P.S. Arts was founded more than three decades ago with the mission to provide arts education in public schools in California. Today, it serves more than 30,000 students in 90 schools across Los Angeles County and California’s Central Valley. I recently chatted with one of their teaching artists, Jason Shepherd, about the importance of music and art in our kids’ daily lives. 

Tell us a little about yourself and how you became involved with P.S. Arts.

I’m a professional songwriter, musician, producer and music educator with more than 20 years of experience. I was born and raised in Chicago, and my foundation in music started in the church.

My mother was a choir director, and I grew up with gospel music as my foundational musical inspiration. That environment shaped everything for me.

Over time, that passion turned into both a career in music as a songwriter, recording artist and producer. Subsequently, this led to a deeper calling in education. In 2024, I joined P.S. Arts as a teaching artist in the Lawndale School District. What drew me in was the mission. Giving students access to arts education is something I believe in deeply. Music has the power to shape identity, and I’ve seen what happens when kids are given that opportunity.

How have you personally seen art education touch children’s lives?

I’ve seen it unlock something in kids that nothing else could reach. There are students who don’t connect with traditional academics or sports, but when you introduce music, everything changes. You see confidence start to build. You see them become more engaged. You see them realize that they have something to offer.

There’s a moment when a child understands that they can create something from nothing. That moment matters. It shifts how they see themselves, and that confidence carries into other areas of their life.

What effect does art education have on our kids’ social and emotional skills, self-confidence and relationship with the world around them?

Arts education plays a major role in social and emotional development. It gives students a way to express themselves, especially when they don’t have the words for what they’re feeling. It also builds confidence because they begin to see that their ideas and creativity have value.

In the classroom, it builds community. Students learn how to listen to each other, collaborate and respect different perspectives. They start to understand that everyone has a voice.

With music, they also begin to see that it’s a universal language. It connects people across cultures and backgrounds. That awareness helps shape how they relate to others and the world around them.

As parents, how can we bring the arts into their daily lives?

As a father of two teenagers, I’ve always focused on what I call the three A’s: academics, athletics and the arts. All three matter, and the arts should be treated with the same level of importance. The goal isn’t for every child to become a professional artist. The goal is expression and discovery.

There are simple ways to bring the arts into daily life. Let your kids sing. Encourage them to try instruments like piano, guitar or percussion. Give them space to create, whether that’s writing songs, making beats or just exploring sound.

Tools like Suno have made it easier than ever for kids to create music. They can take an idea and turn it into a full song quickly, and that can spark a lot of excitement.

I believe everyone should create something at least once. Writing a song or making something original connects you to who you are.

What are some of your favorite art projects with the kids you work with?

One of my favorite things right now is songwriting with students using AI tools like Suno. It works on multiple levels. They are learning about new technology that is shaping the future of music. They have full ownership of their ideas and creativity and they get to hear results quickly, which keeps them engaged.

What stands out most is the moment when they hear their idea come to life as a real song. That moment builds confidence in a real way. It shows them that their voice matters and that they can create something meaningful.