The first half of the year has flown by and Strings Attached has been busier than ever. This year we expanded our reach to serve over 50 youth in the Ferguson, MO area and over 100 additional 3rd and 4th grade children at New City School in St. Louis with weekly stringed instrument lessons. Children at New City School performed at ” Listen to Your Art Day,” “Music Day” and a special year-end presentation combining music, photos, poetry and dance entitled, “With My Own Two Hands: Making a Difference.
The performance was based on the song by Ben Harper and concluded a year of music study on guitars, ukuleles, banjitar, mandolin while also doing community service projects around the city, photographing and writing poetry about their experiences in “making a difference” in their communities.
Youth in our Ferguson and South Grand locations spent the winter preparing for our third recording studio outing, which was done in April and May of the year at Native Sound Studios in the Cherokee Street Arts District. This album is dedicated to cowboy and frontier music and includes songs such as, “Ragtime Cowboy Joe,” “Along the Navajo Trail,” “Sweet Betsy From Pike,” and Stephen Foster’s, “Hard Times Come Again No More.”
The album will be mixed in June and available in July, 2015.
We are also excited to be the recipients of three days of fan donation support at this year’s “Twangfest” (http://twangfest.com) thanks to folks at “Playing for the Cause.”
“Twangfest” is four days of music at Off Broadway starting June 10th. “Twangfest” is a nonprofit organization working to preserve and promote the unique tradition and culture of Americana music. Big THANK YOU to “Twangfest” and “Playing For The Cause” for their support of Strings Attached project.
We also handed out 9 brand new instruments to hard-working and studious musicians in Strings Attached that they keep as their own: Congrats to: Norah, Joe, Joel, Isaac, Miranda, Alex, Danny, Madison and Estephanie. Great work and enjoy your instruments!
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Strings Attached project / Blog
Strings Attached in 2017
Students are busy learning and practicing new ensemble pieces preparing for a busy 2017 of activities:
Our fourth collection of recordings was produced at Native Sound in the Cherokee Arts District. Strings Attached youth went to work on songs such as Carl Perkins’, “Honey Don’t,” Duane Eddy’s “Rebel Rouser,” Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day,” and more. We enjoyed the atmosphere of Native Sound and learned about how the multi-track recording process works, including discussions on the innovations of Les Paul in this field and the use of another of his inventions, slap back echo. And we started a new initiative to get more ukuleles in the library system by hosting a training workshop for St. Louis County librarians to learn the basics of ukulele so they can teach kids and teens or use the ukulele for storytelling activities. We also kept busy in June putting on vocals and finishing touches of our studio album with students and guest artist musicians including Adam Hoskins & Joey Glynn from “Pokey LaFarge’s Band,” Mat & Rachel Wilson of “The Loot Rock Gang,” Kellie Everett, Doug Foehner and Vince Corkery.
Students also participated in a workshop learning how to use our new Zoom R24 track recorder. They learned the basics of how to operate it, mic placement, mixing and mastering songs recorded in classes by other students. This new aspect of Strings Attached offerings is sponsored by a grant from the Les Paul Foundation. Students are also introduced to a history of multi-tack recording and Les Paul’s contribution to the invention of the process.
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Give StL 2016 to Strings Attached project
We're looking forward to participating in Give StL and reaching out to the community to help Strings Attached raise funds for our loaner and award guitar program. On Tuesday, May 3rd for 24 hours you can donate online to Strings Attached project. Strings Attached provides instruments annually to approximately 200 local youth for home practice, classroom activities and, for outstanding students, to keep as their own. Donate at https://givestlday.org/…/strings-attached-projectst-stephen… or find the link at our website: www.stringsattached.info Please share the link with friends and family on Tuesday, May 3rd. Thanks!
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What happened in 2015?
The first half of the year has flown by and Strings Attached has been busier than ever. This year we expanded our reach to serve over 50 youth in the Ferguson, MO area and over 100 additional 3rd and 4th grade children at New City School in St. Louis with weekly stringed instrument lessons. Children at New City School performed at ” Listen to Your Art Day,” “Music Day” and a special year-end presentation combining music, photos, poetry and dance entitled, “With My Own Two Hands: Making a Difference.
The performance was based on the song by Ben Harper and concluded a year of music study on guitars, ukuleles, banjitar, mandolin while also doing community service projects around the city, photographing and writing poetry about their experiences in “making a difference” in their communities.
Youth in our Ferguson and South Grand locations spent the winter preparing for our third recording studio outing, which was done in April and May of the year at Native Sound Studios in the Cherokee Street Arts District. This album is dedicated to cowboy and frontier music and includes songs such as, “Ragtime Cowboy Joe,” “Along the Navajo Trail,” “Sweet Betsy From Pike,” and Stephen Foster’s, “Hard Times Come Again No More.”
The album will be mixed in June and available in July, 2015.
We are also excited to be the recipients of three days of fan donation support at this year’s “Twangfest” (http://twangfest.com) thanks to folks at “Playing for the Cause.” “Twangfest” is four days of music at Off Broadway starting June 10th. “Twangfest” is a nonprofit organization working to preserve and promote the unique tradition and culture of Americana music. Big THANK YOU to “Twangfest” and “Playing For The Cause” for their support of Strings Attached project.
We also handed out 9 brand new instruments to hard-working and studious musicians in Strings Attached that they keep as their own: Congrats to: Norah, Joe, Joel, Isaac, Miranda, Alex, Danny, Madison and Estephanie. Great work and enjoy your instruments!
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Attention Local Bands!
