella Music Festival other music events, and a staunch supporter of valley youth, led to a three-year commitment for AMP's seed funding.
An inaugural AMP summer camp arrived in 2015, expanding AMP's educational programming. Today, a variety of programs fill up the nonprofit's creative landscape.
AMP's summer camp, for instance, is now revered. The contemporary music performance day camp, which unfolds for three weeks in July, is geared to Coachella Valley youth in 6th to 12th grades. The program engages young musicians to create, communicate and collaborate on original and cover music in bands.
It all culminates to a final showcase in front of a large audience.
For spring and fall, Rock Band Programs for Teenagers unites local Coachella Valley teenagers aged 11-18, who ultimately perform around the community. Their talents are spotlighted in a final performance.
There's also preAMP, a unique five-day music camp for third, fourth and fifth grade students. The camp experience educates students on how to play music in groups and is geared for youth with little to no musical experience.
The AMP Instrument Zoo is noteworthy. Think of it as a kind of petting zoo but with instruments. The experience offers individuals a chance to play an instrument (or three) for the first time.
These programs are geared to enrich the lives of young musicians. Its self-described "forward-thinking" music programs are designed to be affordable, making accessibility much easier.
"Watching these kids grow, learn how to work together and learn how to compromise has been significant," Chambers says. "And I think that's huge in life in general. Putting these kids in these situations really gives them the life skills that they're going to need as they move forward."
Learn more about The Academy of Musical Performance at ampcv.org.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Grant strikes a chord with dynamic Coachella Valley music nonprofit
