A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Tiny Baton, Big Stage
A tiny baton, a big stage, and a six-year-old with fearless focus—meet Aleem, the youngest drum major we’ve ever featured. From the first beat, his joy is contagious. We talk about the rhythm of practice at home, the guidance of a committed coach, and how a supportive parent keeps the fun front and center while building real skills. It’s a story about early talent and steady encouragement, but it’s also a roadmap for how a community turns a spark into a sustainable path.
We dig into the details that matter: why stretching and formation make stage confidence possible, how YouTube helps a first grader pick up advanced moves, and what a proper drum major uniform can do for presence and pride. We explore the pull of multiple interests—football, basketball, and band—and how movement, music, and teamwork all feed the same engine of growth. Along the way, we connect the dots between youth leadership, marching band culture, HBCU traditions, and real scholarship opportunities that can change a child’s future. This is about more than a performance; it’s about planting seeds for long-term success.
If you’re in Richmond, Virginia, you can help right now: Aleem needs beginner drum lessons and a uniform in black, white, and gold. For everyone else, sharing his handle—TikTok: Aleem the Dream Six—amplifies his journey and opens doors. Subscribe for more stories that celebrate youth achievement, leave a review to boost visibility, and share this with someone who loves marching bands or mentors young musicians. Your support might be the beat that carries a dream forward.
Welcome to a Better Chance for Youth television show with your host Monique Robinson, where we highlight, celebrate, and recognize students from all over the country who are doing great things in the classroom, community, and athletics. Every student deserves an opportunity. An opportunity for hope in the future. So let's celebrate our students, the next generation of teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and future leaders. Join us on another incredible segment of a Better Chance for Youth show with your host, Monique Robinson.
SPEAKER_10:Hello and welcome to another episode of A Better Chance for Youth Television. I am your wonderful host, Monique Robinson. And I don't know what it is with the younger generation, but they are doing some absolute amazing things. Today we have another marvelous young person. But before we do, I must send this special shout out to the Wiley College admissions team. I don't know if you can fully see it, but they sent me this nice um this nice jersey is really good fabric. And um thank you for supporting our mission here at A Better Chance for Youth as we send kids to college as close as we can to debt-free. But thank you, Tamrika, and your lovely staff at Wiley College, the admissions department. We will continue to support to send kids to your school. Anyway, so let's focus, focus, focus. We do have another guest today that is simply amazing. Now, I love music, um, but I think our next guest loves music a little bit more than I do. I um I'm gonna let you meet him. He is simply amazing. You had to follow him, and he's gonna tell you how you can follow him. He's gonna tell about himself, and I believe he has his mom with him because I'm telling you, this this young person is amazing. So let's bring him on. Hey, Aleem, how are you? Good. I bragged about you so to our guests. So you you know, I said, how old are you? Six. I told him you were older. See, guys, I already messed up. Aleem is six years old, so I'm guessing he's either in the first grade or the second grade. Which grade you're first grade? Oh my god, we have guests that are doing big things, and he's in the first grade. I thought he was uh older than that. Sorry. So Aleem is in the first grade. Aleem, can you tell my audience what exactly you do that is so amazing? The band and what do you do with the band? You the drop, but you only a first grader. How you you you meet everybody on the field? Oh my, and they watch you? Are you scared? That's like thousands of people. I would be scared, but hey, you're you're simply now who taught you how to do all those wonderful things? Your coach. Tell me about that. Now tell me how that process is. How does that work?
SPEAKER_12:How did he teach you? That's it.
SPEAKER_10:Oh wow. So he just teaches you how to perform. You don't you don't have to stretch, you don't have to learn the music.
SPEAKER_13:But I I can lay lay down one f one where my leg legs is is is is backwards. Oh Lord, he makes you stretch. You you you just got like laid down on the floor and and and then pick p and piss put your legs back. Yeah. It don't hurt. It don't hurt. Nope. It don't hurt.
SPEAKER_10:I'm picturing myself do that and I already feel like I'm in pain, so I don't think I can do a drum major. What you think? No, no for me.
unknown:Yeah, you can do it.
SPEAKER_13:Yeah, you can do it.
SPEAKER_10:Oh Lord, but I gotta stretch. I don't know about that. I can read music, but the marching and and all that, that's a lot of work. So why do you like to be a drum major? Is it fun or you like the crowd chair for you? Which which part you like?
SPEAKER_13:The drum major.
SPEAKER_10:You just like being in charge. Well what else do you do? You just what else do you do for fun? Do you just do the drum major and that's it? That's like the only thing you do.
SPEAKER_13:I just do the drum major.
SPEAKER_10:Oh my goodness. That has to how many times a week do you have to go to practice for that?
