Archive for MRC News
Daughtry Visits MRC!!
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MRC was honored to have Daughtry band members Brian Craddock and Josh Paul visit our facility and spend time discussing life with one of the most successful rock bands in America. Brian and Paul also took time out of their busy schedule to have a jam session with us and give a few pointers on guitar and bass. Afterwords they signed autographs and posed for photos before getting ready to head to Arlington, Texas where Daughtry was scheduled to perform for the halftime show of the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day. The visit was one for the books. We hope Brian and Josh will visit again. Thanks guys!!
Survey Says: Parents Love MRC!
Posted by: | CommentsA recent parent evaluation done this year shows parents with children involved in the MRC strongly support the program and are happy with how the MRC enriches the lives of their children. Of over 110 parents surveyed 100% responded “true” to the following statements:
1. My child has learned new music skills since attending the MRC.
2. My child has gained self-confidence since attending MRC.
3. I am pleased wiht my child’s behavior since attending MRC.
Parents were also asked to leave comments about the MRC. Here is what they had to say:
“It’s a really great place! Worthy of funding!!”
“I have been extremely pleased with my son’s experience with MRC. It has been a great start for his music career. Thanks to everyone so very much!!”
“This program has been a blessing for my children. I wish I could be of more support. Please keep it going.”
“Being a member of MRC has been nothing but positive. It’s helped my daughter grow as a person in many ways.”
“The MRC in Charlottesville provides an invaluable resource to kids interested in music and to helping families support this interest. It is a safe, drug-free environment where kids can spend time after school…The MRC is providing a safe-haven as well as a music venue for teens! The MRC is helping to educate kids about music and at the same time keep them safe. Thank you!”
“The MRC is a community treasure and we’re lucky to have it.”
“A fantastic resource for young people in our community-MRC does an excellent job.”
“My son lives and breathes MRC. It’s an enormous asset to our community.”
“My son has made great use of your recording facilities with his band. He’s learned a lot. It has been a fantastic experience.”
“I think that the MRC is a great thing for teens. It’s something positive for a child’s future that wants to be a musician or singer when they grow up.”
“Fantastic opportunities made available to these kids from an incredibly supportive, organized staff. Thank you!!”
“My child really benefited from this great program. He is proud to be at MRC.”
Thanks to all the parents for their kind words and all the support.
Read about Rocktober Fest in College Times Online
Posted by: | CommentsRocktober Fest @ Virginia Tech Raises Money For MRC!!
Posted by: | CommentsRöktoberfest presented by Sig Ep, Sigma Chi, and SAE will be held October 17, 2009 at TotS (Top of the Stairs) in Blacksburg, Virginia. The event, spearheaded by Will Jernigan, is a fund raising event to benefit the MRC. Live music will be played all day featuring headlining act Pat McGee Band. Other bands performing are Always Morning, The Shack Band and Sigma Chi’s Band. Doors open at 2:30pm with a BBQ buffet. T-shirts will be sold to help raise money for MRC. There will be an after party sponsored by Redbull. For more information check out the event’s facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=178155315992&ref=mf
The event is a multi-fraternity collaboration. Please visit the websites of the contributing brothers and show support for the cause.
Max Queen and Joseph Genest Create Sound Art with UVA Music Department
Posted by: | CommentsErik DeLuca of the UVA Music Department in conjunction with The Bridge Progressive Art Initiative have selected two MRC members to create a piece of visual sound art that will be showcased at The Bridge Tuesday September 29. Please view the project which was created after a one day workshop. The students used Final Cut and various sound editing software. The goal is to introduce sound as an art form and explore the various ways common sounds can be interpreted by the ear. Enjoy!
First Amendment Writes 2009
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Best-selling author Rita Mae Brown will be among the judges in the fourth annual First Amendment Writes, a poetry and songwriting contest organized by the Music Resource Center and the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, and WNCR 106.1 FM “The Corner.” First Amendment Writes is billed as “a celebration of the creative heights that only can be achieved when artists are free to express themselves on any theme, subject or idea.” In addition to competing for a cash prize of $500, ten finalists in both the songwriting and poetry categories will have the opportunity to meet anbd hear directly from Ms. Brown and the other judges when they read and perform their works at the competition’s closing event November 12 at The Southern (formerly Gravity Lounge). Other judges will be announced in the coming weeks.
