AFP Arts Education Program  had a great summer this year and we look forward to the start of the new school year! The summer music program wrapped up with a great session that included recording a new song, learning more about the recording and mixing process, and vocal instruction. As I mentioned in my last post, each participant was asked to choose a song to work on learning to sing. The selections were very interesting and varied, and we had a lot of fun working them out. AFP is also excited to explore the possibility of partnering with City Kids on some future projects and programs, which could open up some new possibilities.

In this summer’s last session of the AFP music program, we recorded “The Cut”, a new song by the band newly formed by the kids, called Static Vision. We set up all of the instruments in the music classroom at Humanities Prep, using tables as gobos to separate the sound sources a little bit. We mic’ed all of the drums and amplifiers, and recorded live together, a technique that is employed less and less these days in the age of overdubbing and “in the box” production. It was a great opportunity for the band to seek to achieve excellence as a group, and to focus on listening to each other, while performing with energy and accuracy. It’s a tall order, but it brought out the best in everyone, and we got a few near perfect takes, which we will be editing and mixing in sessions that will be held during the coming school year. As intense as the recording process was, everyone was eager to call an end to the recording part of the session in time to continue our vocal work. Each person came prepared to sing part of a song in front of the group, and to hear some criticism and suggestions. Ray Moreta chose “Jumper”, by Third Eye Blind, Alex Gonzales, “Blue Sunday” by The Doors, Jason McFarlane picked the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”, and Gabriel Ogbennaya selected MC6’s version of the 50’s doo-wop classic “Runaround Sue”. Everyone was supportive of one another, and received the criticism eagerly and with maturity, which really impressed me. I gave everyone suggestions on how to breathe, on tone production, and on how to pick out the notes of a melody on the piano in order to cement the pitches in ones mind’s ear.

I’m looking forward to meeting up with Frank Jackson to make another visit City Kids at their new facility in downtown Manhattan. I met with acting ED Fred Begley last week, and it looks like there may be some great opportunities for City Kids and AFP to partner on some events and programs there, and throughout the city. We’re looking forward to designing some new offerings for the coming year, so please contact me if you have any suggestions or have a curriculum in mind to teach. Thanks, and enjoy the last few days of summer!