Notes for Notes Cleveland Presents: Sonic City: An Exploration of Cleveland Through Sound

Notes for Notes® (N4N) seeks out the youth with a dream who has limited means of pursuing it, using the great equalizer of music to create equitable opportunity amongst diverse youth. Studios are open to all youth, ages 5-18, but are placed in geographic areas local to youth who would not typically have access to contemporary instruments, professional recording gear, and skilled audio engineers. N4N seeks to help in the growth of independent thinkers through evidence-based practices in an effort to empower the most vulnerable members of our communities, young people. When youth come together with a common passion, they become connected to and empathic toward the situations others face, developing a stronger sense of compassion and community.

During our 2020 project supported by a grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, our talented Area Manager Ryan Easter in Cleveland engaged a core group of dedicated youth, all new to the music making process, to guide them through a project empowering them to explore and express home city and place in it through original songs. The project covered key elements of the recorded music process, seeking inspiration from visits from established Cleveland artists  and exploring songwriting techniques and ultimately the recording, mixing and mastering of two original tracks. Every aspect of Notes for Notes’ programming is focused on both musical and youth development goals, moving youth to develop the N4N Core Pillars of Success: Confidence, Creativity, Compassion, and Community.