After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles Makes an Immense Impact in the Lives of Its Students through Music
Yvonne, an eighth grader at East Los Angeles’ Griffith Middle School strums the cords of her guitar and belts out lyrics with an aptitude of most adults much older than her 14 years. Yvonne hones her skills each day with the All-Stars of Rock, a comprehensive music program offered by After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles; a leading after-school program provider. Founded by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2002, After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles serves over 3,000 students at 16 middle schools located in at-risk areas throughout LA County.
The organization’s programs educate, enlighten and inspire thousands of middle school-aged youths each day through after school activities centered around health, fitness and nutrition; the visual and performing arts; and youth leadership and community service learning. The All-Stars of Rock is a free after-school music program serving at-risk students ages 10-14 within the inner city Los Angeles area. Its goal is to teach the fundamentals of rock music enabling students to form bands, create, play and perform the music they love. “It is the All-Stars of Rock mission to provide low-income students with a safe learning environment to excel in the arts through absolutely free music training,” says After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles’s Music Director, Jose Mercado; whom oversees the All-Stars of Rock programs at all 16 schools.
“Learning and playing music keeps the students away from the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and gang life—all aspects which are extremely prevalent in East LA and the inner-city,” Jose continues.
The program’s fundamentals are rooted in educating, enlightening and inspiring young people through music. The program seeks to help its students cultivate a positive self-esteem, outlook on life, and provide them with opportunities to grow as musicians and give back to the music community.
Yvonne, the talented musician at Griffith Middle School, has been Jose’s student since 2006. She was at first, a quiet and shy girl who would not speak to others.
“It seemed as if she was simply trying to figure out where she belonged,” says Jose.
Yvonne started coming to music class after school, showing an interest in playing the guitar. She picked up learning the notes extremely well. Yvonne then began her personal evolution with music; she started signing, writing both the lyrics and actual music to the songs that she performs with her All-Stars of Rock middle school band.
“Her writing is amazing, her lyrics are outstanding. Her natural talent is phenomenal and Yvonne continues to blow me away,” offers Jose.
Presently, Yvonne is a personable young lady that communicates easily with her peers and also with adults. On her last report card, Yvonne received straight A’s and E’s (“E” stands for excellent behavior). She also ran in this year’s LA Marathon with other After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles students, whom all took pride in their completion of the 26-mile course.
It seems as if music has given Yvonne the confidence that she needed to excel at such a vulnerable time, one in which so many youths struggle to establish their own identity.
“Music has given her a basis; a personality, where she is no longer an outsider. She has learned to create through music and channel whatever emotions and confusion that she might be experiencing into an awesome song,” says her teacher Jose.
Jose himself, is no stranger to the music scene. Originally hired to expand the organization’s guitar program, Jose has been with After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles since 2002. Previously, Jose achieved fame playing guitar and writing for the Epitaph signed band, Union 13, and toured the world… performing with such famous acts as Drop kick Murphy’s, Suicidal Tendencies, NOFX, Pennywise, D.R.I, VooDoo Glow Skulls, Subhumans, and Slayer.
With the ability to play the guitar, bass, keyboard, saxophone, flute, harmonica, and sing vocals, Jose teaches his students with his innate technique on various instruments and his musical skill honed after many years of performing professionally.
Jose’s efforts with the After-School All-Stars has evolved into the continuously expanding music program— he is currently working on expanding the All-Stars’ current rock genre to teach students classical music, mariachi and jazz.
All-Stars of Rock students enjoy performing at music benefits, and various After-School All-Stars events—one of which allowed them to perform at the famed Hollywood hot-spot, The Key Club on Sunset Boulevard.
The All-Stars of Rock has also gained media attention, recently featured on LA’s ABC 7 News; Telemundo 52; popular Los Angeles Hispanic publication, La Opinion; and Palm Spring’s 93.7 FM radio.
Jose looks forward to continue teaching the art of music to as many middle school students as possible, saying: “the program is going to continue to keep growing. I look forward to teaching more students and help them to cultivate their creativity and passion for music. This type of focus keeps them on the right track.”
For more information on After-School All-Stars and the All-Stars of Rock, please visit www.la-allstars.org or email Jose at jose@la-allstars.org.