Youth who learn a musical instrument can keep their brains healthier, regulate their emotions better, learn collaboration, and conceptually master teamwork.
Playing an instrument engages every major part of the central nervous system and it provides a total workout. It taps into both the right and left sides of the brain, according to John Dani, PhD, chair of Neuroscience at Penn Perelman School of Medicine.
And while today’s youth can face everything from heavy mental stress and social media influences to an onslaught of bad influences, it is critical to uplift youth who rise above these issues. Some well-rounded adults of tomorrow include local budding musicians who express themselves through the joy of music.
Davey Ward III, a 16-year-old guitar player who attends Broadneck High School and lives in Annapolis; Troy Sellman Jr., a 16-year-old auxiliary percussion player who also attends Broadneck High School and resides in Annapolis; Derrin Brown Jr., a 16-year-old drummer and Broadneck High School student who lives in Glen Burnie; and 16-year-old Makenzee Adams, a keyboard player and vocalist who attends Annapolis High School and resides in Annapolis are members of a rising music group on the performance scene called Pock3t.
Photos credit: Naima Sam-Bomah
“We play go-go music. It’s from DC and it’s really popular in the DMV,” Makenzee said. “It’s really percussion heavy and it uses call and response a lot.”
Pock3t’s four students can be spotted playing go-go music, a less common occurrence for people their ages to do, according to Makenzee.
Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go,” is commonly credited with the creation of the musical genre. The 75-year-old Washington, D.C.-based pioneer passed away in 2012. Enter Pock3t, the next generation of go-go aficionados who recently picked up the musical baton.
The band has inspired people who listen to them to cheer, clap, and reminisce. Pock3t puts new spins on familiar songs while showing what they can do as young people who love to share their musical gifts.
Derrin explained that the group originally started in 2022.
“We decided that it was a really fun gig to do after Kunta Kinte,” he said. “We’re all multi-musicians. We can all play more than one instrument.”
Troy, Derrin, and Davey recall that Pock3t has participated in the Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival, the Giant Barbecue Battle, 4th Ward Day, and Sycamore and Oak, although the youth go-go band has made more appearances.
Makenzee, who is known as “the Queen of the band” said that she did not know any of her fellow Pock3t members before the group was formed. Although she attended middle school with Troy, they never really talked previously.
Troy explained more about how other band members met.
“One day, my dad’s band was playing somewhere—Chambers Park. Me and him [Derrin] just got on the stage and just started playing. Then, we got in contact with each other, I guess, and it happened a second time the year after at Kunta Kinte. Then, he mentioned Walter [a former member].”
Around 2022, Walter’s inclusion made three members, leading to the group name, Pock3t. The ambitious, young musicians who crank live go-go began getting calls requesting them to perform.
Each member brings a different flavor to the band. However, they share a common thread of being self-taught instrumentalists in some ways, although the group’s members have individually been exposed to pLaying in the school band or taking lessons for a few years.
Derrin explained why Pock3t’s members latched on to go-go. They were inspired to play go-go after realizing how important it was and how far they could go with it.
Davey, another band member, realizes that establishing the band has led them to experience various benefits such as opportunities to learn communication skills and build chemistry and family with the people in their band. He feels that Pock3t has been good for overall happiness.
“We get time in school to practice, too, because we’re in a music program,” he added.
Additionally, the group that has a growing following usually rehearses every Monday.
“It’s just fun to play!” Davey said.
Pock3t is gearing up to show the public what they can do during their first show as headliners in their hometown on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, located at 801 Chase Street in Annapolis, Maryland. Pock3t wants the public to attend the show. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. The show starts at 6:00 p.m. Visit http://bit.ly/GOGONSG to find tickets for the February 8 family-friendly performance. Follow the group’s main social media page via https://www.instagram.com/pock3t./ where performance clips can be heard.
I love this concert they need to have many many more of these youth concert to get these young people off the streets so that they can show what they worth whatever