The Culture of Educational Music

By: CEO Marcus Davis

For years, people have used music, rhythm, and rhyme to teach, pass on traditions, and convey messages.  Using music to spread messages seems to be a very effective method of teaching because millions of people learn the lyrics to songs.  Children are taught many of their first lessons this way.  Many cartoons and other kid programs use music to reach the kids.  Books like those by Dr. Seuss use rhymes to teach lessons.  This is how I learned my A, B, C’s as well as many other things.  As I got older, I realized that this method of teaching with music, rhythm, and rhyme was used much less, if at all, once children left elementary school.  After choosing to join the entertainment industry professionally, I soon became aware of the fact that no one there wanted to produce or promote this kind of music.  This made me want to take on the job.  I felt like someone had to show the world that we can use every genre of music to teach people, at any age, potentially anything.  In 2009, I created a company named Dreams Made Real Inc. to eventually do just that. 

This culture, in which people use music to educate, doesn’t have an official nor unofficial name.  The music industry has many new and old genres for music, but this is not one of them.  This is puzzling when you consider that millions of artists, producers, musicians, and supporters worldwide contribute to this culture.  Music is used to educate in every corner of the globe.  That is why many of us, within the culture, are working to establish this identity or genre.  Having a name or phrase that identifies this culture is critical to its continued growth and ultimately its survival.  

The members in our culture come from many different backgrounds, races, beliefs, experiences, etc.  This gives our culture great diversity and the potential to be appealing to multiple audiences.  Our members come from various countries speaking multiple languages.  They have been influenced and inspired by every kind of music.  We have some similarities also.  Most members that I have observed or spoke with feel a sense of purpose in being a part of the culture.  Many feel like they are doing something that is necessary.  Dr. Sley is a singer-songwriter in Cameroon.  His music is influenced by Reggae music.  One of his music videos titled “Down By The Riverside” received an award, in Cameroon, for best anti-corruption anthem.  When asked about the culture he said, “Inspirational music can be your best friend especially now that the world is full of political and economic upheaval…”  Nerukhi Ato Osei is a musician, video producer, and owner of Nerukhi Studios in Trinidad and Tobago.  His music has reached #1 on the country’s indigenous music charts multiple times.  His belief is that, “Music fashions the minds of our society particularly our young people, and through music we can truly help to make the world a better place.”

My position within the culture is that of a leader or an advocate.  I established Dreams Made Real Inc. with the primary purpose of developing the culture of educational music into something that’s internationally recognized, supported, and accepted like Rock, Hip-hop, or Pop music.  We provide a clean and positive alternative to an entertainment industry that is full of negative images and messages.  Our company promotes music, videos, poetry, articles and more by people from over 30 countries and counting.  Anyone can access this content online for free.  We also offer a way for independent artists and companies to connect to and support each other.  We communicate with everyone in our growing network to find ways that we can collectively move the culture forward.  We are in the process of raising funds for a documentary film that will introduce and explain the culture to the world by showcasing some of the leaders within the movement and their work.  Being a part of this culture has allowed me to meet and form relationships with people in countries all over the globe.  I have also had the opportunity to inspire, educate, and motivate thousands of people with our all-positive content.  It feels great when we receive online comments or emails thanking us for what we are doing and the impact that we are having in the lives of people worldwide.

The future of the culture that uses music as a means to educate is promising.  The culture will continue to grow as more people start companies supporting it, as more artists come together to collaborate, and as more consumers become aware that it exists.  Education in many countries is on the decline or could use major improvements in some areas.  This could be a part of the solution to that problem.  I believe that as long as people need to learn, there will be someone somewhere using music, rhythm, and rhyme to teach.  I also feel that as more people become exposed to the culture, more people will support it because of its potential to effect positive change in the lives of people all over the world. Moreover, technology is making it easier for the people within the culture to communicate and reach out to the world for support.  This is another reason that the culture will survive and continue to grow. 

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