ABOUT YEAH!
YEAH! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable youth arts organization in Nashville, Tennessee, founded to further empower young people ages 6-17 through music.
YEAH! prioritizes expanded diversity among its students, teachers, volunteers, staff, and its board. YEAH! reaches out to underrepresented populations, such as our non-English speaking, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, and Title 1 public school communities in Middle Tennessee. We encourage their participation in our organization and programs, making YEAH! reflective of the community’s strength.
YEAH! values diversity of age, race, economic status, gender expression, size, physical ability, developmental ability, musical interests, learning styles, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation. We promote respect and do not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, or other discriminatory behavior or expression.
Our summer camp, weekend, and public school programs support social responsibility and self-esteem. Participants gain proficiency on an instrument of their choice (bass, drums, guitar, keyboard, ukulele, or vocals); work together as a band; write songs and compose music; attend workshops and live performances; and showcase their work at the end of each program.
More broadly, participants take risks and create art representative of their similarities and uniqueness. Band collaborations develop entrepreneurial and life skills that lead to future success in all fields.
YEAH!’s lending library provides access to personal instruments, and our scholarship program removes financial barriers for applicants.
OUR History:
YEAH! was founded in 2006 by Kelley Anderson, Anna Fitzgerald, Courtney Vickers, Andrew Jacks, Ryan York, and Nicole Tekulve to enable self-expression for youths from all backgrounds through yearlong music education programming. YEAH! has increasingly connected participants who have limited access to music education. It moved away from its volunteer run model to providing equitable wages for local teaching artists. Collaborations with community organizations have supported our programs’ planning, promotion, recruitment, and curriculum. The organization’s scholarship fund was made for all applicants, regardless of economic background or status.
YEAH! traces its roots to 2003, when Middle Tennessee State University student Kelley Anderson organized and kicked off the first Southern Girls Rock Camp - the second-ever female only Rock Camp in the world - as a joint project between the feminist student organization Women for Women and the June Anderson Women's Center. Anderson was inspired by her experience volunteering at the girls rock camp program in Portland, Oregon and envisioned a more egalitarian music community in Tennessee.
OUR Mission:
To further empower youth voices from all backgrounds through music education.
OUR Vision:
To creatively connect young people through music by providing an inclusive community and developing young peoples' leadership skills.
OUR Values:
By adhering to these values, we aim to create a lasting and positive impact on the lives of young people, fostering a sense of unity, resilience, and joy through the universal language of music. Together, we strive to build a harmonious world where every youth can reach their full potential.
Empowerment: We are dedicated to empowering youth through music education, providing them with the tools and knowledge to express themselves, cultivate their potential, and contribute positively to society.
Inclusivity: We believe in the strength of diversity, embracing and celebrating the unique talents and perspectives of every young person in our community.
Collaboration: We foster a collaborative environment, encouraging teamwork, mentorship, and the exchange of ideas among our youth members, instructors, and community partners.
Access: We are committed to removing barriers to music education, ensuring that every young person, regardless of socioeconomic status, has equal access to high-quality musical instruction and resources.
OUR Purpose:
To develop an appreciation and use of music as a tool to strengthen self and build community.
To make the world a better place by listening and learning from youth voices.
To further empower Middle Tennessee youth voices through music and a community culture that assists in their development and expression of self.
To create a better place through listening and learning through music.
OUR IMPACT:
Click here to view our 2024 Impact Report to see how YEAH! is empowering youth through music and the arts!
our Programming:
YEAH! Rocks Music Camp - A one-week summer day camp for youths ages 6 to 17. Camp programming includes: instrument instruction, interactive workshops, panel discussions, live performances by local music acts with Q&A / meet and greets, and forming a band and writing songs to perform at an end-of-week showcase.
Rock Block – An abbreviated 10-week camp offering two-hour sessions on Saturday afternoons for participants age 11 to 17.
Rock Block MNPS - An 8-week after-school enrichment program in the Spring and Fall meeting twice weekly at local community center locations, serving Title 1 Metro Nashville public middle and high school students.
Gig Explorers - Hands-on opportunities for teens ages 13 - 17 to explore different aspects of the music industry beyond being a musician.
Arts & Activism - A dynamic workshop series exploring the intersection of art and social change, combining inspiring discussions with local Nashville artists about the transformative power of music and art with hands-on art making sessions.