Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility in Bordentown, NJ
Music Education Behind Bars
Music Ministry Mission Statement:
To move beyond barriers in order to create communities of hope that restore, enlighten, and transform lives through music.
Space vs. Environment
Auditorium vs. Holding cell on A2.
Auditorium:
In the auditorium at the prison, one can almost forget that we are inside the walls of a correctional facility. The space is open and there are several windows on either side of the room that let in the sunlight. Note: the auditorium to the right is at the Tennessee State Correctional Facility but is comparable to the one at ACW.
We have held rehearsals in the auditorium of the prison since our first rehearsal in 2009. Our location is sometimes switched due to another large gathering that may be taking place during our regularly scheduled rehearsal time. We have rehearsed in classrooms inside the prison as well as the mess hall, where all prisoners gather for meals.
It is understood that we are in their space regardless of our location in the prison, but the auditorium has been our home base and because of that, we have grown accustomed to our surroundings and know that for that 90 minutes every week, each of us is free. We are free from the cell that we live in, free from the stressors of working in the prison, working on homework or having perfection demanded of you at any given moment. We are joined as a group to work towards making a better environment for ourselves. In the space of the auditorium, we do not have to work as hard to create an open and honest environment. The space takes care of that for us and our reactions to that space enables us to grow together. This space has allowed us to create a safe environment which then led to the creation of a community.
If the social space of the auditorium can provide our ensemble with the formation of not only a safe environment, but the creation of a community, then what implications does space have on both the environment and the community? Before we answer that question, let us take a look at the second space in the prison, our new rehearsal space, the holding cell on A2.
Holding cell on A2:
There is no denying that you are inside the walls of a prison in this new space. We are inside a jail cell with the men of Albert C. Wagner. We are imprisoned with them for 90 minutes each Wednesday night. Note: The corridor to the right is not the actual corridor of cells but it is similar to the space that we must walk through to get to our new rehearsal space.
The change in our rehearsal location came as an attempt from the prison administration to force our program into resignation. Before we go off track, let me lead you through our new space. Imagine walking down a hallway like the one seen above. Once you reach the end of the hallway, a guard unlocks a steal, barred door to let you in, only to unlock two more sets of doors before reaching the actual space. After walking through the second set of doors, you are standing in front of a long, military-dorm style room, complete with beds bolted to the floor and a stall-like bathroom to your right. To the left is another cage-like room. This space has two metal cafeteria tables bolted to the floor as well as several cabinets and five benches that are bolted down. In case the space wasn’t tight enough, there are 20-30 desks that can be moved but it doesn’t leave us with a lot of choir space. This small area with all of its’ clutter does not lead itself to having any open space to run a rehearsal. I forgot to mention that three of the four walls are solid, concrete brick with small openings up high for windows. The fourth wall is the cage; the steal, barred door. It isn’t enough that this space is so small but the addition of people to it makes it less manageable than when it was only me. Did I mention the guards lock the gate from the outside once we are in?
Last week, our rehearsal saw eight inmates join us in our new location. The past couple of weeks has seen a great amount of turnover, as far as the guys are concerned. Many men have finished out their sentences or have asked to be transferred to a new correctional facility. Regardless of that, our last rehearsal was a challenge. The men were not happy with the new space and I assumed they could tell that I was not too comfortable with it either. In this new space, it was my responsibility to make sure that my negative reaction to the space did not transfer itself into our rehearsal. According to Bennett Reimer, 2009, "artistic creativity is often believed to have entirely positive effects and can be and should be cultivated by all people" (181).When we allow our space to have power over our attitudes, our creativity can be blocked which could have a negative effect on our environment and our sense of community. Our interactions and reactions with and to the space that we are in can change the shape of our environment, our community. Even though the space in which we are now forced to hold rehearsals is small and oppressive, we can choose to react positively and create an environment of hope that can transform lives through music.
The change in our rehearsal location came as an attempt from the prison administration to force our program into resignation. Before we go off track, let me lead you through our new space. Imagine walking down a hallway like the one seen above. Once you reach the end of the hallway, a guard unlocks a steal, barred door to let you in, only to unlock two more sets of doors before reaching the actual space. After walking through the second set of doors, you are standing in front of a long, military-dorm style room, complete with beds bolted to the floor and a stall-like bathroom to your right. To the left is another cage-like room. This space has two metal cafeteria tables bolted to the floor as well as several cabinets and five benches that are bolted down. In case the space wasn’t tight enough, there are 20-30 desks that can be moved but it doesn’t leave us with a lot of choir space. This small area with all of its’ clutter does not lead itself to having any open space to run a rehearsal. I forgot to mention that three of the four walls are solid, concrete brick with small openings up high for windows. The fourth wall is the cage; the steal, barred door. It isn’t enough that this space is so small but the addition of people to it makes it less manageable than when it was only me. Did I mention the guards lock the gate from the outside once we are in?
Last week, our rehearsal saw eight inmates join us in our new location. The past couple of weeks has seen a great amount of turnover, as far as the guys are concerned. Many men have finished out their sentences or have asked to be transferred to a new correctional facility. Regardless of that, our last rehearsal was a challenge. The men were not happy with the new space and I assumed they could tell that I was not too comfortable with it either. In this new space, it was my responsibility to make sure that my negative reaction to the space did not transfer itself into our rehearsal. According to Bennett Reimer, 2009, "artistic creativity is often believed to have entirely positive effects and can be and should be cultivated by all people" (181).When we allow our space to have power over our attitudes, our creativity can be blocked which could have a negative effect on our environment and our sense of community. Our interactions and reactions with and to the space that we are in can change the shape of our environment, our community. Even though the space in which we are now forced to hold rehearsals is small and oppressive, we can choose to react positively and create an environment of hope that can transform lives through music.
In what ways does music in the prison transform its' own micro community while connecting to a larger community?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0qn3gWSuZA
This video should answer the above question.
Now, to answer a question from earlier, "If the social space of the auditorium can provide our ensemble with the formation of not only a safe environment, but the creation of a community, then what implications does space have on both the environment and the community?" In the above examples of the two different rehearsal spaces, it would seem that each space created contrasting environments. The auditorium that was home to our ensemble for two and a half years brought us a lot of joy and beautiful music making. The space was crucial in our community building which was fostered by the student-centered curriculum which allowed divergent thinking and created an open environment. The space of the holding cell has, thus far, had the same effect on our environment. Although the space is small and more oppressive, it has provided us with a closer connection to each other as well as the music that we are learning. In this situation, it would seem that space can have a positive effect on the environment that is to be created. However, is space solely responsible for the formation of a community environment? Or does the use of open education enable the classroom leader to effect the environment rather than allowing the physical space the power to determine our environment?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0qn3gWSuZA
This video should answer the above question.
Now, to answer a question from earlier, "If the social space of the auditorium can provide our ensemble with the formation of not only a safe environment, but the creation of a community, then what implications does space have on both the environment and the community?" In the above examples of the two different rehearsal spaces, it would seem that each space created contrasting environments. The auditorium that was home to our ensemble for two and a half years brought us a lot of joy and beautiful music making. The space was crucial in our community building which was fostered by the student-centered curriculum which allowed divergent thinking and created an open environment. The space of the holding cell has, thus far, had the same effect on our environment. Although the space is small and more oppressive, it has provided us with a closer connection to each other as well as the music that we are learning. In this situation, it would seem that space can have a positive effect on the environment that is to be created. However, is space solely responsible for the formation of a community environment? Or does the use of open education enable the classroom leader to effect the environment rather than allowing the physical space the power to determine our environment?