On Wednesday, the Chad Smith Foundation announced its After-School Music Program (AMP), a nationwide initiative designed to expand access to high-quality music education. Milwaukee will be the launching point, with community organizations receiving financial and operational support to help students get hands-on experience with the world of music.
“Music has the power to change lives, and every child deserves the chance to experience that,” said Chad Smith, drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and co-founder of the organization that bears his name. “AMP is about bringing instructors, instruments and opportunities directly to kids so they can discover their own voice through music.
“At the foundation, we are working to eliminate all the barriers that we hear too often as reasons for why young adults don’t have access to music programs.”
The initiative is a collaboration between the foundation and four key local partners: the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, the Salvation Army, Notes for Notes and Running Rebels. By embedding music education directly into the existing after-school programs, AMP seeks to create sustainable opportunities for students to discover their musical voices.
Lewis Smith, the foundation's executive director and a Milwaukee native, noted that the program’s goal is to connect with students in spaces they already know.
“The biggest barrier that both current and aspiring young musicians face is the lack of access to consistent, high-quality music education,” he said. “Through AMP, we’re meeting students where they are and bringing instrument instruction directly into after-school programs, creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow and express themselves through music.”
The AMP initiative is built on a "wraparound model" focusing on three essential areas to ensure student success:
- Instructor funding and placement: The foundation identifies and fully underwrites the cost of qualified music instructors, ensuring they’re paid a fair wage while providing high-quality education at no cost to the local programs.
- Music equipment: The foundation provides all necessary instruments, equipment and curriculum resources to each site.
- Perks program: To encourage long-term engagement, AMP includes a system in which consistent participation unlocks exclusive rewards, such as concert tickets, access to professional music environments and the opportunity to play alongside Chad Smith.
Jeff Snell, president & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, highlighted that the program offers "enriching experiences" and "hands-on opportunities" that students might not otherwise have. Philip Gilley, CEO of Notes for Notes, added that the initiative "elevates, amplifies and empowers" the next generation of songwriters and producers.
As part of the announcement, the Chad Smith Foundation has called on the community to support the expansion of these programs nationwide. To kickstart the effort, Smith will personally match all donations up to $100,000, doubling the impact of every gift. For more information on AMP or to make a donation, visit the foundation’s website.