Cole Prawer - The Imagine Music Project Charity
Donation protected
As Socrates once wrote - "Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, and flight to the imagination"
Hi! I'm Cole Prawer - I am 16 years old and I have just started a charity called The Imagine Music Project. I am very excited to share my passion for music with as many other students as I can. The mission of my charity is to provide students with the instruments so that they can share in the magic of creating music. I plan to identify schools in need of instruments and give them a helping hand. The first school I am targeting is John Muir Middle School in South Central Los Angeles — where my mother used to teach before I was born - I really love that connection. I appreciate all the support as I share my love for song and melody with others who may not have the same access.
Welcome to my gofundme - and thanks again for helping me in this journey. I am boldly trying to raise $10k because I have big dreams to help!
Best,
Cole
Additional background on my personal musical journey below that leads me to this moment:
Since I was four, I have been writing songs and playing the piano since I was seven. The impact that lyrics and melodies have had on me is immeasurable. But, until recently, I lacked the drive to share what I was making with the people around me. Before last year, I had officially published three full, professionally recorded songs. However, when friends would ask if I had any music out, I would make up an excuse: 'My voice isn't good enough yet,' 'I think that my piano was sloppy,' 'These aren't really for other people to hear.” I shoved my work under the rug when in truth, I was just afraid.
Afraid of what? I suppose the idea of putting myself out there and not being good enough was scary. When I write a paper for school, it is an assignment that my teacher defines. Songs are different—when I write music, it is my choice, words, melody, and emotions. Thus, when I published my work, I felt like it had to be perfect.
Well, with time (and a little encouragement from my dad), I realized that imperfection is part of being human. In the words of Leonard Cohen, "There is a crack, a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in." I'll have my highs and lows. Some days everything clicks and I make something excellent. Other days, something is missing. I have learned to accept imperfection. I'd even say that 'perfect' music is less personal. If I want my music to reflect myself, I have to reflect all of myself. When I throw a song away or hide it, I want it to be because it doesn't represent me, not because I'm afraid of criticism.
Finally, I took the leap with renewed courage and went through the song-making process. I composed, played, and repeatedly recorded with my producer. Ironically, after working hard for a few months, we reverted most of the song back to what I originally created. This example symbolizes my exact message: I knew how I wanted my song to sound when I first recorded it. I heard it repeating again and again in my head. Over time, I just lost that spark of inspiration and confidence. I had to strike while the iron was hot.
That's not just true for me, but for everyone. It's all about finding the courage to realize that authenticity is what makes songwriting so great. One of my favorite things about music is realizing that some unestablished, 16-year-old boy in his bedroom could write a better song in the middle of the night than some big name like Ed Sheeran. Echoing this, some of my best memories are at my piano, with a recorder by my side, just writing. Mostly nothing earth-shattering happens. But in that 1/1000 chance that I strike magic, I can't wait to share it with everybody.
What excites me the most is helping other people find those melodies and lyrics lying dormant inside them.
Please see my latest single Saints as a reference of who I becoming as an artist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXQXY-BVR0
Please see a recent example of a song in progress - to see how they get made:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkf3uguqpe0
For those who prefer Paypal for the donation - please use the link below - otherwise - GoFundMe has it covered
Hi! I'm Cole Prawer - I am 16 years old and I have just started a charity called The Imagine Music Project. I am very excited to share my passion for music with as many other students as I can. The mission of my charity is to provide students with the instruments so that they can share in the magic of creating music. I plan to identify schools in need of instruments and give them a helping hand. The first school I am targeting is John Muir Middle School in South Central Los Angeles — where my mother used to teach before I was born - I really love that connection. I appreciate all the support as I share my love for song and melody with others who may not have the same access.
Welcome to my gofundme - and thanks again for helping me in this journey. I am boldly trying to raise $10k because I have big dreams to help!
Best,
Cole
Additional background on my personal musical journey below that leads me to this moment:
Since I was four, I have been writing songs and playing the piano since I was seven. The impact that lyrics and melodies have had on me is immeasurable. But, until recently, I lacked the drive to share what I was making with the people around me. Before last year, I had officially published three full, professionally recorded songs. However, when friends would ask if I had any music out, I would make up an excuse: 'My voice isn't good enough yet,' 'I think that my piano was sloppy,' 'These aren't really for other people to hear.” I shoved my work under the rug when in truth, I was just afraid.
Afraid of what? I suppose the idea of putting myself out there and not being good enough was scary. When I write a paper for school, it is an assignment that my teacher defines. Songs are different—when I write music, it is my choice, words, melody, and emotions. Thus, when I published my work, I felt like it had to be perfect.
Well, with time (and a little encouragement from my dad), I realized that imperfection is part of being human. In the words of Leonard Cohen, "There is a crack, a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in." I'll have my highs and lows. Some days everything clicks and I make something excellent. Other days, something is missing. I have learned to accept imperfection. I'd even say that 'perfect' music is less personal. If I want my music to reflect myself, I have to reflect all of myself. When I throw a song away or hide it, I want it to be because it doesn't represent me, not because I'm afraid of criticism.
Finally, I took the leap with renewed courage and went through the song-making process. I composed, played, and repeatedly recorded with my producer. Ironically, after working hard for a few months, we reverted most of the song back to what I originally created. This example symbolizes my exact message: I knew how I wanted my song to sound when I first recorded it. I heard it repeating again and again in my head. Over time, I just lost that spark of inspiration and confidence. I had to strike while the iron was hot.
That's not just true for me, but for everyone. It's all about finding the courage to realize that authenticity is what makes songwriting so great. One of my favorite things about music is realizing that some unestablished, 16-year-old boy in his bedroom could write a better song in the middle of the night than some big name like Ed Sheeran. Echoing this, some of my best memories are at my piano, with a recorder by my side, just writing. Mostly nothing earth-shattering happens. But in that 1/1000 chance that I strike magic, I can't wait to share it with everybody.
What excites me the most is helping other people find those melodies and lyrics lying dormant inside them.
Please see my latest single Saints as a reference of who I becoming as an artist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXQXY-BVR0
Please see a recent example of a song in progress - to see how they get made:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkf3uguqpe0
For those who prefer Paypal for the donation - please use the link below - otherwise - GoFundMe has it covered
Organizer
Arik Prawer
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA