La Bodega BX · Grades 5 to 12 · 8 weeks
Write it. Record it. Release it.
A summer music program where Bronx students make real songs with industry mentors and put them out on Spotify and Apple Music.
The program
Hands-on mentorship for young artists
An 8-week summer program for students in grades 5 to 12, built around creative writing, music production and audio recording. It's designed to be therapeutic and educational: a place to find your voice, stay original and make music at a professional level.
- Length
- 8 weeks
- Middle school
- Grades 5 to 8
- High school
- Grades 9 to 12
- Finale
- A live concert on the block
- Release
- Spotify, Apple Music and more
- 2027 dates
- To be announced
Curriculum
What students learn
Part 1 of 4Creative writing and lyricism
Storytelling, songwriting techniques and poetic expression.
Part 2 of 4Music production
Beat-making, instrumentation and sound engineering.
Part 3 of 4Audio recording and performance
Vocal skills, studio recording and the confidence to perform. The summer ends with a concert to show off what students built.
Part 4 of 4Professional distribution
Students' collaborative projects are released on Apple Music, Spotify and other major platforms, a real release that lasts beyond the summer.
Watch
See the program on the block
Founder
Joseph R. Guerrido
Born and raised in the Bronx, Joseph R. Guerrido is an audio engineer and producer with more than 20 years in the music industry. His journey started in a middle school choir and grew into a lifelong mission to inspire change through sound, creativity and community. From humble beginnings to running his own label, his story is about resilience, purpose and passion.
Joseph founded La Bodega not just as a creative space, but as a sanctuary for young people looking for identity, voice and vision. He grew up without access to artistic resources or mentors, so he knows what opportunity can do. His mission is simple: reach kids where they are, nurture their gifts and help them rewrite their futures.
“I created this program because I know what it's like to be a kid from the inner city with no outlet. The idea of helping kids find their identity through art is the driving force behind everything we do.”
Why La Bodega
Not your usual summer camp
Artistic freedom
Students are pushed toward originality and their own stories, not whatever's trending.
A real studio
They learn on a professional soundstage built to look like the streets of 1990s New York.
Real-world work
Everyone leaves with finished, released music they can build a portfolio on.
Community
Mentors from the industry and partnerships with NYC schools.
Support La Bodega BX
Put a kid in the studio
Donations, cohort sponsorships and gear help more Bronx students make their first record. La Bodega BX is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.