the P.A. for various school events. We discuss different types of microphones and the proper venues for each type. The major portion of the class is our “Play it Forward” CD project. We formed a partnership with An-
drew Clifford of Main Street Music Studios and Green Tank Productions in Bangor, ME (
http://mainstreetmusicstudios.com/news/category/featured-news/). Andrew’s involvement in this project was integral to the success of the event. He provided training for myself and the students on ProTools, and he also welcomed the class coming into his studio, where he gave the students instruction about the basics of capturing sound. Through Bob James’s inspiration, we designed to produce a CD, entitled H.A. Play it Forward, that
features original works of Hampden Academy student musicians. Students auditioned for the Music Tech- nology class, and the class chose seven groups/soloists to be on the CD. Andrew graciously allowed the students do the recording at his studio. The students and I scheduled one hour studio recording sessions per artist and a two hour session for the one band consisting of five musicians. The artists were very efficient and completed their track in the alloted time. Each team of students attended their designated recording session, and they learned more elements of recording, such as microphone placement, direct-line recording, and other skills such as record scratching utilized for our rap artist. As we began the process of recording the CD, students choose the specialized project team on
which they would work: recording technology, publicity, artwork or video production. These teams allowed students to experience the various facets of the music industry. During class time students learned the ba- sics of Pro Tools software and later demonstrated their skills through an assessment on capturing sounds utilizing our African Drum Ensemble made up of class members.
As the CD release event approached, each class member assumed a responsibility for the event. The entire class performed a “media blitz” which included making posters for the event, calling local media, and creating a web page and a Facebook account. Students coordinated a well executed publicity cam- paign including daily announcements in school, advertisements on the local access TV channel and local radio stations, a large banner over the main road in the center of Hampden, and a feature article in the Ban- gor Daily News (
http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/Living/Hampden-Academy-students-get-trained-in-music-industry,16 1679). Other duties for the event in- volved refreshments, P.A./ stage/chair set -up, and CD sales. Students in the class made sweets and our Beginning Foods teacher, Valerie Maurais, helped by having her class in make refresh- ments, which were delicious! We also partnered with our Key Club who col- lected money at the door. For the event, the admission was $6 or $5 if one brought a canned good. We also sold CD’s for $6.99. After expenses, all proceeds, including the donated canned goods, went to local charities.
Budget The major costs for this class were the Pro Tools software and an external hard drive, (we already
had several condenser microphones for recording), recording time/class instruction at the studio, and CD duplication. Andrew was very accommodating and gave us a tremendous discount for studio time, and we utilized one of his partners at Main Street Music Studios, Brad O’ Brien, for CD duplication. Our school budget funds paid for the purchase of Pro Tools and for recording fees. The CD release event needed to raise the funds for CD duplication, which we accomplished. Local businesses have agreed to sell copies of the CD, and proceeds from continuing CD sales will go to local charities. We also have two more fundraising
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