Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith is launching a free music program for Detroit children through a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Detroit. According to WXYZ Channel 7, the After-school Music Program Initiative will provide instruments, teachers, and music education to young people at two Boys and Girls Club locations.
Smith, who grew up in Bloomfield Hills, stated he hopes to inspire children to play instruments and expose them to the musical experiences he had growing up. The program is scheduled to begin in September. It will be available at the Michigan Central campus and the Dick and Sandy Dauch Campus.
Smith performed at Michigan Central before announcing the initiative, emphasizing Detroit’s importance to his musical journey. He noted he began playing drums at age seven in Detroit and spent seven years playing at local clubs after high school. Kevin Haynes, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Detroit at Michigan Central, said Smith’s involvement sends a powerful message to youth.
A 15-year-old member of the Boys and Girls Club, Mahalsama Alduais, expressed excitement about the opportunity to try new instruments. Smith hopes the program will inspire future Detroit musicians, potentially leading to the next prominent artists in the city’s rich musical history, according to Smith.
For more information, visit wxyz.com.