Our mission
We aim to improve the lives of young Philadelphia drummers by inspiring the intellectual, social, and emotional growth that comes from pursuing collective excellence. We place students in the mentorship of compassionate, highly qualified educators from their own neighborhoods, ensuring they learn and thrive within a community that knows them best.
Our values
These core principles guide everything we do, from program design to daily interactions with students and partners.
Representation
We believe representation matters in education: when Black, Brown, and Latino students learn from teachers who look like them, they're more likely to build strong, lasting identities as leaders, musicians, and teammates.
Community
We know how important it is for students to form strong identities during their formative pre-teen years. It deters self-harming behaviors and greatly increases their chances of leading safe, successful lives as active members of their community.
Impact
When we create our curriculum around the unique music, rhythms, and culture of our students, it unlocks their potential to impact their peers, their loved ones, and themselves.
Our story
Mad Beatz Philly launched in 2013 when founder Jesse Mell and a group of passionate high school drummers set out to build a professional pathway for young performers and educators. From 2014â2019, they trained more than 200 students across six Musicopia drumline programs.
After Jesse's transition from Musicopia, Mad Beatz Philly expanded into a citywide network of HBCU-style drumlines powered by an intergenerational teaching modelâTeacher-mentors, Teaching Artists, and Apprentice-teachersâdesigned to tackle Philadelphia's teacher diversity crisis.
Today, 11 Teaching Artists, 2 Teacher-mentors, and 12 Apprentice-teachers train 266 middle and high school drummers at 8 sites.
Mad Beatz Philly proudly partners with The Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Musicopia, and Philly's best schools to advance equity in music education through the Philly School Drumlines movement.
Meet our team
Our team brings together teaching artists, certified educators, and curriculum specialists dedicated to music education excellence.
Jesse Mell
Founder & Director
After graduating summa cum laude from Temple University's Boyer College of Music in 2003, Jesse Mell became the Philadelphia School District's first drumline specialist. His charge was both simple and enormous: build drumline programs from the ground up with beginning students of all ages.
For 23 years, Jesse has met that challenge by creating learning systems that kids can navigate independently yet are strong enough to elevate them to top-level performance. He forges deep community connections and trains diverse, community-based educators who now teach and inspire students across Philadelphia.
Teacherâmentors
Dwight Carter
Dwight Carter, a middle years educator at Global Leadership Academy West, co-founded the Highmark Mann Center's Motion & Music Academy Drumline with Jesse in 2019. In just five years, his strategic and empathetic leadership has shaped how Mad Beatz Philly uses peer mentorship to build student leaders.
This summer, Dwight and Jesse launched the second cohort of the Apprentice-teacher Training Program. Under Dwight's guidance, 12 high school students across 2 sites completed this intensive program, assisting senior teaching artists to educate and inspire more than 40 middle school drummers.
Dwight continues to coach Apprentice-teachers through the real work of accountability and self-reflection, helping them grow into the leaders who will teach the next generation.
Travien Bryson
Travien Bryson, a Philadelphia native, graduated from University City High School and later earned his BS in Elementary Education from Cheyney University. Now a Site-based Teacher Leader at Laura Carnell Elementary, he received the 2022 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teachers for his strong commitment to student success and family engagement.
Travien trains Mad Beatz Philly's Emerging Teachers in pedagogy, classroom management, communication, and building a positive, high-energy learning culture. He also visits educators at their sites, offering targeted coaching to strengthen their practice.
Teaching artists
Steven Jerome Nixon Jr.
Jaelyne Ware
Deja Kilgore
Joshua Cruz
Kion Lewis
Our impact
Numbers that reflect our commitment to transforming education through music.
0
Partner Schools
Across Philadelphia
0
New teachers trained
Since 2021
0
Students enrolled
In 7 drumline programs
0
Yearly performances
In our schools and communities
Our partners
We proudly collaborate with organizations that help expand music education access across Philadelphia.
