JOLIET, Ill. – An Illinois prison is launching a new music production program for inmates.
Officials with the Department of Corrections and Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet say music is therapeutic and provides a much needed outlet of expression for the incarcerated.
Anthony Ablan will teach music classes at Stateville, after setting up a similar program at Cook County Jail, and says it’s different, in that the inmates will help run the class.
“We’re going to come up with a plan in how we work together,” said Ablan. “It might be learning how to run (audio software) Pro Tools, it might be getting those verses out that you’ve been meaning to get out on mic for five years, learning guitar, learning bass. We do that together. We come up with a plan, and then we make it together.”
“Pro Tools” is a piece of audio engineering and production software. A non-profit organization founded by rap star Common is helping pay for the class.
“This work right here — Rebirth of Sound — is just one of the steps towards making sure that our people that are incarcerated come back home better,” said Common.
Common says nine students in the inaugural 12-week class will learn about music production, song writing, and audio engineering, will become humanized, and learn more about themselves.
