THE MIKEY HOUSER PRE-AMPED MUSIC PROGRAM

WHAT IS THE PRE-AMPED PROGRAM?

The Mikey Houser Pre-Amped Music Program is a primary education music program for 4th & 5th-graders. The program is free of cost for participants, and is provided by Nuçi’s Space either during your elementary school’s after-school program hours or at Nuçi’s Space as needed.

The Pre-Amped Program is an expansion of our esteemed Camp Amped summer program, which started at Nuçi’s Space in 2007. This past summer, we served over 60 students in the Athens community, bringing us to nearly 100 engagements with our programs in 2023 alone. Over the last two years, we’ve disbursed more than $10,000 in scholarships for our programs, making it possible for students from all backgrounds to participate in our youth programs. Having seen firsthand the positive impact our programs have had on their children, families have attributed this effect to “the power of practice, drive, communication.”  As one parent put it, by “working in cooperation with a group toward a shared goal”, we are setting the stage for our campers to become successful communicators, self-aware leaders, and active members of the music community.

The primary objective of Pre-Amped is to provide 4th and 5th-grade students the opportunity to explore musical instruments and engage in small group music lessons run by professional musicians and educators. Our goal is to spark a passion for music in the students we work with - ideally, a passion that they can rely on throughout their lives. As the young people we serve continue to grow, they often age into our other youth programs, such as Camp Amped. This gives us the chance to engage with our students throughout their time in middle and high school, ultimately helping us cultivate resilience, emotional stability, and creative thinking skills in the young people we serve.

WHEN IS FALL 2023 PRE-AMPED?

This fall, Pre-Amped will be a semester-long, and will run from October to December. The fall session will consist of one hour-long lesson each week. We will host the program during your elementary school’s established after-school program hours or at Nuçi’s Space as needed. By focusing on providing instruction for students who might not otherwise have the privilege of taking private lessons, this program seeks to broaden the existing reach of the youth programs at Nuçi’s Space.

WHAT THIS PROGRAMS OFFERS:

• Free music instruction in an engaging small group setting

• Instruments on loan for students to take home and practice with

• An Introduction to rock band instruments ( guitar, bass, drums, keys)

• An environment for students to build effective social and emotional skills, cultivating an understanding of topics including communication, coping, teamwork, conflict resolution, work ethic, leadership, and more

• An opportunity for students to continue their musical exploration through our variety of programs geared towards creative young people

OUR EXPECTATIONS:

• Capacity - we are currently able to serve approximately 4 students per school.

• Presence - we expect students enrolled in our program to be present at every lesson.

• Communication - if a scheduling conflict does arise, we expect the guardian(s) to  communicate that conflict with our team as soon as possible. 

• Care - to preserve equipment for future use, we expect that both students and parents will handle the instruments we loan to them with care.

WHAT IS NUÇI’S SPACE?

Nuçi’s Space is a musicians’ resource center and community hub in Athens, Georgia. Our mission is to prevent suicide. With a focus on musicians, we advocate for and help to alleviate the suffering of those living with a brain illness. Nuçi’s Space was created in memory of 22-year-old musician and UGA student Nuçi Phillips, who died by suicide after years of suffering from major depression. Nuçi’s Space seeks to provide a sense of community and maintain an open dialogue surrounding mental health, particularly through the lens of musicians and other creative people.