On Wednesday, the Chad Smith Foundation announced its After-School Music Program (AMP), a nationwide initiative designed to expand access to high-quality music education. Milwaukee will be the launching point, with community organizations receiving financial and operational support to help students get hands-on experience with the world of music.

“Music has the power to change lives, and every child deserves the chance to experience that,” said Chad Smith, drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and co-founder of the organization that bears his name. “AMP is about bringing instructors, instruments and opportunities directly to kids so they can discover their own voice through music.

“At the foundation, we are working to eliminate all the barriers that we hear too often as reasons for why young adults don’t have access to music programs.”

The initiative is a collaboration between the foundation and four key local partners: the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, the Salvation Army, Notes for Notes and Running Rebels. By embedding music education directly into the existing after-school programs, AMP seeks to create sustainable opportunities for students to discover their musical voices.