The Y.I.M.A.E. Music Production and Recording program incorporates an agile style of learning in which youths are constantly analyzing their products and performances, self-critiquing, revisiting, and refining. This learning style not only promotes artist growth and teaches youths how to accept constructive criticism, but it teaches self-awareness which is key to empowering youths to develop and hone their skills independently. This iterative learning process consisting of eight (8) major topic areas—Music Production and Recording Concepts; Incorporating Marketing into Music Production; Composition, Arrangement, and Songwriting; Recording, Mixing, and Mastering; Protecting Your Investments; The Business Side of Music; and Live Performances.

The Music Production and Recording Concepts module provides an introduction to basic composition, songwriting, and recording concepts to prepare them for the creative process and the technical rigor that accompanies studio performance. Incorporating Marketing into Music Production prepares helps youths identify their goals for the songs they will develop which feeds into the creative process. The Composition, Arrangement, and Songwriting module allows the youths to explore their creative sides as they create music, write positive lyrics, and start learning how to navigate the studio equipment to properly arrange their songs. The Recording, Mixing, and Mastering module takes their basic studio knowledge to the next level by teaching them how to work the mixing boards, proper studio etiquette, basic techniques for mixing and fine-tuning sounds, and how mastering creates a final product. Once the youths’ songs are complete, the Protecting Your Investments module teaches the youths how to protect their hard work through copyrights and performing rights organizations, and teaches them about knowing their entitlements which feed into deal negotiations. The Business Side of Music teaches the youths about distributions, promotions, marketing, and how to negotiate deals to ensure that they are fairly compensated for their works. Finally, the Live Performances module teaches youths about stage presence and live performance techniques to prepare them for performing their works in front of live audiences and on camera.

Cornell Stone

Acting Music Recording Instructor

Cornell Stone has over 20 years of experience in the District of Columbia government and offers a great wealth of knowledge, leadership and innovative ideas to the Y.I.M.A.E. program. Before beginning to fulfill his vision in manifesting and creating the Y.I.M.A.E. program, Mr. Stone served as a Program Monitor at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). He was quickly promoted to his current position as a Contract Service Specialist, and has been serving in this position for six years. Prior to his tenure in the District serving the youth, Mr. Stone served as a Forensic Psychiatric Technician at St. Elizabeth Hospital (John Howard Pavilion) and received the 2009 Employee Spotlight in the District of Columbia for Outstanding Work and rendered services to the Community Based Programs for youth in the metropolitan area.

Mr. Stone graduated from the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and attended the University of the District of Columbia. Being aggressive with his ever-expanding ideas of merging Academics and Entertainment, this endeavor will allow Mr. Stone to introduce innovative ideas and positive youth development tactics that will change the face of youth rehabilitation forever. To supplement the inherent challenge of accomplishing these feats, Mr. Stone’s successes were achieved through God's vision, obedience, and hands-on experience through his own life. The magnitude of these achievements at a period in which Stone had to experience will be demonstrated through the caliber of Y.I.M.A.E.'s staff, effectiveness, and Y.I.M.A.E.'s ability to yield groundbreaking results. After all, Stone's main objective is to ensure the safety and welfare for the youth and the re-uniting of families to bring forth positive measurable outcomes.

Darryl Moses

Acting Music Production Instructor

Darryl Moses is the Vice President of Operations and Administration for Y.I.M.A.E. and serves a dual role as the Director of its Department of Computer Science and Technology. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Sciences from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) (Tallahassee, FL) and is currently employed with Computer Sciences Corporation as an Information Systems Project Manager where his primary duties include work plan/cost estimate preparation, resource management, requirements gathering, business analysis, and business process development.

Mr. Moses has a firm commitment to youth education. As a founding member of the FAMU Chapter of Progressive Black Men (PBM), he did volunteer work in the Tallahassee community tutoring students at Leon High School and conducting activities and events for youths in the Hollifield Arms Apartment Complex. In addition, he was a piano instructor at Oxendine Music Academy (Hyattsville, MD) from 2002 – 2005, where he instructed students from the ages of four to fifty. Mr. Moses studied music at the Oxendine Music Academy (Hyattsville, MD) from 1988 – 1998 and has since performed as an piano accompanist for the St. John’s Baptist de la Salle Catholic Church (Chillum, MD) from 1996 – 2000, and has been producing music from 2000 – present.