Jim Tavegia
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Classroom music systems
Elk
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Great post, Jim.

Everyone thinks to donate their used computer to a school but rarely thinks audio.

A couple of friends and I have found that approaching the band and choir directors is a good approach. They often need better equipment and usually have at least a basic understanding of how to use it/what to do with it.

Jim Tavegia
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Thanks. One thing I have enjoyed doing this year is recording all the chorus and band performances for both the High School and the Middle School. This has given the students a chance to critique their own performances, something they had never done before. I was amazed at how many (most) had never, ever heard themselves perform.

The new High School Music director, Casey Eubanks, has created an indoor, symphonic band out of the players in the Marching Band. The kids worked hard and won a state competition in the spring. It was great fun for me to carry my recording rig to the band room or to a concert, record it, to help them "hear themselves" and work on getting the proper tone from their instruments and how to "play together" and achieve a cohesive sound.

Its all great fun for me.

Elk
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That would be fun.

My junior high and HS band directors always recorded the concerts, but I don't know how common that was at the time. The results were always sobering for the band.

Jim Tavegia
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Most of us in this side of the hobby would have great fun recording their local school concerts. It would take little more than a $89 M-Audio Audio Buddy 2 channel mic preamp and 2 Behringer 8000 omni mics that are $100 for a pair. The kids started working harder once they heard themselves perform. Who could play a baseball game without BP, and if in a slump not watch some video? Same thing to me.

ChiDave1
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This is a really great thread. Everybody can agree on helping kids who are into any kind of music. I know more rock musicians than audiophiles and can see them helping. Even I've got an audiobuddy for home recording. It's easy for me to imagine lots of tech savvy musicians jumping at the chance to help schools like this. You guys have inspired me to pass on this idea.
In fact, in a couple of hours I'm going to see a friend who helps with Rock for Kids, http://www.rockforkids.org, in Chicago and am going to bring this up.

Elk
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linden518
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I love what you guys are doing for the kids, Jim & ChiDave! Jim, I rue the fact that I didn't have a middle school teacher as cool as you, but I hope my 2 baby daughters meet great teachers like you. It's people like you who sway & influence the kids in the right direction... we all have mentors whom we cannot forget.

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