Recording Studio
In the last two years, more than 50 teens laid down tracks and beats in the NRC's recording studio. They came prepared to sing, rap, or speak original songs and stories. The NRC's Young Writer's Recording Studio program helps middle and high school students express themselves through music and words. The NRC's "Young Writers" are improving their literacy skills, finding an outlet for their creativity and developing a reservoir of positive experiences to draw on as their self-image continues to take shape. Writing takes the form of hip-hop lyrics, music, poetry and short stories.
Thanks to funding from the Richmond Police Department in 2005, the NRC built a recording studio to support the Young Writers program. Two consecutive grants from the Memorial Foundation for Children provided staff, recording equipment, microphones and other supplies to make a professional grade studio out of what was once the men's locker room! The next phase of the studio project will be to host poetry slams and open mic performance nights.
The Young Writers meet once a week (see schedule) to write, make beats, mix their songs, and listen to each other's creations. Youth who have been coming since the studio opening are able to use all the studio equipment and are fluent in Pro-Tools recording software.
To use the studio, participants must sign a contract agreeing to participate in at least four writing sessions and produce a finished piece of writing; i.e., typed on the computer with no spelling errors. Sixteen kids are featured on the NRC's first studio sampler CD.
To join the Young Writer's group, learn more about the studio or volunteer your time, contact the NRC by email or at 864-5797.