Playing it Forward

Hampden Academy’s Music Industry Class

Students in Pat Michaud’s music industry class at Hampden Academy have created a CD. The class teaches students how to operate audio, work in a music studio, and produce a CD.

We know that this curriculum is not so unusual, but this learning opportunity turned into something larger. Students decided to plan a concert to perform the music that they wrote and included on the CD they created. The proceeds from the selling of the CD has become a way to help out others. At the concert they sold the CD to raise money for the former workers of the Verso Mill workers in Bucksport.

Senior Daniel Rice said: “I think it’s just a great feeling because I get to do what I love and to be able to donate the money it also a great thing.”

And, Mr. Michaud adds, “The nice thing about this is what they’re going to hear mostly tomorrow is all original material. These are all compositions the student have written themselves.”

The students have raised $1000 and there are a few CD’s still available to purchase for $8 by contacting Pat at pmichaud@rsu22.us. And, you can learn more at http://wabi.tv/2015/01/14/talented-young-hampden-musicians-play-it-forward/.

This is not the first time that this type of project has been done at Hampden Academy. You can read about their other projects at the following links.  This is the third collaboration we’ve done. We will sell those for $1 a piece.  Folks can contact me through e-mail me at Hampden Academy pmichaud@rsu22.us

The first time they undertook the project the following was published in the Bangor Daily News
http://bangordailynews.com/2010/12/16/living/hampden-academy-students-get-trained-in-music-industry/?ref=search

An article was published in the Feb. 2011 edition of the Maine Music Educator’s Bulletin. The article is called “Playing it Forward at Hampden Academy” on Pages 26-28 at http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1r1yx/MMEABulletinFebruary/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffree.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F288695%2FMMEA-Bulletin-February-2011–Technology-Issue