Strings Attached is very happy to be one of the local non profits to be supported this fall by Playing For the Cause, which matches local bands and performances to benefit our work via Giving in Concert. "Playing For The Cause is currently seeking bands to be a part of our Fall 2014 campaign. Giving In Concert aims to pair 25-50 awesome bands with 12 St. Louis area non-profits in an effort to promote our community's abundant musical talent while simultaneously raising money, and awareness, for a slew of great local causes. If you are, or know someone who is, in a great local St. Louis band who would like to join us in supporting the following organizations, please fill out the form at the link below to learn more about Giving In Concert." For Band sign up to help out and GIVE please go to: https://playingforthecause.org/band-application/ Thanks!
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Back to full schedule
Strings attached is back to full schedule in Ferguson on Friday & Saturday 8/22 & 8/23
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Ferguson Update #2
Classes in Ferguson are available between the hours of 12noon & 5P. Classes after 5PM are suspended due to violence in Ferguson.
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Ferguson Update #1
We will be suspending all Ferguson Strings Attached classes due to civil unrest and violence in the Ferguson area until further notice. Classes will continue in Tower Grove.
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Summer Strums: Extra Credit Music Adventures
Unlike many music study programs, Strings Attached keeps going during the summer. I like to listen to students come in for their lessons with tales of summer travels to other states, camping trips, sleep-overs with friends and family reunions. But I especially like to listen to students who expand on their Strings Attached studies with additional summer music adventures – and to have some of my own. Read more at our blog at www.stringsattached.info Our mission here is to give young people starting tools for music adventures that can last a lifetime, and I’m happy to see it happen with students even during those “lazy days of summer.” Student Sarai, who studies guitar and ukulele with us and attends The Grand Center Arts Academy, where she studies violin, spent part of the summer at Little Stone Music Festival Camp. Littlestone Summer Music Festival is a two week music day camp for young musicians in grades 6-12. Their mission is to provide young people with opportunities to develop confidence and community through creativity and diversity. Their campers and their families originate from all around the globe, including Sudan, Egypt, Laos, Mexico, and also throughout the U.S. It is their hope, that through creativity and performance, campers will leave their camp with a sense of self-confidence and open-mindedness. Music has the power to bring all people together, regardless of culture, or economic means. During the camp, Sarai created music at a songwriting workshop and studied in jazz ensemble. Student Ben continued his roots music interest in early blues, jazz and Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia with his second year of jazz band summer camp at UMSL (University of Missouri St. Louis.) It’s here that he gets a chance to put his improvisation skills to use and those Freddie Green “Fat Chords” that he’s has learned from me in lessons at St. Peters. He also frequently plays at a local coffee shop open mic night, hangs around on Cherokee Street’s music scene and jammed this summer with a visiting Reggae music band that he made contact with at 2720 Cherokee art gallery and performance space. Student Dacia traveled to New York City to sing with The Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall with honors society youth assembled from all over the US and Canada. Dacia created her audition recording here at Strings Attached and rehearsed with me for several weeks prior to the trip on pieces including, “Tshotsholoza,” “Hine Ma Tov, ” and “Until I Found the Lord” The performance was outstanding success! She also got to take in the sights of New York in off times of the intense rehearsal/performance schedule while there: Central Park, a Broadway show and some deli delights – pastrami sandwich and cheesecake .
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The Giving Starts Tonight at Midnight!
On Tuesday, May 6, be part of Give STL Day and make a difference in St. Louis! Give STL Day is a 24-hour giving event with local impact. Donate to the nonprofits working on the causes YOU care about - like Strings Attached project Why give? Our programming depends on support from participants, local business, corporations and foundations. Without giving from all we can't provide opportunities for young to enjoy making music, learn the skills needed to play or have the instruments needed to play and practice at home. We benefit local schools, neighborhood youth, home schooled youth, community after school programs and church groups with youth music programs. Share some of our photos, videos and our website with others - let them know how you, your children and family have benefited from Strings Attached project. Please share http://www.givestlday.org/#npo/strings-attached-project on Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets. Giving starts tonight at 12 midnight and last until 12 midnight on Tuesday, May 6th. Thanks!
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Lots!
Lots has happened for the project – and lots coming up!
We’re happy to report that project student, Dacia has been selected to perform this summer at Carnegie Hall in New York City for her vocal talents with the Honors Performance Series. Dacia was selected from her audition recording made here at Strings Attached and will appear with other Honors students from across the U.S. and Canada. We’re very proud and excited for Dacia and her accomplishment! Gaslight CD recording session 1 018Dacia has been with Strings Attached since our first year. Last year, she performed on “Eternal Songs 2.” You can hear her lovely voice on the song, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.”
Hear Dacia sing “Motherless Child” here:
00:00 00:00 The project will be helping Dacia with expenses for her trip with funding from our “special projects” collections made at student recitals, your CD purchases or from foundation grant funding. You can also help by contributing at Dacia’s Plumfund .
We had a great time at New City School on “Listen to Your Art” day. We met lots of people, encouraged several to learn how to play ukulele with free lessons and performed with Strings Attached student Otis on some blues music for the collected audience. DSC_9142DSC_9206 Photos by Mark Regester
Photos by Mark Regester Photos by Mark Regester
Photos by Mark Regester
DSC_9114We were also joined by slide guitarist, Doug Foehner for our first installment of the series,”Slide!” presentations – bring various slide guitar instrumentalists in for demonstrations of their art form.
Many thanks to Mark Regester Photography for donating images of the day to us.
And to see a short video of our performance that day Click Here to hear Otis play the 12 bar blues!
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