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Nurturing inclusivity through hip-hop
Willis Landon (’20) cultivates self-expression, cooperation and life skills with community-based music education By Philip L. Frana
Growing up in Roanoke, Virginia, Willis Landon (they/them/ Music Lab provided, and I was greatly (Above): Landon theirs) reaped the benefits of a public-school performing arts pro- inspired by the administrators and educa- during a performance of Green gram that offered an array of musical activities catering to students, tors in the program,” they recall. Day's American teachers and performers of all ages. Landon (’20) started out playIn high school, they put together a few Idiot at the Forbes ing the cello in the orchestra, then picked up the electric bass in bands, made some records, performed at local Center in 2019. middle school. art centers, theaters Upon discovering the Music Lab at Jefand music festivals, and gigged with a local “I learned so much ferson Center—an experiential learning bluegrass band as well as Latin Clave, a Roaabout music and program for students in grades six-12 with noke-based ensemble that plays upbeat salsa, myself through the cumbia, bachata, merengue and Latin jazz. instruction in music business, technology and performance—they realized that music “When I went to college, I carried so many nontraditional outdid not have to be confined to the four walls important lessons from the Music Lab with lets that the Music of the classroom. me,” they said, “but I still wasn’t quite sure how Lab provided.” “I learned so much about music and myself I could use my education to create an environthrough the nontraditional outlets that the ment like the one at the Jefferson Center.” — WILLIS LANDON (’20)
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