What's a Blackball?: A Wired Q&A

Why electronic music?
Do at risk-youth and correctional inmates really need to play synthesisers?

Yes.

Why?

Contemporary, mainstream music is called "pop" for a very good reason. While current musical trends may seem disposable and insubstantial, they represent the music that most people listen and relate to. Yet music education is based on traditional models: classical instruments and content, sight-reading, theory and drilling.

So?

We're missing a precious opportunity to reach out the marginalized with the music that means most to them.

Isn't electronic music technology bulky, expensive and hard to use?

Yes, which is why Blackball proffers regularly-scheduled classroom workshops with hands-on access to instruments and equipment, along with a fun, interactive immersion in the methods, technologies and origins of electronic music.

How does Blackball work?

• Blackball began as a summer day-camp session at The Toronto Kiwanis Boys' and Girls' Clubs. Once-weekly after-school sessions are currently taking place at TKGBC.
• Sessions are designed for up to 12 clients, with plans to expand to 2-4 after-school weekly sessions and 1-3 weekly summer day camp sessions.
• Program delivery is "out of a car trunk," allowing Blackball to operate in multiple sites.
• In 2016, Blackball will develop workshops for inmates in provincial and federal correctional facilities.
• Blackball is 100 per cent donor-funded and free to all clients.

What is the impact?

Clients get:

musical smarts while navigating complex technology;

a taste for creative collaboration;
the self-esteem and confidence unique to the experience of musical performance and
transferable skills training unavailable elsewhere.

Blvckbvll is incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act as of 29 September 2015.