Contestants in First Amendment Writes may express any theme in their entries. Contests may enter either the poetry or songwriting contest, but not both, and may submit only one poem or one song. Each song or poem submitted must be the contestant’s original work. The contest is open to poets and songwriters 16 of age and older but applicants under 18 must have parental permission prior to entering. Prior winners of First Amendment Writes are not eligible. Complete contest rules and entry forms can be bound on-line at www.tjcenter.org/writes.
Alternative Education Blog by Damani
Posted by: | CommentsI was asked by Chad Sansing at the Charlottesville Public Charter School to contribute his new website www.classroots.org. I am writing a series of blogs that have to do with what it is to teach children in this crazy new world we live in. I will discuss what I have learned and what I have found most effective during my teaching experiences prior to and during my time at the Music Resource Center.
The website itself is a great tool for educators to learn new tactics and discuss the current state of teaching affairs. Contributions to the website come from a variety of educators from around Virginia. There is a lot of useful information there. Also, I encourage any and all parents to visit the site to better understand how to engage their children in the educational arena, as well as to get a better understanding of current and non-traditional teaching strategies.
Thanks for tuning in.
http://classroots.org/
Youngkillagangsta Sets MRC Recording Record
Posted by: | CommentsAugust 19, 2009 is officially Youngkillagangsta Day at MRC! Yup, thats right. Mark that in your calendar as the day YKG graduated from our esteemed program. Don’t let his name fool you. YKG may be young but he is not a killer or a gangsta. He is one of the funniest people I have ever met. He has more personality in a fingernail than most people have all over…ya dig!
After two years of non-stop commitment to his music, we must say goodbye to a legendary MRC member. YKG graduated from Charlottesville Highschool this spring and finished his eligible time at MRC with a bang…a big bang!
Youngkillagangsta aka Bernard Talburt leaves the MRC with a record 116 songs record in a two year span. That count is not yet official because I am still finding more files in the computer. No other MRC member has had such a prolific output in such a short time. He also leaves the MRC with a music video produced in conjunction with Lighthouse Studios for his song “Steels”. If you want to keep up with “The Killa” you can always peep his YouTube blog. Just type “youngkillagangsta” in the search box.
Good luck, Killa! You have a set a standard for hard work and achievement that you can truly be proud of!
Current and Former MRC Members Make Best of VA Compilation!
Posted by: | CommentsCurrent and Former members of the Music Resource Center were chosen for a central Virginia hiphop mixtape compilation. The mixtape, New Legends of Streetball Vol. II, is being distributed free of charge by Lifeview Films.
The mixtape was created to promote the New Legends of Streetball basketball game September 19 at Monticello Highschool. Over 50 artists submitted music and only 23 songs were chosen.
Of those 23 songs, there are features by 13 current or former MRC members. Va Doe, Lee Bangah, Jae Griff, Anonamys, Scheem, Game Plan, Cheno, Bump Brown, Dino, P Giovanni, YG=YungGunna, Yung Thuggin, and J Willz all make appearances on the mixtape!
Congrats to the MRC members who worked so hard to make and distribute their music. The mixtape will be available free of charge at various outlets all over town. Pick it up and listen to legacy of MRC hiphop!!
Mashup circa 1794
Posted by: | CommentsThere are a ton of great things that I get to see and experience working at MRC: kids going from not being able to hold a guitar correctly to shredding it apart, seeing a band rehearse a new song then watching them perform it on stage, helping a song go from just a riff to a full blown studio production…but this was something new and very cool.
Four years ago I finished recording for a band called The Wave (Willie Denton-Edmunson, Avery Sandridge and Marsh Mahon) called “Dreamers.” Not only was it the Wave’s first CD, it was the first full length recording I had the pleasure to record at the MRC and then be handed a shrink-wrapped copy for my very own. The CD featured 10 songs written entirely by the band, save for the lyrics of one song.
Flash forward to one week ago. I finished recording another CD for the band Midnight Trampoline (Jordan Breeding, Amelie Rives and Eric Lesser) called “For Her.” I just got my hands on the finished copy of 11 songs written entirely by the band, save for the lyrics of one song.
Notice a pattern here?
The one song that contained lyrics not written by the respective groups were both named Tyger, based around the William Blake poem. Not wanting to keep this from our website visitors that I’m sure numbers at least in the teens, I created a mashup of the two songs for your enjoyment 
Make sure to check out both bands by clicking on their names above!
