Arts and Music Programs for Education in Detention Centers

The Arts and Music Programs for Education in Detention Centers (AMPED) is a music mentorship program that connects Northwestern students with incarcerated young men at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC). Developed in collaboration with faculty and graduate students at the Bienen School of Music, AMPED combines detailed lessons, one-on-one instruction, and supplementary programming, to create opportunities for shared learning and authentic relationships.

AMPED is a yearlong program that begins with a comprehensive mentor training program in the fall. AMPED Northwestern students learn basic music composition and GarageBand techniques. Recognizing the importance of relationship building, mentors also discuss youth development frameworks and strategies for connecting with the population of focus. Together, these trainings ensure that Northwestern students enter the classroom with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide one-on-one attention and support to the young men in the program.

Composition classes and practice sessions begin in January and continue throughout the winter and spring quarters, concluding with a “listening party” for students to share the work they composed and produced. JTDC students’ families and friends, as well as AMPED supporters, are invited to attend.

A team of Northwestern undergraduate students is selected each year to work with the residents at the JTDC. Beyond assisting with music composition projects, mentors build trusting relationships with JTDC students in an effort to help them process and communicate their experiences in a way that heals and empowers. While classical training or previous composition experience is not required, mentors must be passionate about the role of music in youth development. Most importantly, mentors must view this as a mutually beneficial opportunity and be open to learning and growing themselves.

Responsibilities for AMPED music mentors:

• Complete three-four training sessions during late fall/early winter quarter
• Attend mentoring sessions throughout winter and spring quarters (transportation provided for in-person sessions)
• See a schedule of 2024-2025 volunteer and programming dates.

AMPED applications are closed. To hear when they open again join the mailing list!

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center provides temporary housing and education for court-detained juveniles between the ages of 10 and 17 who are awaiting adjudication of their cases. The Center also houses youth who will be transferred to the county jail once they turn 18 who would otherwise be incarcerated in the county jail.

JTDC residents attend the Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School, a Chicago Public School that the youth attend while incarcerated. The educational programs provided by NBJ are mandatory for all detainees at the Center. In addition to the regularly required courses, some students participate in outside enrichment programs, such as AMPED.

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For more information on AMPED, contact Patrick Horton.