In March 2008, in partnership with members of NASEMBA Business Alliance, we launched an afterschool music program. Four years later, this program has found a permanent home in partnership with All About Kids Childcare Center in Jacksonville, FL.
Here's the news story:
By Ashley Coleman First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- For many offenders, settling into a life of crime starts well before they become an adult. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, more and more offenders are juveniles. From 2006 to 2007, FDLE statistics show that between January and June, crime for major offenses jumped nearly 8 percent. Richard Cuff, the father of two and the orchestra manager for the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, finds those numbers are troubling. "Kids have to learn to hate but they don't have to learn to hurt," Cuff says. "What they have to learn to do -- is to put the hurt somewhere so that it doesn't turn to hatred." For most of his life, Cuff has taught children to channel those negative feelings into music. He points to his 10-year-old daughter, Korah Cuff, as an example. She has been playing the violin since age 5. "It's my hobby and the thing that I do when I feel upset," she told First Coast News. "It will help me in the future." Cuff says exposing children to music at a young age will rescue them from a future of crime. "If we can begin to emphasize culture in our kids, we're going to change our community." He reaches out to many children through the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra. It has been around for 15 years. There are 220 children, between the ages of 6 and 22, who make up the orchestra. When he isn't working with JYSO, Cuff is reaching out to under-priviledged and at-risk children, through the Jump Start Strings Summer Camp. The Potter's House Christian Academy has partnered with JYSO for the annual camp. It gives about 100 underserved children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old the opportunity to learn to play a string instrument. He also joined forces with Dr. Richard Kersey, a member of the NASEMBA Business Alliance. Dr. Kersey sponsors a group of children, known as Kersey's Kids, who are participating in the summer camp. He allows the children to use his Northwest Jacksonville office after-hours to practice music. Through these efforts, Cuff hopes to see a change in the youth culture in Jacksonville and help spread the joy that music has put in his children's lives. "When you play in a concert, it feels so good," Korah says. "It feels so good being a part of that and the applause feels really good." You can see the youth orchestra perform next Sunday. There will be a concert at 5 p.m. at Jacoby Hall. For more information, call (904) 386-9079. To find out more about Kersey's Kids and NASEMBA, or to sponsor a music program, visit www.nasemba.com.
First Coast News
