The Juke Box Hero of old has given way to Rock Band, and the modern day Guitar Hero. We all just wanna be big rockstars (and live in hilltop houses, driving fifteen cars!*) But the opportunity to create and perform original music remains a privilege for the talented, hard-working, or otherwise lucky, right?
Not if you’re a PFO teen!
Now, don’t get me wrong. The Playing for Others teens are wildly talented and extremely hard-working. They also emanate a passion for both the arts and their organization that is unmatched by the luck of any Hollywood hopeful. And they understand (and are committed to) something that is innate to music… the power we all have to change lives, moment by moment.
In the 2010 Music Experience, we will focus on exploring and interpreting the teens’ experiences with their buddies and fellow PFO teens, their reflections upon their personal growth challenges, and the moments they’ve made strong choices to enhance the acceptance of others. With the guidance of professional songwriters, we will craft original music to perform at the culminating Music Experience concert at The McGlohon Theatre on March 13th.
The PFO Music Experience will break down as follows:
Week 1 – Songwriting. We’ll explore ideas, through focused free writing, journaling, brainstorming and collaborating to uncover possible themes, melodies and metaphors. Professional musicians will share their experiences and favorite songwriting tools. By the end of Week 1, we will have written lyrics and melodies for our PFO theme songs.
Week 2 – Development. We’ll flesh out our ideas, settle on song arrangements and choose instrumentation. We’ll begin to make decisions about the sound and style of performance for each song. Professional musicians will help guide our planning, by teaching us about various song styles and arrangements. By the end of Week 2, we will have our PFO theme songs crafted.
Week 3 – Rehearsal time! With the help of professional musicians, we will rehearse our brand new, original PFO theme songs. We’ll explore performance techniques, including connecting with the audience, listening, and playing with others (pun intended). By the end of Week 3, all Music Experience teens will have a role in the performance or implementation of our PFO theme songs.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the Music Experience! I look forward to creating with you.
Allison Modafferi
playingforothers.allisonm@gmail.com
*thanks to Nickelback for those clever lyrics!