Chad Smith is a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and he says he's working to bridge the gap of opportunity for young music students in the industry.
The former Homewood-Flossmoor student says, even though he's known as one the greatest drummers in the world, he's determined to make sure he's not the last. Smith says he's giving the very gift of access to music education at a time, he says, it's needed most.
Smith said he might not have graduated high school without the music programs.
"Got up to no good, stole my first Playboy magazine, smoked cigars, whatever, you know, just young person trying to find his way," Smith said.
And he did: one beat at a time.
Smith credits the access he had to music education as the reason he went from a 7-year-old drummer playing for his parents to a Grammy winner and longest-serving member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, playing for millions across the world.
"My own public high school, 40 miles north of downtown Detroit, had a marching band, had a concert band, a symphonic band. If you were, you know, next level, also had a jazz band and also had a music theory class," Smith said.
According to the National Association for Music Education, schools with music programs see a graduation rate of over 90%.
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In Illinois, a 2024 report by State of the Arts says less than 40% of Chicago Public Schools were rated as having access to arts programs.
Smith wants to grow those numbers.
"They're buying shoulder pads for the football team, but the art and the music goes away," Smith said. "We're finding that the connecting piece is the education."
That's where the Chad Smith Foundation is stepping in and expanding its effort to the city of Chicago. The foundation offers lesson plans for teachers, donates free music equipment to universities and public schools and gives out scholarships to students. But its very presence is also reinvigorating the careers of those like Elizabeth Moen.
"My first memories are of, you know, my mom, cleaning the house, jamming to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Some of my first memories are hearing those drums," Moen said.
The local up-and-coming indie musician had a chance to perform with Smith at his inaugural gala this past week.
"This year has again, for most musicians, for people in general, it's been hard," Moen said. "It really reminded me of why I am doing what I'm doing, and that music is so joyful, so special. And it is what I love," Moen said.
"We want to make the next generation, help the next-generation musicians because we need it and have to have it. The world needs it," Smith said. "It's not easy, yeah, but anything that's worth anything is not easy either."
The Chad Smith Foundations says they plan to announce an Illinois partner university in 2026, with scholarship support focused on students who want to study music but may not have the financial means to do so.
Visit www.chadsmithfoundation.org for more information.