Discover How A Shy Little Boy From A Troubled Childhood
Found His Greatest Power In A Song
If you are concerned about your child's well-being and success,
and are wanting to give him/her the tools for concentration, creativity,
positive self-expression, and self esteem, then this program is
for you. As a parent or grandparent, the most important task you
have is to give your child the encouragement to be pleased with
himself/herself. This desire to be good at something and to achieve
is directly connected with the activities in which your child
chooses to engage. School, sports and other activities can either
help to build self esteem or become the dreaded monster that creates
anxiety and depression as well as many antisocial and sometimes
criminal tendencies for children, preteens and teen-agers.
It was very early in my life that I found out exactly what made
me feel special.
I was a daydreamer and fortunately for me, the concept of Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) had not been adopted as
an illness yet. Mrs. Stevens, my first grade teacher would often
tell me to stop daydreaming. Maybe it is because I did very well
in school with the school work that my daydreaming never caused
problems for me. In fact, my creative wondering mind is my greatest
strength and it was only a few years later that I found music
and songwriting to be my real passion and power.
After many more years and many more songs, I am very excited to
now share my knowledge, methodologies and vision through my program.
Songwriting For Success™.
Songwriting is an extremely effective tool for focusing and releasing
energy and emotions. It immediately transforms the withdrawn individual
into a creative being, filled with ideas, aspirations and the
desire for self-expression.
Over the past 15 years, I have coached children and adults in
their musical endeavors.
Often times seeing a shy, unsure or even resentful student flourish
into a happy, eager and outgoing person.
DON'T LET YOUR CHILD FALL VICTIM TO THE ALLURING HYPE OF GANGS
The statistics are staggering of the number of teens and preteens
finding the wrong pier group to cling to. According to Robert
Walker founder of Gangs Or Us, the number of gangs throughout
America is on the rise. He states, ”Gangs today, are forming at
an alarming rate. They have been identified throughout the United
States in cities and communities, large and small, urban and rural.
Today, street gang membership encompasses all races from most
socioeconomic levels and is not limited to larger cities.
The presence of gangs may be seen everywhere. Gang members do
not represent an invisible empire. They thrive on recognition
and are constantly seeking ways to make their presence known or
felt. They only go unseen when law enforcement personnel, as well
as educators and parents, fail to recognize the signs of gang
activity and an individuals involvement.
Too often, a community or a department will proclaim that there
are no gangs within the community, stating that there are only
a few youths who are "Wannabes." This term should never be used.
By overlooking the fact that these youths have adopted a gang
name, use gang signs and symbols and commit crimes, these youths
are "Gonnabes." Failing to recognize or denying the existence
of gang activity, whether willingly or through a lack of gang
identification training, drastically increases the gang's ability
to thrive and develop a power base.
Odds are that you have street gangs in your community. Why do
I say this? Because, throughout the United States, gangs are no
longer confined to the large urban communities. They are now found
in many of the smallest of towns across America. Gang members
are no longer just low income, poorly educated, drop-outs from
society. Gang members are now found to be a mixture of ALL races,
cultures and ethnicity's. No longer do the members come from a
one parent family who is never available to show love and guidance
to the child. Our youth of today are sometimes joining gangs even
though they live with both parents who are in the middle income
or even the upper income segments of society.
Too often the phrase, “We don't have gangs in our community” is
uttered by the city fathers, the police, the chamber of commerce
or the tourist bureau. This is often followed by, “All we have
are a bunch of wannabes.” The inference here is that since the
gangs in the community didn't originate in Los Angeles or Chicago,
they aren't real gangs. Nothing could be further from the truth.
If a group of youths in your community have banned together and
call themselves by a particular name; if they use signs, symbols
and or colors; and if they are committing crimes; they are a gang
- regardless of what members of the community say.”
As you can discern, your child or grandchild is at a greater risk
now than ever before at becoming a victim of gang influence and
involvement. The antidote, that I am prescribing, is my songwriting
methods. The creative and unique nature of songwriting can bring
immediate status and respect of peers and acquaintances. Teachers,
friends and family members often notice a dynamic change for the
better in my students' attention, attitude and social skills.
Songwriting is as ancient as language itself. Rhythm and music
even is thought to precede formal language. As a means of communication,
the use of songwriting is very effective. Songs are often not
as direct and reveal underlying truths that are sometimes left
out of dialogue.
My songwriting course teaches each student to find his/her inner
own musical voice and put forth a focused work that propels the
student to reach higher potential and untapped resources. Certainly,
not all students become songwriters by profession but all do enjoy
countless hours of focused productive free time and often gain
deep insight into their own motivations and desires.
STOP ALLOWING THE MEDIA AND VIDEO GAMES DRIVE YOUR CHILD'S DESIRES!!
The media is all around us. We are bombarded and caught up in
a whirlwind of violent video games, TV shows, movies, and yes,
even music and songs. With most every waking leisure moment that
a person has in America, he or she can be occupied by images that
are not from our own internal creation. DVD players are standard
on almost every family automobile, and a great part of American
society can be seen with mobile phone/mp3/video player in hand
or at arms length. Parents of this newest generation find great
comfort in sitting little Kadin or Katlin in front of a screen
to appease him/her and allow Mom & Dad a minute's peace. The habit
or free time activity of reading or painting, or drawing or any
self-motivated creating is all too rare in our society - be it
for children, teens or adults.
As my students become involved in songwriting most find their
desire to engage in video games and couch potato TV watching,
waning. The challenge of coaxing a seed of an idea in music to
develop into a finished song is sometimes all consuming and invigorating.
One has little time to be distracted by mind sucking violent video
games and television. To be a composer is to be a doer. He/she
is one that accomplishes said goals and adds to his/her repertoire
of communicable skills.
SONGWRITING BRINGS HOPE AND PASSION TO CHILDREN IN DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES.
As Think About Them, Inc. grew to become my primary focus for
my musical talents, I was given the opportunity to touch the lives
of youths that had suffered abuse and misery of broken and dysfunctional
family environments. In Baltimore, Maryland there is a wonderful
project devoted to assisting children of such circumstances. As
an extension of the United Methodist Church, The Board Of Child
Care improves and very often rescues the lives of hundreds of
children who are in need. I began teaching, Piano, Guitar and
Songwriting Classes to these children and was extremely blessed
to see young students of such unfortunate circumstances finding
great joy in expressing their ideas and passions through music
and songwriting.
