MeMA-Music
Music With Meaning, Learning With Purpose
We are a youth development and arts nonprofit using powerful, timeless music to bring history, civics, literacy, and people’s experiences to life. Through arts-integrated programs in schools and community spaces, we help young people think critically, make informed judgments, collaborate with peers, express themselves creatively, and better understand the world around them. Music becomes a bridge—connecting academic learning to real life.
Serving middle school through young adulthood (up to age 24).
OUR APPROACH
Real-Life Learning
Our programs help young people connect academic learning to real life, preparing them to become informed and engaged members of their communities. Using powerful, timeless music as a lens, students explore society and the world around them.
By examining the sounds and stories of the past and present, participants gain insight into historical moments, community experiences, and the voices that reflected or challenged their times. This approach deepens understanding, strengthens relevance, and keeps youth meaningfully connected to their learning.
Youth Voices
MeMA-Music provides a supportive space where young people are encouraged to express themselves and engage in thoughtful, meaningful learning. We celebrate each student’s individuality and promote open dialogue, reflection, and collaboration.
Through creative, arts-integrated projects, students take ownership of their learning by developing and sharing original ideas. Using film, visual art, poetry, rap, spoken word, storytelling, and performance, youth research topics that matter to them, reflect on their experiences, and craft meaningful work that amplifies their voice.
Arts Integration
MeMA-Music uses music and the arts as interdisciplinary teaching tools to strengthen learning across core subjects, including English Language Arts, history, civics, and social studies. Students analyze lyrics, themes, and historical context to build skills in reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and communication.
By integrating music with academic content, students make meaningful connections between disciplines and deepen their understanding of complex ideas. This approach supports curriculum goals while increasing engagement, retention, and relevance in both school and community-based learning environments.
Music is one of the most effective and accessible tools for engaging young people in learning
From Listening to Learning to Expression
As an arts-integrated curriculum, music activates multiple areas of the brain at once, strengthening comprehension, retention, and emotional connection. At MeMA-Music, we use carefully selected, timeless music as core instructional material. Lyrics, rhythm, and storytelling serve as entry points for academic study, historical understanding, and personal reflection, transforming learning from passive intake into active engagement. By analyzing and connecting with music, young people strengthen reading and communication skills, develop critical thinking, and explore how culture and history intersect with everyday life
Why Music Works in Educational Settings
Because music invites interpretation, it fosters critical thinking and sustained engagement. Students are encouraged to examine perspective, intent, and meaning, developing the ability to think analytically and ask thoughtful questions. Engagement increases because the material feels relevant, familiar, and connected to their lives.
At the same time, music supports social-emotional development by creating a safe and approachable entry point for discussion and reflection. Students practice listening to others, sharing ideas, and expressing themselves respectfully. Through this process, they gain confidence in their voice while learning how to engage with differing viewpoints.
Let’s Partner
