Musicians and industry professionals cultivate and foster student development
GRAMMY.com
Bruce Britt
In the late '80s, a fresh-faced Irish singer/songwriter named Glen Hansard signed his very first recording deal. Around the same time in Los Angeles, The Recording Academy established GRAMMY Career Day, a unique and innovative annual event providing high school students with a realistic overview of the possibilities and opportunities in professional music.
Thursday at the University of Southern California, the paths of Hansard and GRAMMY Career Day officially converged. Following a career spanning 20 years, Hansard has won acclaim for his breakthrough performance as a struggling singer/songwriter in the Oscar-nominated movie Once. Similarly older and wiser, GRAMMY Career Day has been precision-tuned and offers students a candid look into the music business through a series of informative panels and workshops. Presented by the GRAMMY Foundation, in partnership with the Gibson Foundation, Thursday's event hosted 850 kids from Los Angeles schools and featured jaw-dropping performances from the Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles.
Appearing in a workshop demonstrating how music is integrated into film, Hansard effusively sang the praises of GRAMMY Career Day. "I love the idea of this event," the singer said. "If I had been able to attend a day like this when I was a kid, I probably would have made different decisions."
Hansard's sentiments were echoed by a host of esteemed music professionals, experts and panelists taking part in GRAMMY Career Day activities, including GRAMMY nominee Akon, DJ Paul Wall, four-time GRAMMY winners Boyz II Men, Keb' Mo', GRAMMY-winning composer Lamont Dozier, GRAMMY-nominated jazz saxophonist Dave Koz, producers Howard Benson and Mike Clink, and many more. Together they served up more than five hours of straight-shooting advice and helpful information.
Among the highlights of the day's workshops …
Noms and Wins: This up close and personal workshop featured Boyz II Men, Akon and R&B singer/producer Tank discussing their chart-topping successes. Akon explained how desperation can sink a promising career. "Be patient … don't set your goals according to your age," the GRAMMY-nominated singer said. "I don't care how good you think you are, if it's not meant for you at that time, you're not going to get it." Lincoln High School student Geovanni Ortiz, 14, was especially moved by Akon's advice. "I especially liked what he said about being yourself," Ortiz said. "Write what you like, not what everybody else likes."
The Science Of Songwriting: During this workshop, Motown songwriting legend Lamont Dozier and singer/songwriter Manuel Seal discussed the fine points of composing hits. Dozier stressed the importance of surrendering to your instincts. "The music will give you back tenfold if you give it your attention, your heart, and your all."
Texas Sound Exchange: Texas favorites Paul Wall and Jennifer Peña, GRAMMY-nominated gospel group Trin-I-Tee 5:7 and moderator CJ Johnson explained their roles in helping to make the Lone Star State one of the world's most fertile music locales. Wall advised students to humble themselves. "A lot of times when people are coming up in music, they get an ego before they even make it," Wall said. "That's the number one stumbling block I see."
Masterminds: Producers including Harvey Mason Jr. and Damon Thomas of the Underdogs ( Dreamgirls ) and Mike Clink (Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith) discussed the role of the producer in a music world where technology has democratized the process of recording. Producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, Hoobastank, My Chemical Romance) discussed his experience working with kids who botched golden opportunities. "You'd be surprised how few of these kids actually… understand the passion that it takes to be in this [industry]. It's a tough business and you have to be passionate every second."
Once: In one of the most poignant seminars in GRAMMY Career Day history, singer/songwriters Glen Hansard and Markéta Inglová from the Oscar-nominated film Once screened the film for students, then performed live. Afterwards, Hansard surrendered his guitar to the young attendees, including 16-year-old Michael Casteneda and 17-year-old Brittany Carriger, both students from Santa Monica High. The resulting performances made for the sort of spontaneity and creative give-and-take that informs the guiding principles of GRAMMY Career Day.
Top music professionals drawn from members of The Recording Academy and the music industry at large have participated in GRAMMY Career Day since its 1987 inception. In partnership with the Academy's Chapter offices, local universities and school districts, GRAMMY Career Day takes place in cities across the United States and reaches more than 10,000 students annually.
Students will need the sort of head start that GRAMMY Career Day can provide if they hope to survive in a business beset by illegal filesharing and other issues. "The people who are ultimately going to solve the industry's issues may not be in place right now in the business," said GRAMMY-winning producer/songwriter and Recording Academy Chair Jimmy Jam. "Those people may be in the next generation of music makers. We want to cultivate them and make sure they are well-equipped."