Author Archive
MRC Members to Perform on Downtown Mall for September Peace Concert!
Posted by: | CommentsMRC members have been asked for the third year in a row to perform on the Downtown Mall for the September 11 Peace Concert.
The concert is September 11 in front of the fountain on the Downtown Mall next to The Paramount Theatre. The MRC has been given an hour long slot from 4pm-5pm. Stay tuned for what bands or acts will grace the stage in honor of Peace.
MRC Does Radio With UVA Upward Bound!
Posted by: | CommentsSummer 2009 was the first time MRC partnered with the UVA Upward Bound teen program. The partnership lasted for four weeks and consisted of two two-hour sessions a week. Upward Bound selected 13 students to attend our collaboration summer camp.
The students were involoved with a number of “crash course” training sessions. They were schooled in digital music production, digital recording, audio engineering, recording techniques, audio editing and even drumming. After the crash courses the group used their new skills to produce an hour long radio program. I was impressed with how quickly they picked up all the skills and were able to complete the four week project with little helped needed from myself or other staff.
Upward Bound’s involvement with MRC was a complete joy. Each student brought a positive and eager personality to the sessions. They were so eager, in fact, that the majority came to the center even on days when they did not have class just to hang out and use what they had learned. Some utilized the dance room, others the project studios and the rehearsal spaces, while others sat in on recording sessions.
My hat goes off to UVA’s Upward Bound program and coordinator Maurice Walker for nurturing such intelligent and creative young minds. We look forward to having them back next year.
MRC Partners with Central VA Burn Camp
Posted by: | CommentsThe summer months here at MRC have been full and eventful. This summer we expanded our outreach programs to a number of new and unique youth organization. Although all our interactions with all youth in the community are special I would like to highlight a few of the standout experiences of this summer.
The Central Virginia Burn Camp is located in on beautiful and expansive Camp Holiday Trails ground at the far south end of Fontaine Avenue. Camp Holiday Trails hosts a variety of different camps during the summer. The VA Burn Camp is unique in that it is a camp solely for youth who have been victims of traumatizing burns. A representative of the camp contacted me and asked if there was any way we could host a program for their kids on site. Of course I said yes. It was a no brainer. The challenge, however, was to find an activity that could a) be easily transported and set up on a camp ground and b) could include a number of kids that had varying degrees of disabilities due to their conditions.
After much discussion we decided that a beginners guitar workshop would be the best way to go. When the time came, Cory and I loaded up the back of my car with as many acoustic guitars as we could fit. We managed (by the grace of Swedish engineering) to fit more than ten guitars in the trunk on my Volvo. We took off not quite knowing what to expect. When we arrived we escorted to the camp chow hall where six kids were eagerly awaiting our arrival. One young lady even brought her own guitar. We quickly unloaded our instruments, began introductions, cracked a few jokes to clear any tension and newness out of the air, and proceeded with the workshop.
After talking about the different parts on a guitar and showing the kids how to properly hold one we started in on teaching them a basic blues riff. The overall vibe was relaxed in the room. And although a few of the kids had third degree burn scars across their hands and arms that kept them from easily depressing the guitar strings or plucking out notes, they worked patiently and diligently. Eventually even the ones who lacked fingers strength and dexterity due to their burns were plucking away furiously trying hard to learn the pattern for the blues riff.
The workshop was scheduled to last for only one hour but Cory and I stayed for over two hours working with the group. Even a few of the camp staff joined in and had their first experience playing a guitar. No one really wanted the experience to end. I sure didn’t. It was such a happy and rewarding time. We discussed modern music, joked about life in general. The kids in the group had come from all over the east coast and Virginia. Each had a unique perspective on music. Some had never touched a music instrument in their lives. I guarantee that they wouldn’t hesitate to pick up a guitar again. I look forward to next summer and work with The Central Virginia Burn Camp again and hopefully putting together a multi-day program. I’m sure the kids won’t mind a little extra music in their lives.