SPEAKER_13:No, none.
SPEAKER_10:Oh, you a prodigy. You a drum major prodigy. Uh, future HBCU uh drum major here. Y'all better pay attention to him. So look, Aline, I'm going to a commercial break. And when we come back from this commercial break, I want you to be able to tell everybody why being a drum major is so much fun for you. Okay? So after the commercial, you're gonna be ready? All right.
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SPEAKER_10:Welcome back, welcome back. I have my good friend Aleem and his mom with us today. And Aleem is probably the youngest drum major I've ever met. But if you follow him, because see, I you know, you know, Miss Mo likes to watch TikTok and see kids do amazing things. And I ran across this page, and you're gonna probably see it in a preview. You won't see it during this interview, but you gotta watch him uh do his drum major thing. I don't have the energy, but he told me I had to stretch. I don't think Miss Mo is gonna try this one. So, Aline, what do you like the most about being a drum major?
SPEAKER_13:I love having fun.
SPEAKER_10:And oh wow, you like having fun in the music? Is it because you get to be with the older kids? Is that what it is?
SPEAKER_13:Yeah, I'm not no, they they they taller than me.
SPEAKER_10:So they just taller, but you know more music than them. I won't tell your coach what you said, but he might hear it though, okay? Uh oh. Okay. So what is your favorite song out of all the songs that you played? What is the favorite one?
SPEAKER_12:Don't you make it? Yeah, what's your favorite song that you played? That you might.
SPEAKER_10:Oh wow. And I was watching one of your videos and you had to slow walk down and all that. Now, did your coach, was your coach the only one, or you taught yourself some of those nice moves too?
SPEAKER_12:Your coach.
SPEAKER_10:Oh wow. So you you have a combination of a coach and a combination of you just practicing with the YouTube video? Wow. So did you just wake up and say, hey, this is what I want to do, or you seen other people in your family do it and you just start watching.
SPEAKER_11:Oh, okay. He just woke up and started doing it one day.
SPEAKER_10:Wow.
SPEAKER_11:It's been about a couple years now.
SPEAKER_10:Oh my goodness. He does better than well. I'm gonna be quiet because I don't want nobody to be mad at me. But he he does better than some of the um high schoolers and some college band drum majors. You you're gonna give them a run for your the money when you get older. What do you want to be when you grow up?
SPEAKER_13:The band. I don't want to be a a basketball player, a football player, and and a band.
SPEAKER_10:Wow. So what you gonna do if you play football? You gonna run in and change and perform halftime and go back?
SPEAKER_13:I could break uh I gonna break ankles. No.
SPEAKER_11:He liked the tackle. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_13:No, don't no don't they care? Uh we me and Bit Bishop and Happy Catholic was playing soccer. Mm-hmm. And then Bit Bishop broke broke broke my ankles.
SPEAKER_11:No.
SPEAKER_14:Yeah, or they play so rough.
SPEAKER_10:That's boys for you. I think you should stick with band. Band is safer for us. Yeah, band is safer for you. I don't I don't want you to break any ankles, and I don't want anybody to get their ankles broke. But we're gonna stick with band, okay? We can we can we can stretch and lead the band. So, mom, my question for you like, how do you feel seeing your I didn't know you was that young? Oh my god, your six-year-old, uh, lead a band out on the field or anytime he performs. I know you have to be beyond excited.
SPEAKER_11:Yes, I'm very excited. The first time he did it, I was like, Oh my goodness, I think I'm gonna tear up. Um, but it's just really good seeing him do something that he really enjoys. Um, it started a couple years ago where he started watching the band on YouTube, and then he just started picking up the routines. Um, he actually taught himself um majority of everything, and then one day they were just saying that they wanted him to perform. Sit back, bud. Um, and so he went in for one day of practice just to learn the formation. Um, and since then it's just been non-stop for him.
SPEAKER_10:Wow. So, do um, do you have you taught him like how to play instruments, or he just knows how to direct the band at this point?
SPEAKER_11:He just learns how to direct. I mean, he beats around on my pots and pans and the rest of his toys that act like he's playing the drums, but no, hopefully, um, we can get him into drum lessons soon because he really likes the drums.
SPEAKER_10:I can I can see that. Um, I wanted to play the drums because I used to think I was Sheila E, but you know, my mom was like, not in this house. So I end up playing the flutes, and uh my siblings played the violin, and we all played the clarinet, but yeah, they was like no drums in this.
SPEAKER_11:I was in the marching band and I played the flute as well, the flute and piccolo.
SPEAKER_10:Oh wow!
SPEAKER_11:So is that is that where you get his music? Maybe so. My uh my grandfather was into music as well. So awesome, awesome.
