IPS teacher creates inspiring music video starring students
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Kids are not immune to seeing the darker side of society, such as violence and hunger.
One Indianapolis teacher wanted to use music to inspire kids to see the positive side of life.
The music video stars kids in the Indy Parks after-school program at IPS School 31.
Creator Tevin Studdard wrote the song called “I will change the world.”
“I always love the kids, want to get them involved in something positive and uplifting,” he said.
Studdard began working for the after-school program this fall.
He came up with a unique first assignment.
“We’ve been working on it all semester, beginning of August until October 19 when we filmed it,” he said.
He wrote a song and created a music video.
“Including the kids, they’re singing on the song, they’re dancing in the video, got their little swagger going on, it was all for them,” he said.
The song shares a positive message, inspiring the kids to be the best they can be.
“We are an after-school at-risk program and so we are faced with many, many different challenges that the kids go through on a day to day basis,” After-School Site Supervisor Tasha Marshall-Ratcliffe said.
Studdard’s supervisor was so excited to watch the impact of the video on the kids’ lives.
“Just having something very uplifting to kind of motivate them to change the world,” she said.
Volunteers from the community also star in the video, like Indianapolis firefighters.
“One of the lyrics says ‘I will become whatever I put my mind to be, so I wanted to give them service men and women to look forward to aspire and walk along side them,” Studdard said.
Studdard lost a family member to violence, so he wants to use music to direct his students to stay out of trouble, like it did for him.
“Violence is something that affected me, I had a cousin that was murdered, and actually music helped me see my way through violence,” he said.
In case you recognized his last name, Tevin is the cousin of American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.
Tevin said watching his cousin on the show inspired him to take up music.