MS 42 Motive

R.H.Y.M.E. (Rhymes Help Young Minds Excel) x Speek Lyfe: Music, Mentorship, and Student Voices at MS 42

Music is more than entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for education, self-expression, and personal growth. This year, we were proud to partner with Speek Lyfe to bring an engaging music and mentoring residency to the incredible students at MS 42 in Queens.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the New York City Council for making opportunities like this possible. Their support helps create meaningful experiences that empower young people through the arts.

Led by Lead Teaching Artist, Lawrence Coles, students participated in hands-on workshops that blended music education with mentorship. Throughout the residency, students developed microphone techniques, performance confidence, songwriting fundamentals, and creative collaboration skills. Just as importantly, they explored life skills including communication, teamwork, leadership, respect, and believing in their own voices.

The program culminated in an exciting achievement: students worked together to write, compose, and perform an original song that reflected their experiences, ideas, and creativity. Watching students transform their thoughts into music demonstrated the power of arts education to inspire confidence and build community.

Music video by Eric Mason