SPEAKER_10:Because I'm looking at him and I watch videos, and I encourage you all where can we follow him? Like, if you want to tell people to follow and like and support his mission as a uh drum major.
SPEAKER_11:Um he is uh well, you can find him on TikTok at Aleem the Dream Six. Um, that's the only platform that we're on right now. It's just TikTok. And how did you come up with the Aleem the Dream? His dad did. I was I was like, I gotta get a really nice name for him. And so his name, his dad was like, Well, it's his dream. Let's do Aleem the Dream. And so I did six for his age.
SPEAKER_10:Oh, and see, I should have called on because I'm sitting here like thinking he's he's older, and I know Aleem, this is really hard because you got to sit still and you gotta talk to somebody, and you probably want to go play. So we are gonna let we're gonna give Aleem a little break. Um, I am gonna go to commercial, and when we come back, we are gonna learn about how we can definitely support Aleem in his dream and what what we can do as a community to assist him get some of the materials he may need because uh you guys gotta watch him. He's a very, very good drum major. After this break, we will find out all of the above.
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SPEAKER_10:Welcome back. Welcome back. I am still here with my good friend Aline and his mom. I believe her name is Shantae. I might be wrong because my glasses are decorations sometimes. But welcome back. Now, before we went to break, you were telling us some really important details on how we can support Aline. And uh what are some of the resources or some of the things that uh you feel he needs to be more successful?
SPEAKER_11:Well, um, I know he really wants a uh band uniform. Um, so we've been looking around, trying to find one for him. Um, also, he really wants to take drum lessons, so we're actually looking for somewhere for him to go to do that. So hopefully we can get that done very soon. Okay, and what area are you in? Um, we're located in Richmond, Virginia. Okay.
SPEAKER_10:So uh my friends in Richmond, Virginia, I know I do have some followers that are in that area. If you are in that area and you are watching, or even if you know someone that can support our friend Aleem here, and um he wants drum lessons, so let's make it happen. I know that um I have some really good followers and people who believe in dreams of our young people. Um, also, mom, was it something else other than the drum lessons that you were looking for him to get as well? Uh no, no, just the drum lessons. No, he don't need to, you know, he gotta be stylish when he goes out there. You don't want him to be stylish. You know, okay. Yeah, you got hey, you gotta speak it. You know, sometimes you never know who's watching. You never know. Sometimes we have people that um they watch and they say, Hey, Miss Mo, where did you find that guest at? And you know, we we send information and they send those products to those scholars. Oh, awesome. So Aline, um, you don't want to you don't want a drum major uniform? I did. You do well, you didn't say nothing. Okay, well, what color do you want? Just in case somebody get it for you. What color?
SPEAKER_12:You want it like Hollow Springs? Yeah, Hollow Springs. So what do they wear? Black, white, and gold?
SPEAKER_10:Black, white, and gold? Oh wow, you that means you really gonna be shining when you go out there. Now, if somebody sends you one, you gotta make sure you take a picture for me so we can so we can celebrate together. You promise? Okay, now last time we talked, you promised I could come and visit and watch you perform.
SPEAKER_13:Okay, okay.
SPEAKER_10:He's like, oh no, she's gonna don't be surprised. I have friends in Virginia.
SPEAKER_12:Wait, yeah, she knows a lot of people.
SPEAKER_10:Don't be surprised if I show up. You're gonna be like, oh, she really can't. Right.
SPEAKER_13:Do you know I I do run fast?
SPEAKER_10:I know that's why I said I can't do marching band. You said stretching and running. Oh no, not me. That won't work. But I'll support you though. Okay, thank you. I will support you, and I watch, oh uh oh, somebody's sleeping. Guys, we have to understand he is six years old, and I know um it's probably that time of day for him where he's winding down or want to go play or watch a game, but he is spending time with me on here, and I am super duper excited that he is giving his time of day and his mom because I know this is a lot for her as well, because he has a ton of things that he has to do. So, are you on break from practice right now? Are y'all still marching you around or or what? What's going on with that?
SPEAKER_11:They're practicing, but he's not. I mean, he practices around here in the house. We have enough noise every day.
SPEAKER_10:Oh Lord. So you just your own marching man at home? Mm-hmm. Oh my goodness. I know your siblings.
SPEAKER_11:Do you have siblings? He has a brother that's 15 and he's a twin, so he has a twin brother.
SPEAKER_10:So you're a twin? Do your your twin would be doing the same thing? Nope, he's into football and that's why. Are y'all like identical twins?
SPEAKER_11:No, they're fraternal. Oh, I was gonna say your your older brother plays for Holland Springs.
SPEAKER_10:Awesome.
