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In Tune with Success
By Bianca Bethune, California
As a new recording artist struggling to meet new personal and professional demands, I look to my music as an outlet to express myself and find balance in my daily life. Music has always helped me through life's challenges. In fact, it has enabled me to transition into the confident young woman I am today and it has kept me focused on my passion and my personal goals.
Because recording artists and musicians have had such a major role in affecting my life, it's probably no coincidence that I would want to influence today's youth and help them believe that with music in their lives, anything is possible.
"While some young people look to drugs and alcohol because of peer pressure or for escape, I found that music gave me the fuel I needed to push forward. When I needed alone time I'd sit in my room, write and listen to music." -Bianca Bethune
But growing up today is difficult. As a child of divorced parents, life was a struggle for me and there were times when I felt like giving up. While some young people look to drugs and alcohol because of peer pressure or for escape, I found that music gave me the fuel I needed to push forward. When I needed alone time I'd sit in my room, write and listen to music.
Finding positive environments in which young people can follow their dreams is a necessity if we are going to change the paradigm. Part of the problem lies in the fact that over the past 30 years, exposure to and instruction in music of any kind has been sorely deficient because of a lack of federal funding to schools.
Yet, studies have shown that young people who learn music perform better in core subjects such as math and science. Music programs help to shape smarter, more creative, successful individuals.
As a student of music, I was taught critical skills important to everyday life - skills like self- discipline, teamwork, problem solving, self-esteem, and self-expression that have enabled me to be a better person.
This is why I support VH1's Save the Music Foundation - a non-profit organization that has revived music programs in over 1500 public schools in 100 cities across the US. Other celebrities such as Mariah Carey, Jesse McCartney, Natasha Bedingfield, Ice T, Tyrese Gibson, Paula Abdul, Gary Dourdan, Angie Stone, Melissa Joan Hart, Paris Hilton, and others, have helped raise over $40 million which has paid for musical instruments that now benefit more than a million children who now have music in their lives.
I believe that with guidance and patience you can achieve your goals - whether it is in conquering math or becoming a musical artist - dreams do come true. Music programs and other extracurricular activities definitely help encourage students to stay in school away from the hopeless despair and negative influences of just hanging out on the street.
Communities need to be made aware of how critical it is for music to be part of school curriculum. Through the resources provided by organizations such as Save the Music we can make favorable changes in the lives of young people and help to shape the well-rounded leaders of tomorrow.
Though I am a new recording artist with limited resources, I believe any contribution makes a great difference. I am donating 10% of the proceeds from each sale of my debut album "Only Me" to Vh1's Save the Music Foundation. I believe it's never too late for anyone to push through the negativities in their lives and find success.
