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Melodies that mend the mind
By SUSAN THURSTON RICHMOND PLACE -- When Sheila Woodward moved from South Africa to New Tampa less than two years ago, she dreamed of opening the world of music to children who may not experience it otherwise. Not yet ready to shed ties to her native land, she looked for ways to carry those tunes across the ocean and into the ears of South African children as well. So she created a program through the University of South Florida called Diversion in Music Education -- an avante garde project that helps incarcerated children heal through music. Woodward, 42, works as an assistant professor at USF's school of music. She teaches college students how to be music teachers and leads community-oriented projects in the arts. She lives in Richmond Place with her son, Dayne, a 15-year-old at Wharton High School, and her daughter, Daniele, an 11-year-old at Benito Middle School. Eventually, she hopes to become a U.S. citizen. "I feel very at home," Woodward said. "I feel like I have a role to play here by bringing a multicultural influence." Diversion in Music Education is Woodward's latest project and combines her greatest passions: music, children and South Africa. The program, which began in September and continues through this month, targets youth in Tampa who have gotten into trouble with the law. A sister group operates in Cape Town, South Africa. The 3-month program teaches the American and South African students how to play drums in an African marimba band. They learn the music, make the stage props and perform before live audiences. The hope is to boost the students' self worth and expose them to team work. "We want them to realize they have some skills," Woodward said. "We want them to have healthy activities so they won't be on the streets." Tampa's program involves 10 boys ages 11 to 14 who have been charged with serious crimes such as assault or theft. All are repeat offenders. The boys live in a county youth treatment home in Seffner. An entourage of guards, teachers and school administrators accompany them to performances and other outings. Woodward and a few of her USF students visit the school twice a week to give music lessons and act as mentors. Teacher Mary Fales said the program has instilled confidence and self-esteem into the boys involved. Instead of arguing and fighting, they work together. "They have gotten to do something that most kids haven't," she said. "They've never been included. Now all of a sudden they feel worthwhile." The group had its first big performance Tuesday at the university. Woodward said the boys performed like pros and barely missed a beat. At the end of the show, people in the audience shook their hands and patted their backs. The program was made possible through a $15,000 grant from the university's Collaborative for Children, Families and Communities and a $3,000 grant from USF's Institute on Black Life. Woodward wrote the proposal, specifying the program would cater to children who don't have access to music classes. She had worked with poor students and blind children in Cape Town and thought young offenders could benefit from music education, too. "I found out that incarcerated kids don't get lessons in arts," she said. "I'm trying to give kids a hobby, so they don't go into gangs." Woodward brings a wealth of experience to the university and her New Tampa community. She holds a doctorate from the University of Cape Town and taught music at the University of Western Cape before moving to Florida. She also has done music-related research in countries across the world, including Russia and Japan. Close to her heart is work on the effects of music on unborn children. Woodward hopes her work will strengthen ties between the United States and South Africa, where she was born and raised. It already has the attention of the U.S. consulate, which plans to link the groups through video conferencing. Organizers want to find money to expand the program over the next three to five years. About 300 children are incarcerated in Hillsborough County and another 3,000 are in some type of youth offender programs, Woodward said. "They are really the sweetest kids," she said. "I wonder how they got into trouble." - Susan Thurston can be reached at 269-5303 or thurston@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times |
