Several ongoing music programs are inspiring Whitsunday youth to pick up a guitar, learn the therapeutic qualities of playing music and feel the empowerment that comes mastering a new instrument.
Thanks to the Music Evolution Project (MEP), their innovative funding streams and the kindness of many local businesses, there are currently three courses running in the region.
The six-week Fast Track Minds Guitar Workshop for youth 11 years old and up, is taking place in both Proserpine and Bowen, teaching 24 students an intensive course that will see them perform on stage in less than a month.
“They will go from never having picked up a guitar to playing in a concert within just six weeks,” said Founder and President of MEP Lisa Stanley.
The musicians will all perform live on-stage at a special event at the Whitsunday PCYC on Saturday 9th April.
To make this happen, Whitsunday Regional Council and Bendigo Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine funded the purchase of 22 guitars, Big W Cannonvale kindly supplied 70 t-shirts and Shirtfront Solution printed logos on them for free. In addition, Whitsunday Computers and Stationary provided complementary printing services.
This year, MEP are also hosting a free one-year program for five- to 10-year-olds.
“We are helping to create the Alpha generation of musicians,” said Ms Stanley.
“It’s amazing to see tiny little kids with great big monstrous guitars in their hands!”
MEP also run a free Youth Mentoring Program where Ms Stanley mentors four different bands once a week at her own house.
This is a voluntary non-funded program, and the youth are scheduled to perform later this month.
Lastly, the Smart Pathways Program is also in action this year, a fully subsidised mentorship which guides one lucky person through tuition, lessons, travel expenses, accommodation and exam fees, into the life of their dreams – whether that be a career in music or a place at university.
“It all comes back to mental health,” said Ms Stanley.
“There are very little resources for youth and mental health and having experienced depression for over half of my life, I am passionate about the benefits of music on the brain.
“The self-confidence, the self-esteem, the self-worth – you have to see it to believe it!”
The MEP Fast Track Minds Guitar Workshop, with special guest Mayor Andrew Willcox
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