Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro LA

The opportunity

Music is often one of the strongest entry points for introducing young people to the creative economy. Behind every artist, performance, and recording is an ecosystem of careers spanning technology, production, entrepreneurship, media, marketing, live events, and entertainment. The workshop gave students an opportunity to move beyond consuming music and begin exploring what it means to create, perform, and build opportunities around it.

The Music to the Ears approach

• Introduce students to DJing through hands-on exploration
• Provide access to professional DJ hardware and music technology
• Connect music interests to Creative Career Pathways
• Explore entrepreneurship and the business behind creative careers
• Give students direct access to a working music industry professional

The experience

Students explored the fundamentals of DJing, music technology, and professional DJ hardware while learning how those skills connect to opportunities throughout the creative industries. Madison LST shared his experience as a producer, artist, and touring DJ, giving students a real-world perspective on the creativity, preparation, technology, relationships, and entrepreneurship involved in building a career in music.

The workshop connected hands-on learning with an important message: the music students already love can become a starting point for discovering skills, careers, and opportunities they may not have known existed.

The impact

• Hands-on exposure to DJing and professional music technology
• Introduction to Creative Career Pathways within music and entertainment
• Greater understanding of creative entrepreneurship and the business of music
• Direct mentorship and career insight from a working industry professional
• Students encouraged to see themselves not only as music consumers, but as creators, entrepreneurs, and future industry professionals