Here’s an article in Austin Chronicle about this nonprofit we worked with recently.
(http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/music/2012-05-11/attendance-records/)
Attendance Records
BY ZOE CORDES SELBIN, 3:55PM, FRI. MAY. 11
Having heard about her high school program Attendance Records, I’ve been anxious to talk with Jenna Carrens. This semester, she worked with a class at Anderson High on all aspects of producing and releasing an album. From lyric writing exercises to screen printing lessons, these students’ efforts culminate May 17 with an CD release at Mohawk.
“I started Attendance Records because of the budget cuts at schools,” explains Carrens. “Arts programs are always the first to go. I’ve worked with non-profit organizations for years, so I have a lot of experience with programs like this.
“I come to the school and teach this totally free class with [high school teacher] Matt Earhart. I designed the entire curriculum. Kids do everything, even make album art, and we do a lot of creative writing.”
The program is run entirely on donations, which are taken through Austin Creative Alliance, so the Mohawk CD release will double as a fundraiser. While kids did the bulk of the work, they enlisted the help of professional musicians to actually write the music. Local bands Mother Falcon and the Sour Notes led workshops with the kids.
The performance may be a party, but the work isn’t done yet. All the students will be at the show, and each will have a specific job. The venue will have several stations with student-led workshops for attendees. One station will have a creative writing workshop, while another houses a record player for on-the-spot song reviews. The kids not at stations will be selling merch and taking photos, and some will even be getting up onstage themselves. There’s also students screen-printing shirts on site. If you bring your own t-shirt, you can get it printed for free!
It may all seem like fun and games, but the program teaches valuable lessons about the music industry and beyond. Kids learn the nuts and bolts of DIY artistry, while also getting lessons about the intersection of creativity and responsibility.
“Most of the kids I worked with will be the first in their families to go to college,” points out Carrens. “Students didn’t have to have prior experience to be involved in the class. Everyone is included if they’re interested in being a part of the program.”
While Carrens can only teach one class a semester, she’s got dreams of expanding the program to as many schools as she can in AISD. With fundraising efforts like the Mohawk show, she’ll be able to reach more kids.
“I’m really excited for the show,” she says. “For the kids, hearing the album, hearing their work come to life, it was a magical moment. Hearing the bands play the songs live will be the final touch.”
The Attendance Records benefit/CD release party features Mother Falcon, P-Tek, the Sour Notes, Lizzie Buckley, Guns of Navarone, Matt Hines of the Eastern Sea, Whiskey Shivers, Shakey Graves, and Hello Caller. For more information, visit the Facebook event.
