MusicLab comes to Floyd, VA The Music Lab represents an innovative model of experiential learning in music technology, artistry, and performance as an extension of the education area schools provide. The program has been active in Roanoke for over 10 years, and has been housed at the Jefferson Center since 2009. January 2013 marked the opening of Music Lab Floyd, a pilot program produced by Jefferson Center, bringing this exciting innovative program to rural communities. The Floyd Music Lab is an after school program that meets at the June Bug Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The facility is outfitted with four audio workstations, two headphone stations and two full mixing stations with studio monitors. The lab is well equipped to make professional high-quality studio recordings. The program seeks to prepare local youth for future education, careers, and interests in the music and entertainment industries. Students are exposed to all genres of music and are encouraged to explore all aspects of music production including songwriting, arranging, recording, live sound, and performance. The pilot program is hosting guests as diverse as a West Virginia State fiddle and banjo champ, a conservatory trained vocal coach, and a grammy nominated recording artist, as well as local players and writers. The program serves area 6th12th graders. We are developing a new model for molding the lives of youth as they grow not only as musicians, engineers, and performers, but as contributing members of our society, knowledgeable consumers, and engaged citizens. It builds respect for diversity and creativity by drawing youth and instructors from a variety of backgrounds and communities. The class meets as a group for the first hour of the day, where director Joe DeJarnette goes over an audio skill utilizing hands on demonstrations. DeJarnette says, “I try to use student 14
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work to demonstrate new ideas and skills whenever possible. At the beginning of the program, we try to get students into recording and playing almost immediately. Then, as their basic skills, knowledge and interests develop, we can then show them the subtleties of how to use the technology to enhance their particular genre or style of music.” The curriculum is designed to grant students increased autonomy as they progress through each phase, so that each student is best accommodated in terms of their musical abilities, interests, and personal development. Whereas one student may prefer to only ever don headphones and make beats, another may want to write and publish songs as well as engineer and produce professional recording sessions. “It’s a great opportunity for any student interested in exploring creativity through sound and music. It is an open-ended program, giving kids an opportunity to get what they want out of a learning experience. We have nice instruments available for use in the lab, so everyone is able to try out new things. We encourage all applicants to have a passion for music, but instrumental expertise is not a prerequisite. In fact, it’s better for workflow when some kids are more focused on production and some kids are focused more on playing and writing.” The Music Lab seeks to provide a learning environment catered to each student’s aspirations. Regardless if a student is highly motivated or is less focused and just wants to hang out, our curriculum will aid in their development both personally and academically. The Music Lab represents a forward-looking response to preparing our youth and community for the changing economy, music business, and emerging digital arts. Jefferson Center’s renowned Music Lab has in just four years expanded the horizons of hundreds of Roanoke-area teenagers. We have developed their interests in music into skills that will lead many
Spring/Summer 2013