SPEAKER_11:So yeah, his dad is a coach there.
SPEAKER_10:Awesome sauce. I know. Oh, if you if you or your brother was identical, you probably would switch out one day he'll be drum major and he'll play football. He's like, mm-mm, it's money. Well, mom, before we get out of here, this has been wonderful. And I truly, truly understand he is six. I don't expect him to sit still. I can't sit still, I'm an adult, so I think he's doing wonderful. Um you are you're doing wonderful, and I'm gonna I'm gonna see when you perform, and I'm gonna try to work it out so some of my friends can come to your game or even me. I might pop up in Virginia, you never know. So before we get out of here, mom, can you tell us how we can follow and support and all the things that he needs to be successful?
SPEAKER_11:Um, he's on TikTok on Aleem the Dream Fix. Um, and we he just really wants a uniform, the drum lessons. Um, and so that's what our main focus is.
SPEAKER_10:Awesome sauce. Well, you heard it. Um, we've had a wonderful time with Aleem and his mom today. And Aleem, thank you so much for coming and talking to me. I know you like, ma'am. I'm ready to go practice because you said that's all you do is your drum major. So you practice in the day too. Oh my goodness you're dedicated. We yeah, he told me he told me practice makes perfect. Oh, and you know that it's six. Can I come get you to talk to my teenager? No, I'm just come talk to some of these teenagers I work with. Um but that is amazing.
SPEAKER_13:Thank you for having me. Thank you for having me. Please come come to Virginia. Virginia.
SPEAKER_10:I told you I'm gonna I'm gonna find the day that you got a game and I'm free. I'm coming. Because I I want to see you in this uniform once you get it. Okay. And then by then you probably have drum lessons too. Because what happens is this is this shows um to a lot of places, and a lot of places will be excited because they're gonna say it's a first grader that's a drum major. We gotta get behind him. Have you do you watch college drum majors?
SPEAKER_11:Um, I think he's seen a couple on TikTok.
SPEAKER_10:Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_11:Yeah, not TikTok, I'm sorry, um YouTube.
SPEAKER_10:Yeah, they have big scholarship money for for drum majors.
SPEAKER_13:Uh-oh.
SPEAKER_10:I'll tell you.
SPEAKER_12:What you see, what wait, what wait, what did you say? They give uh big scholarships for drum majors.
SPEAKER_10:Yes, right.
SPEAKER_12:To go to school, yeah. I want the money, yeah. To go to school. He heard the money part.
SPEAKER_10:He didn't hear the school. He said, I want the money. I said, I'm not mad at you, I want the money too. But I am so super duper glad and proud of you that you are brave enough to do that. I sometimes get scared when I speak in front of adults or any audience, but you go out there and I watched you perform, and I'm like, and he's not scared at all, at all. And I'm like, Jesus, he's only six. And here I was thinking you was older. Now I really now really need to work on my um work on my things because you six, and you just go out there with no fear. No, but how do you get ready for that?
SPEAKER_11:He just always ready.
SPEAKER_10:Okay, stay ready so you don't have to get ready. That's what I like. That is awesome, awesome. Well, again, this is Aleem and his wonderful mom, Shantae. I hope I said it right. Yes, um, I mess up names, I do them, sorry. Um, it has been real. Um, another uh wonderful episode. This time we were actually in Virginia with our guests. So I am gonna make my schedule clear. So when Alem comes back and he he'll be in second grade, I guess, next year. He'll be in second grade, and he'll be Aleem the Dream 7. And he's gonna come back by storm. He's gonna have his drum lessons, he's gonna have his uniform, and I'm gonna be there to watch it in action. It has been real um today at a better chance for youth television. Yes, I don't know where we're gonna go next week. This week we're in Virginia, last week we was in San Antonio, but these kids are super amazing, they're doing things I didn't even think of. I was six years old, all I wanted to do is take a nap. But hey, he's out here, he's looking at me like ma'am, you hold me up from practice. But thank you again, sweetheart. I am definitely gonna support you. Like, share, comment, get behind the lean to dream six so we can support him. Thank you. This has been thank you so much for having us. We really do appreciate it. You are welcome, you are welcome. Let me know how I can support you, know how to get in touch with us, and we will definitely, definitely share out all his materials so somebody can help my friend get drum lessons and a uniform. Thank you guys, have a wonderful day. Thank you, you too. Say bye. Bye.
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SPEAKER_00:Thanks for watching a Better Chance for Youth Television show with your host, Monique Robinson. The television show where we highlight incredible students in their quest to change the world. Join us each and every week as we uplift our youth and help them on their journey to the bright future they deserve. So until next time, God bless from your friends on a better chance for youth television show with your host, Monique Robinson.
