David's Harp Interns

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

The David’s Harp Foundation trades grades and good behaviors for recording studio time at its state-of-the-art facility located downtown San Diego. The foundation partners with Juvenile Court and Community Schools and the County of San Diego Probation Department inside East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility to provide incarcerated youth access to digital Hip Hop music production and audio engineering training. Guided by David’s Harp Foundation Artist Mentors, students are challenged to create professional quality original musical recordings using industry standard equipment.To accomplish this, the foundation uses mobile studio backpacks with modern music production equipment inside the detention facility. As students engage in the creative process, they produce original musical compositions and in the process gain:(1) Valuable mentoring relationships with David’s Harp dedicated Artist Mentors who help youth navigate the creative process while encouraging positive behaviors and academic accountability;(2) A safe, creative space to form positive relationships with peers and adults;(3) Transferable skills in music production, songwriting and audio engineering;(4) Opportunities to participate in a David's Harp audio engineering internship that empowers program participants to demonstrate their mastery of the audio engineering as Intern Engineers; and professional audio engineering opportunities upon release.