Project Location/Destination: In town
Faculty Leaders: Ash Hansberry & Zach Duffy
Dates: Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 17
Cost: $725
Special Considerations:
See below.
Objective
Through starting their own bands, including learning to write, compose, and record original music, students will learn to appreciate all that goes into their favorite music and learn that they can do it too.
Description
Music is for everyone, and this project week is all about digging into our creative sides to live that out. Anyone can start a band and write a song—this project week will show you how! The week will be a great exercise in creativity, collaboration, communication, and more while getting the chance to share in music with others and better understand what goes into your favorite tunes.
Students will start the week learning about how music gets made: from learning basic composition and songwriting to exploring and analyzing music from bands throughout time. Throughout the week, we will talk with music industry professionals and enthusiasts, get out in the city to visit music and recording spaces, and learn techniques for writing music. Students will form bands for the week and collaborate to write, compose, and rehearse an original song. Ultimately, all of our bands will have the chance to record their creations.
No musical experience is required! In fact, we encourage anyone with a love for music but no experience making it to consider this project week as a first foray into what could be your new passion. If you don’t know how to play any instruments, you’ll have the chance to learn some basics on guitar or drums. If you do know how to play, you can use this week to hone your craft or experiment with something new. Once the week ends, you’ll get your own microphone and interface for you to keep up your music recording at home.
Student Requirements and Expectations
Students should be ready to get creative and put themselves out there. No music experience required, but any is welcome. We’ll be learning about playing various instruments, song writing, and recording technology, so curiosity and eagerness to learn is all that’s required. Students will be required to learn and/or try playing several instruments, complete songwriting exercises, and work collaboratively with their classmates to record an original composition by the end of the week. Students will be required to take public transportation and walk to local destinations—CTA cards will be provided.
About the Faculty
Mx. Hansberry is a Computer Science teacher in the Upper School who has led a variety of in-town project weeks. Although the details of the projects have varied, all of their projects have focused on hands-on, cross-disciplinary learning that results in making some cool stuff. This year, Mx. Hansberry is excited to bring their love of music to the project and to challenge students to be creative in new ways. Since childhood, Mx. Hansberry has been a music lover, from dance classes and singing in choir to playing drums and guitar. Outside of school, you can often find Mx. Hansberry front row at their partner’s band’s shows, rehabbing old guitars and amps, or sharing in music with their many music loving friends.
Mr. Duffy is an English teacher in the Upper School who is in his first year at Latin. Mr. Duffy has always had a love for listening to, playing, and talking about music. Mr. Duffy joined his first band the day after his first bass guitar lesson as a sophomore in high school. Since then, he’s taught himself to play guitar, drums, and a tiny bit of keyboard, built two electric guitars, and has done a tiny bit of touring with an indie pop band from Seattle. At home, Mr. Duffy picks up his acoustic guitar for at least a few minutes almost every day, and while he’s hardly a virtuoso, regularly records original songs, and occasionally uploads one or two to Bandcamp.
Special considerations
Supervision during the day - Students might be unsupervised for short periods of time during the course of the day.
Transportation considerations: CTA - Students will take the CTA with faculty.