Statements
Mission
To create songwriting programs for Nashville's most vulnerable, challenged, and hurting populations... pairing the critical social issues of our time with the power of music.
Background
The Beat of Life was founded in January 2012 as a response to the lack of music programs in the vast majority of human services agencies in Nashville. In the heart of "Music City USA," a city filled with some of the richest musical resources on earth, the most vulnerable, challenged and hurting populations participate in almost no music therapy programs due to a lack of funding. Our organization was founded to eliminate this disappointing situation and we began with a goal of creating permanent collaborations among musicians, the public and private sectors, and our organization to provide a unique and tailored therapeutic experience to our target service population(s). We are here to help our clients find a voice to tell their stories and heal their hearts--all through the power of song. Programs are structured to include 3 signature components: The first is a songwriting experience between the clients and songwriters to tell their story through song. The second component involves a studio compilation album recording of the songs created during each program, which requires studio time and production of CDs and mp3s of the songs and complete album. The third is a live concert performance opportunity for the clients with their songwriters, which doubles as a community awareness event. The Beat of Life is currently comprised of four signature programs. Our inaugural program, "Songwriters for Soldiers" is a songwriting retreat that started in the fall of 2013 and pairs soldiers battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with some of Nashville's hit songwriters. "Sing It to Stop It: Anti-Bullying through Songwriting" launched in the spring of 2014 with Middle Tennessee public schools to provide a proactive and creative way to prevent bullying and promote civility, tolerance, and compassion. "Redemption Songs" a prison music program in partnership with Davidson County Corrections, began in October of 2014. Our newest program, "Beautiful Minds" was launched in June of 2015 and brings together song writers and individuals battling depression/suicide and mental illness. We anticipate the development of two additional programs over the next year which will serve cancer patients, children and adults with special needs and other vulnerable and hurting individuals. The Beat of Life is focused on making Middle Tennessee a better and more peaceful place to live, and is doing so through community wide partnerships utilizing the therapeutic power of music.
Impact
During the past year, The Beat of Life has successfully fulfilled its core mission--to create unique partnerships with Nashville's human/social service organizations and facilities which can benefit immensely from using the power of music as a therapeutic tool for the individuals they serve. We have developed and launched four programs targeted toward vulnerable and struggling populations: veterans, students facing bullying, prison inmates and individuals battling mental illness. In just three years, we have made a tremendous impact on the lives of adults and children who participate in our programs. All of these groups experience extreme challenges and suffering, yet they all report that these music programs were powerful tools for healing from their wounds and dealing with difficult life circumstances. Participants express life-changing experiences and report that their exposure to our therapeutic music program is leading them to seek further involvement with music as a source for comfort and healing. We have recruited over 50 Nashville-based songwriters over the past year who volunteer their time, talents and energy to work with our clients. These songwriters report equally strong life-changing experiences in working with our programs. They learn about our clients' situations and gain a better understanding of human struggles and sensitive issues that surround these vulnerable populations. In Spring 2014, we were fortunate to partner with hit singer/songwriter Jeffrey Steele and his family's foundation, The Alex Levasseur Memorial Fund, for a special event concert fundraiser for our youth-based program, 'Sing It to Stop It.' This sold-out event featured many guest celebrity performers and served as a wonderful way to kick-off fundraising for this program and to enhance our presence in the community. 2015 has heralded the growth and development of our fund raising program, and we have secured funding from several foundations, including Frist, Memorial and the TN Arts Commission, in the past several months. Other development accomplishments include the formation of a committee to study feasibility of a Capital Campaign. We plan several, targeted fund raising events during 2015-2016 and have many partners in place, such as Michael DelGiorno of Super Talk 99.7, who are assisting with these pursuits.
Needs
The Beat of Life's goal is to raise $500,000 over the next year to cover the programmatic and staff expenses of "Songwriters for Soldiers," "Sing It To Stop It," "Redemption Songs," "Beautiful Minds" and more. Each program takes the time and planning of our staff as well as the songwriters and organizations who are involved. We anticipate producing two additional programs in the next year. Our early fundraising work has involved one benefit concert through Jeffrey Steele & Friends, several successful foundation grant applications, the development of a Fund Raising and Major Gifts plan in conjunction with plans for several targeted special events. Our most pressing needs involve raising funds to support the hiring of full-time program managers for our programs so that no organization requesting a program is ever turned away.
CEO Statement
Several years ago, I moved to Nashville to be closer to the songwriting community as a songwriter. My background was in social work and music therapy so I was immediately recruited to create a similar therapeutic music program for a residential facility for adults and seniors with physical and mental disabilities and illnesses. This opportunity gave me the chance to fuse two passions (human/social services and music) into one. Thus, The Beat of Life was conceived. I enjoy strong relationships within the songwriting community as well as with social service and government agencies which helped bring the mission of The Beat of Life to fruition. These partnerships have yielded four successful programs: Working with Veterans Affairs and Veterans with PTSD, The Beat of Life produced the first "Songwriters for Soldiers" collaboration; working with the Nashville Public Schools, we created "Sing It to Stop It" to teach vulnerable children in their schools to defend themselves and not engage in bullying behavior. A partnership with Davidson County Corrections has resulted a program called "Redemption Songs" which serves both inmates and their children. Our newest program, "Beautiful Minds," brings together song writers and individuals battling depression/suicide and mental illness. The next year will bring further growth through programs designed to serve children and adults with special needs, individuals battling cancer, Alzheimer's patients, the homeless and more. The reactions to these programs have been extraordinary as hundreds of lives are touched through the power of music and the act of songwriting. Please join us on this amazing journey and become a part of making a true difference in the lives of Nashville's most vulnerable, challenged and hurting populations.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Music |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Children's and Youth Services |
| Tertiary Category: | Mental Health & Crisis Intervention - |
Areas Served
Middle Tennessee and surrounding counties
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Williamson |
