Monday, October 29, 2012

100 Hours!

Did You Know?
It takes 100 hours to complete a business plan? I was working on my business plan the other day and thought to myself, "Wow, this is a lot of work and it's taking me a long time to get done!" I turned to our trusty friend Google to make sure I wasn't moving at a tortoise's pace! And low and behold I learned that a business plan takes a minimum of 100 hours to complete. I was comforted, knowing that I had completed four sections and had only five more to finish. It will all equal out to about 100 hours.

Right on schedule! YES!

Cool Things Are Happening

I'm in the process of becoming a certified nonprofit corporation with 501(c)3 status!!! The Foundation Group is a really awesome company partnering with me to make this happen. I highly recommend them! I'm also assembling my Board Members for the organization. A name? I've been wrestling with this but, the unveiling of the name and logo will be in my next blog entry. So be on the lookout! And lastly, once I finish my business plan (by the end of this week) I will be meeting with my friends at SCORE to refine it and it make stronger. My vision grows stronger everyday I work on my business plan.

Sharing The Wealth
As you can see I'm trying to give you all the information and resources you need to pursue a business venture similar to mine.  I'm blessed to be a blessing to someone else. The need is too great.

Sweats & Hoodies
My lifestyle has changed for the better. I wake up every morning, workout, throw on sweats and head down to the community room to plug away at my vision. Everyday I'm getting closer to the fruition of the dream.

Life Updates...
Robert Robinson: Sold Out!
I had an amazing weekend with the Pavarotti of Gospel Music, Robert Robinson. We performed at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, MN to a sold out crowd of over 1,000 people.

My Performance Schedule...
A lot of you have been asking about my performance schedule and when you can see and hear me play. I'm constantly performing, and you can find out where I'm playing by following Robert Robinson's Schedule.


Monday, October 15, 2012

Confirmation!

As I work and do research for my after-school program today, I stumbled across an article that further supports the dire need for my after-school program. MN Schools are failing to provide all of the required arts.


  • Only 28% of elementary schools in MN offer all of the required arts. (Arts, Drama, Music, & Dance)
  • Less than 50% of all middle & high schools in MN offer all of the required arts.
  • Research shows that students involved in the arts do better in math, science, and reading. 

"I think it's really important that our state and our school districts realize that they need to fund and support the arts just as strongly as they fund math and reading," said Kris Holsen, an elementary art and theater teacher in Brooklyn Park and president-elect of the Arts Educators of Minnesota.

Please Read...
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/11/education/study-minnesota-school-arts-mandates/

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Doors Flinging Open!

Really cool things happening this way! Connections and networking opportunities have presented themselves in so many ways. When you are on a faith walk and on the right track, there will be signs to let you know that you are on the right track.

Good News or Bad News First? Let's start with the bad news.
So my trip to New Orleans, LA didn't happen. The program I wanted to go observe didn't want to see me...  : (

Sad? Yep. BUT they offered to answer any questions I might have via email. So, that's sweet. They also put me on to another really cool after-school program that I will probably go visit. http://www.littlekidsrock.org/index.html

I'm prepared to experience some amazing highs, but also some difficult lows on this journey. In the end it will all work out for the good.
                                                  
Now For The Cool Stuff...
I'm blessed to be the pianist for Robert Robinson http://robertrobinsonmusic.com he performs all over the place and I get to go with him. It's amazing. Period. I'll post performance dates soon, for now check out his website and you can find where we'll be next. Anyhow, we played a gig for an amazing organization here called Urban Ventures http://www.urbanventures.org.

I met the coolest man on planet earth at this gig. His name is Art Erickson, he is the Founder of Urban Ventures and wants to meet, talk, and help me with my program!!!

FYI...
This is the 1st of many meetings I will be having like this in the next few weeks. Cool? Yep.
Here is Art with the children from Urban Ventures!
Lastly...
I've made great strides lately towards making my dream a reality. I've started working out and eating healthier foods, I've also been screwing down a lot of the nuts & bolts of my Vision/Business Plan. Take a look...



Thanks Again...
As always, thanks for taking time out of your busy day to check out my blog! It is much appreciated. The blog has been up for a little more than a week and has already received over 500 views.






Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Brighter Days Ahead...

For a while now I've been feeling like I'm supposed to be contributing more to this world. I'm absolutely thrilled with what I have been able to accomplish thus far...but I feel like there is so much more in me. Much bigger and greater things for me to do.

Since I was 14 years old I knew that I was called to do music. But what did that mean? I now understand my life mission and purpose.

                                                               
Drum Roll Please...
After much debate and a little inner turmoil, I've decided to follow that which burns deep inside of me, an inner-city after school music program for students that can't afford opportunities in the arts. We will provide tutoring, life skills coaching, all sorts of music instruction, performance opportunities, a healthy meal, and a loving and caring learning environment for students who need it most.

So What Now??? Monday, October 8th
Monday, October 8th, I'm headed to New Orleans, LA to volunteer and learn from my 1st program. I was watching CNN Heroes and stumbled across this amazing organization who is doing an after-school program a lot like the vision God has given me. The program is called The Roots of Music and you can learn more about them here: http://therootsofmusic.com

After visiting New Orleans I will then head to Baltimore, MD to volunteer and study from the Baltimore School of The Arts and their TWIGGS After-School Program. More info about them here: http://www.bsfa.org/home

So stay tuned! I'll be blogging about all of these wonderful institutions and sharing what I took away from each and every experience. And I'll also be updating you on the status and development of my program!

Did I mention that my graduate thesis is on this very topic!? Learning about these amazing programs, pursuing my dreams, and fulfilling my thesis requirement for graduate school all at the same time.

Down The Road...Thinking Out Loud
One of my goals is that 100% of the students enrolled in the program go on to higher education. Another vision is to have world-renowned musicians and artists visit the school encouraging the students to follow and pursue their dreams.

Funding...

The single item that's heaviest on my mind. If you know of any people who might be of help please let me know. I know that funding this program will go smoothly because inner-city youth work is detrimental to our society. There is a great need, and not enough being done about it.

My last rant...I PROMISE!



  • After-school outreach activities are gaining increased attention and funding because of the awareness that children from at-risk neighborhoods need supervised, safe, and constructive focus during the hours following school. 
  • Juvenile crime rates “spike” around 3:00pm, just after students are released from school with nothing to do and no adult supervision. 
  • Successful after-school programs help at-risk children develop better school attendance, work habits, and grades, better social skills and emotional adjustment, and overall greater self-esteem and aspirations for the present and the future. 
  • Unfortunately, there are not enough after-school programs available, particularly in urban areas, to meet the demand for them.



Thanks for taking time out of your day to check out my blog. It is much appreciated! 



David Billingsley

The Billingsley School of Music & Arts, Inc.
Executive Director