December 2010

End of the Year at Devereux Cleo Wallace

by Aaron

This week marked the completion of our first full term at Devereux Cleo Wallace.  Each student completed their final assignments, and they received credit toward their High School diplomas.  The students were required to demonstrate an proficiency in the following areas:

  • Song Arrangement
  • Sample Editing
  • MIDI
  • Recording
  • Mixing/Mastering

Once each student finished their final assignments, we compiled them into a class album.  Everyone was given three copies in time to send them home for Christmas if they liked: check it out.

Devereux Class Album - Fall 2010

Devereux Class Album - Fall 2010

(click to listen to the students' music)

In retrospect, we had an excellent year full of surprises that taught us a lot about what is possible when people combine their efforts for a single purpose.  We have a lot to look forward to in 2011, with the budding partnership with Flobots.org emerging as we speak, and a new term at Devereux begins in the beginning of January.  We want to thank Devereux Cleo Wallace for their support, partnership, and for honoring Youth On Record at their holiday party.

Devereux Awards

A Great and Busy Day

Escuela Tlatelolco

by Nate

Today we finished our initial involvement in the mural projects at Escuela Tlatelolco. Check out last year's video of the mural project! Our objective for the day was to get each student to record the lyrics they wanted to contribute to the poem (which is the inspiration for the mural), and then record the words they had chosen to read from the previous semester's class. All the students participated with enthusiasm, even though much of what they said,, and read, was very personal. The courage with which many of the students shared these experiences and observations was commendable, and lent a very special touch to the overall sincerity of the project. We informed the students of basic microphone and recording processes, all of which they implemented. Thank you for opening your home to us and we look forward to working with you in the future.

Chad

I then rushed to Deverux Cleo Wallace to attend a graduation, of which one of our students was a participant and another performed, and to record another student who was working on his final project, playing both guitar and bass. It was a lot of fun, and it was really something to see all one-hundred of the students in the same place, caring for, and supporting, each other. One realizes quickly, working with these students who haven't had the same access to resources that others have, how special and important each accomplishment is, not only to them personally, but to all of us who live in their community. These students have challenges that many of us will never understand. Let us not forget that, and let us celebrate each of their accomplishments with a happy heart and renewed enthusiasm for what the future can be when we remain vigilant and supportive of one another.

Open House at Kepner Middle School

Kepner Middle School

by Nate

The open house, hosted by  Angelina of the YESS Institute, a mentoring program in the greater Denver area, was a bunch of fun. We debuted the video and music that we had done with the students at Kepner Middle School, the previous week, and performed a song for the students. We had thought that, because we had asked the students to participate in something that may have been out of their comfort zone, it would be a nice gesture if we did something out of ours. It was rather well received, but notice that there is no video posted of it here;) Food was provided, as well as entertainment by Melissa Ivey and Chris Guillot (of flobots.org and Cherry Sound Studios). The food, the music, the video, and the company was all great. Thanks so much for the wonderful experience Kepner! Hope to see you in the new year!

On Track(s)!!

Devereux Cleo Wallace

by Nate

It was another great day with this group. There was much to do with a lot on the line (see previous Deverux post) and the students were up to the challenge for sure. Three of the students broke new ground with their their newest projects, incorporating many of the skills that they ave learned up to this point. Its really all coming together!

Three of the students also recorded short interviews to be used for the feature that Hot 107.1 FM is doing on Youth On Record (and will air next Sunday). These student's music will be featured during the program. Krystal, the daytime DJ at Hot 107.1 FM, was able to score us a radio shout out from Mix Master Mike, of the Invisible Skratch Picklz and the Beastie Boys, that will air the same day as the feature! Krystal, you are the best and thanks for going to bat for us!

Another Adventure!!

Monday

Devereux Cleo Wallace

by Nate

I rolled into class on my motorcycle with one minute to spare. I began the class at Devereux Cleo Wallace, in northwest Denver and then rushed to Kepner Middle School, off Federal and Kentucky, to teach with Cody and Robbie. It was imperative that the students knew the importance of their final project, at Devereux, for their song was not only going to be graded, be on the Christmas album that was going to be distributed to the staff at Cleo, along to family and friends, possibly going to be played on the Everyday Show with DJ Ripm on Channel 2 , but most importantly, was the final showcase of the skills that they had developed over the past six months. These kids are awesome and I wanted to make sure that they knew that we had all the confidence in the world in them!!! We are trying to arrange for them to record their final song, a collaboration between all the students and Cody, at Dub Media in the Highlands District of North Denver. We hope it can be arranged.

Justin - Everything

Oh yeah!!! Catch three of the student's songs and interviews on Hot 107.1 FM, next Sunday morning, as part of a feature the station is doing on Youth On Record. I will post the times as soon as I get them. Shout outs to Krystal, the DJ at Hot 107.1 FM, who is simply the coolest person we have met in the business, and Josh Estrada, DJ Ripm, who has always supported what we do by volunteering his time in the classroom and continuing to advocate on our behalf. You guys are the best!!

Dylan - Untitled

 

Kepner Middle School

At Kepner, all the classes of the previous week were combined into one final class. Our intention was to get each student to record at least two lines of lyrics that were to be added to the songs which they had helped arrange last week, and finally to record the video for the open house on Wednesday. This was a tall feat and we only had one hour!


The kids came through. There were about fifteen students in the class and they killed it. If they were shy, they got over it for the most part, and we all had a great time recording, scratching on the turntables, and shooting video all over school grounds. By the end we were most satisfied because all of us pulled together to do something special. We will post the student's music and video later today! See you at the open house.