A key component of Law Rocks’ mission is to promote music education for underserved youth. In 2023, due to our increased sponsorship and fundraising, Law Rocks has been able to offer a new grant at each Law Rocks show: The Music Matters grant. This grant is given to a local nonprofit that supports youth music education. Omi Crawford, director of Law Rocks, says of the grant initiative:
“Since our 2009 founding, Law Rocks has supported hundreds of incredible nonprofits, with an emphasis on youth music education organizations. The Music Matters grant is a natural evolution of our mission and a chance to formalize our support of amazing music education nonprofits across the country.”
Today’s spotlight is on Blue Bear School of Music, who received the $5,000 grant at our Ninth Annual Law Rocks San Francisco show. The Blue Bear School of Music has been the longtime designated nonprofit of Law Rocks’ participants 12th Root of Two. In celebration of the partnership, Blue Bear Executive Director Dr. Steven Savage joined us at the show as part of our Epic Panel of Rock Judges.
Law Rocks is thrilled to be able to increase our support for amazing nonprofits like Blue Bear School of Music through the Music Matters grant. We are also happy to share the important work of Blue Bear with the Law Rocks community. Keep on reading for our spotlight interview with Dr. Steven Savage, Executive Director of the Blue Bear School of Music.
1) Can you tell us a little about the history of your nonprofit, as well as its mission and focus?
Founded in 1971, the mission of Blue Bear School of Music is to empower people to play the music they love. Our vision is that everyone should have equal access to the gift of playing music, regardless of their financial means or what neighborhood they live in. The implementation of our mission has resulted in delivering highly impactful music programs at more than 20 locations throughout San Francisco.
The program has grown substantially, currently reaching at least 500 youth each year, with plans to continue expanding our reach in the undeserved neighborhoods where we have been particularly active. Residents of these neighborhoods face numerous barriers to success, including high rates of poverty, homelessness, and violence, obstacles which collectively challenge their access to music education. The benefits of playing music and the opportunities it provides to allow at-risk youth a path out of the cycles of poverty and violence are well documented, though woefully unimplemented in the public schools or at community centers that are often not equipped to provide the kind of training that really resonates with their youth population. Blue Bear has had great success in filling this role at schools and community centers throughout San Francisco.
Our Digital Studio Program provides free, year-round, after-school music classes designed to empower at-risk youth to write, produce, and record original music. The program is offered to middle and high school students at the Bayview Hunters YMCA, The Mix, San Francisco Public Library’s Teen Center, the SF Sheriff's Department Five Keys Charter School, the Center for Academic Reentry and Empowerment Program for at-risk youth and other locations.
Our Little Bears Community Program is for children ages four months to five years and includes a variety of age-appropriate activities, from singalongs for our youngest students to dancing and exploring rhythm with musical instruments for older participants. This program is delivered at Hamilton Families Shelter and Transitional Housing and other locations.
Blue Bear is providing an introduction for younger children to music skills and careers that may resonate with our student population later in life, and training skill sets that allow teens to find internships or employment in the music industry with our help. In doing so we are addressing one of the main causes of the continued marginalization of the communities where we work in that those youth are often never exposed to career paths that are motivational for them, and at the same time actually possible paths to success.
To meet the growing need for our programming, we plan to open a second Blue Bear campus in San Francisco, as well as one in the East Bay. We will also begin delivering programming through a new, dedicated Blue Bear space at Mercy Housing (low income housing) when the new residence opens in Mission Bay in 2021. We have committed 50% of our programming for free to residence of Mercy Housing.
2) What is the best example of the way you’ve seen your organization’s work make a difference
All of Blue Bear’s Outreach Programs are free to the participants, providing the broadest possible equity and inclusion. Free and accessible arts education in public schools and community-based locations provides opportunities for young people of all economic backgrounds to gain exposure and experience in the arts.
Blue Bear programs disrupt the traditional notion that music instruction need be focused on classical music forms – or even jazz and rock and roll. Our robust programs in rap, hip-hop and Electronic Music – focusing on the socially conscious and positive message strains in these idioms – transform the role that music plays in the lives of at-risk youth. Blue Bear has long been and continues to be a leader in bringing relevant hands-on music programming directly to youth in underserved communities. We are also a grassroots organization with a long history of supporting inclusiveness, public access, social justice, and community engagement, bolstering the notions of diversity, equity, empowerment, and inclusion.
3) What are some upcoming initiatives that you are planning for?
Because our flagship location at Fort Mason—situated in the northwest quadrant of the city—is not easily accessible to the many communities we want to reach, Blue Bear is dedicated to bringing programming directly to participants— providing broad access by eliminating financial and transportation barriers. Our community outreach programs provide at-risk youth the opportunity for expression and community participation while also providing avenues for employment as working musicians and teachers. Blue Bear students have gone on to teach in Blue Bear programs, participated in music internship programs and pursued careers in the arts.
Through our continued and expanded outreach in the coming years, which will be brought to fruition through our new East Bay and San Francisco sites, we will be able to reach additional audiences that until now have had limited exposure to hands-on music education.
4) What is the greatest challenge your organization faces?
Raising the needed money for our expansion campuses. This is a difficult time for arts funding.
5) What does the power of music mean to you?
I believe that my leadership is most profoundly recognized in the many partnerships that I and my staff have forged in providing innovative music programming throughout San Francisco. I hope that the stability of our staff and faculty, along with the esprit de corps within faculty and staff, also reflect my supportive leadership style. I am proud to reflect on the 35 years of service of the school’s General Manager and 10 years of our Outreach Director. The history of their engagement is written in the hearts and minds of countless San Francisco youth. While I am proud of the over 40,000 students the school has served in it’s 48 year history, I am particularly proud of the over 40 professional musicians that we currently employ as instructors, providing significant stability and income for those choosing the difficult path of the professional musician.
All of our outreach programs for teens focus on original music creation which in itself fosters self-reliance and bolsters leadership skills. Students must take the initiative (with support of course) to create an original piece to their own liking. Performance and showcase opportunities, which are a regular part of many of our programs, also provides the opportunity to express personal empowerment. More directly, Blue Bear has elevated some students into roles as music lab assistants and some have been able to become paid faculty as a part of our program implementation.
6) How will the Music Matters grant be used?
It will be used for our outreach programs. All of our outreach programs for teens focus on original music creation which in itself fosters self-reliance and bolsters leadership skills. Students must take the initiative (with support of course) to create an original piece to their own liking. Performance and showcase opportunities, which are a regular part of many of our programs, also provides the opportunity to express personal empowerment.
You can find more about Blue Bear School of Music here.