Finding Their Beat: Empowering Youth Through Music

MacPhail’s Artist in Residence program, part of the Global Music Initiative, supports artists like Terrell Woods, who has dedicated himself to teaching beatboxing in local schools since 2009. Terrell has been part of the Artist in Residence program each year due to the high demand for his classes and the significant value schools find in his work. His contributions not only introduce students to beatboxing but also equip them with essential life skills.

Thanks to the program, which was partly funded through the Up Tempo! campaign, Terrell has been able to bring beatboxing to youth who might otherwise miss out on music education. “To serve kids who don’t have access to a classical instrument is priceless,” he says. “Many kids don’t play traditional instruments, but they can beatbox.”

Terrell’s classes are all about improvisation and creativity. “There’s no typical beatboxing class,” he explains. “I teach students to use their bodies as instruments. This means they’re always ready to collaborate musically.” Whether his class focuses on beatboxing, rapping, or spoken word poetry, he incorporates communication skills and stage presence at every opportunity. “The more I prepare these kids and teach them stage presence, the more they can develop their own unique voice. It might start with beatboxing, but it gives them skills that will help them to interview for jobs, to speak with people and be understood.”

Terrell’s approach emphasizes positive communication and constructive self-expression, which helps students feel valued and understood. “You can impact people way more when you express yourself constructively,” he explains. “As a Black male artist, I understand that entertainment is very important in my community,” he notes. “If you want to say how hard of a time you’ve had growing up, you don’t have to swear when you say that.” He highlights the need for positive role models in the schools he works in and aims to empower students to navigate the world with confidence in their own voice as an instrument for change.

Many teachers have shared how Terrell’s classes have sparked interest in students who previously struggled. “I’ve never seen that kid act like that,” one teacher remarked. “They’re more engaged and excited.” Terrell helps students find their voice through music.

Programs like this are essential in MacPhail’s commitment to providing music education that is culturally relevant to students. “This is needed,” Terrell asserts. “It gives a voice to kids who feel like no one cares about what they have to say.”

Thanks to generous donors, MacPhail can offer education that equips young people with the confidence and communication skills they need to succeed. Terrell’s classes offer students a unique outlet for self-expression. Terrell’s work is a powerful reminder of music education’s transformative impact and the effects that last far beyond an hour with him in the classroom.

To see Terrell in action, mark your calendar for MacPhail Presents: The Unknown Potential, February 15, 2025 at MacPhail Minneapolis in Antonello Hall.