Music Resource Center
3032 Woodburn Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45206
MRC Membership and Artist Track
Grant Application:
MRC is a multifaceted nonprofit after school music and recording studio for teens. MRC combines music education, studio recording, live performance, radio broadcasting, leadership training, and mentorship to inspire, empower, and celebrate underserved Cincinnati area teenagers. Members can choose to: take music lessons (e.g., guitar, drums, piano, voice); learn to make beats and create original music; record their bands' songs in the professional multi-track recording studio; have an afterschool snack, hot lunch or dinner; get help with homework in the lobby; talk about school, life's challenges or get recommendations for services provided by social services agencies; or perform in our newly upgraded venue for family and friends.
Goals/Objectives:
The goals of the MRC’s Membership programming are for students to hone their musical abilities, to find their voices as musicians and as people, to learn to express themselves, and to grow in a collaborative environment with other kids, adults, and professionals. The specific objectives are as follows:
o Making music accessible to under-resourced teens by providing an individualized experience to best meet their goals for only $2 per month
o Providing 200 teens with music, theory, performance, and recording instruction in a state-of-the-art music and recording studio, or online platforms as needed
o Conducting 500 music, performance, or theory lessons each year – instruments, practice space, recording, and performance opportunities provided
o Establishing afterschool and summer music instruction and mentoring which offer personal and professional development and a community for members to fall back on
o 75% of our members indicated that they feel comfortable talking to MRC staff about problems when they have no one else to talk to – increase metric to 85%
Grant Evaluation Report:
The significant lack of out-of-school supports for low-income teens, initially identified by MRC-Cinci's founder in Walnut Hills, serves as a barrier for many. Without access to creative outlets, many teens from low-income neighborhoods and schools are less likely to receive the support and instruction that they want or need to express themselves. As the eighth-most racially segregated city in the United States, there is a direct correlation between teens living in neighborhoods that are majority BIPOC and teens living in low-income neighborhoods. Research shows that programs that support professional and personal development, including social-emotional learning, lead to increased success in academics and career. The inequity in available out-of-school programs impacts the more than 40% of Cincinnati children who are living at or under the poverty line.
The MRC continued to provide a safe space for teenagers to engage in structured enrichment after school hours. The MRC gives Cincinnati teenagers not only a creative outlet, music education, and a fun, safe place to be out of school, but it can inspire a passion for music and launch kids into their careers or college.
Former MRC member Sean was quiet, withdrawn, and rarely looked anyone in the eye when we met him over four years ago. Over time, though, he started opening up to our staff. One day, about a year after he had started coming to the MRC, Sean told MRC staff that he wanted to sing. They hadn’t heard him talk much, let alone sing – so staff waited with anticipation to see what Sean would do. Without pause, he and his brother started singing a duet of John Legend’s song “All of Me”. Sean’s voice was incredible – more exciting to staff and other members alike was his growth in confidence. From that point, he performed at MRC Showcases and wrote several of his own songs. Sean found his voice at the MRC, and is now on his way to study music at CCM.
Sean is just one example of how kids are able to grow and find their passions at the MRC. As we find our new normal, more kids like Sean will use their time at the MRC to inform their career trajectory – whether they pursue music or any other number of fields.
Results:
The MRC has seen tremendous growth in the past year. Due to COVID-19, our 2020/2021 attendance numbers were incredibly low. As of June 2022, however, the MRC has seen a 60% increase in the number of teens, a 110% increase in the number of visits, and a 149% increase in the number of teen hours spent at the studio (as a comparison of June 2021 numbers). Already, the MRC has engaged more teens in 2022 than were engaged in 2021 as a whole. The MRC is well on its way to serving 200 kids in the studio in 2022. 240 of the projected 500 lessons have been offered so far in 2022.
As of March 1, 2022, the MRC has officially been acquired by the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. The MRC will retain a unique Tax ID and remain a unique entity under the umbrella of the YMCA. With increased infrastructure from the YMCA, the MRC staff will be able to focus their time on growing the program, while YMCA administrative staff handle HR, fundraising, marketing, accounting, and more.
The YMCA and the MRC are in the process of implementing Hello Insight at the MRC, an evidence based social-emotional assessment tool. This will allow the MRC to move forward with better tracking of outcomes, informing the ways in which the MRC will continue to grow and expand.
Website:
http://www.mrccinci.org Amount: $25,000
Date: September 2021
