The sounds of an acoustic guitar fill the silence of a once-empty classroom in the Juvenile Detention Center. What began last year as a small initiative by a few dedicated detention officers has grown into a thriving Guitar Club, thanks to a new partnership between the Juvenile Probation Department and Arizona State University.
“There are many talented kids in Detention. They need someone who can help guide them,” said Alex Lopez, a programming officer with the Juvenile Probation Department. “Guitar Club is a great opportunity for them, it gives them hope. Music heals and seeing them perform and achieve their goals has been amazing. It gives them a sense of accomplishment, and it’s such a positive experience to see them witness success.”
The revitalized Juvenile Detention Guitar Club encourages positive behavior among youth, offering them the opportunity to develop a new skill they can carry with them as they transition back to their families. For many, it’s their first time picking up a guitar or learning a single chord, but the time spent in Guitar Club each week lays the groundwork for self-discipline and personal growth.
“When they started guitar classes, I was only wearing a gray shirt,” said one of the youths who joined the club. “I made my way up to a blue shirt, so I could join the class. When I play in front of the units and everybody starts clapping, that makes me feel good about myself.”
Youth in Detention can join Guitar Club while demonstrating and maintaining positive behavior changes. The color of each youth’s shirt matches their level in a behavior-based privilege system — each color shows how much trust and responsibility they’ve earned.
For several years, the non-profit organization Free Guitars 4 Kids has donated numerous instruments for use in Guitar Club. When released from Detention, not only do these young individuals carry with them the skills and experiences they’ve gained but they also receive an instrument to take home, with the goal of making a lasting impact for them, their families and their communities.
During the initial sessions of Guitar Club, Juvenile Detention officers help lay the foundation by teaching youth basic guitar fundamentals. They are then led by graduate students from Arizona State University who visit the Juvenile Detention Center twice a week to engage with youth and providing consistency for students.
“We love being engaged with the local community,” said Martha Masters, assistant professor in the School of Music at ASU. “It is critical for our students to understand what it looks like to engage in a meaningful way with the community, and with serving people who don’t have the privilege of access to music. These opportunities build bridges and provide meaningful perspective for our students on the importance of music in our society.”
“One thing that surprised me is the camaraderie of the Guitar Club,” said Dylan Abernathy, a graduate student in the ASU Music Therapy program. “Even though the composition of the group is in constant flux, the group cohesion has been astounding. Everyone seems genuinely inclusive and friendly towards each other. The student embodiment of this is one of the core reasons why I think the Guitar Club has been as successful as it has been.”
Youth involved in the club practice regularly and participate in performances scheduled throughout the year in Juvenile Detention.