WMVHS Makes the Press

Aspiring Musicians Record and Edit Creations

This article appeared on the front page of the NYC DOE homepage on Monday, March 22, 2010

Could the next big record producer be coming out of Manhattan’s Marta Valle High School?

The Lower East Side school teaches interested students music theory, original composition, audio engineering, and recording techniques. The program started after music director Andrew Rizzo discovered old sound booths in the building and raised nearly $20,000 from private organizations to purchase state-of-the-art recording equipment.

"As a student in the music department, I have learned so many essential skills for making and recording music,” said a senior, Jonathan Cruz. “It’s the coolest experience I've ever had at a school!"

Students create original music tracks using sophisticated audio editing software like Garage Band and Logic Pro. Rizzo said that these activities prepare students for careers in the music industry.

Recently, the students added an internet radio station, WMVHS, to their repertoire.

“The quality of the work and the enthusiasm of the students inspired me to create a larger audience to hear the students' recordings,” explained Rizzo.

Each month, students select a different theme for their podcasts. Tune in online to listen to the students’ work.

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