Day #7 - Working until the end . . .

Day #7 started early as we had to prepared to leave Atlanta.  As stated in our Day #6 post, we went to the movies the night before and the films didn't get out until after midnight.  We got to the house close to 1am and had to pack, clean, etc.

Some of the youth decided to pack and sleep - - while others worked throughout the early hours of the morning so they can get a jump start on the day.  With the onset of fatigue, we pushed the group to gather all their belongings and we were able to leave the house just a little later than planned.  This "delay" almost proved to be our undoing - lol!

As one of our students was travelling on a domestic flight (to Las Vegas), he needed to depart from a separate terminal than the rest of the group (travelling International).

9:40 am - we dropped off the Bermudian bound group to the International terminal and travelling with Jason to the Domestic terminal to drop off Dylan.  Time was ticking away and it did not look as we were going to make it back on time.

9:55 am - Dylan was delivered to his flight and our rentals were returned.

10:00 am - Cut off time for check-in.  We are still on our way back to the International terminal.

10:10 am - We arrive at the International terminal, after getting word from Emma that they were unable to check in via Self-Check In.

10:12 am - We are manually checked in at the counter and are told to run to the gate - E27.

10:20 am - We are all through security and heading to the gate.

10:25 am - Everyone is at the gate and we have enough time to grab some McDonald's for the plane ride home.

We arrived on the island without any more problems and we passed through Customs as a group.  It was an amazing trip with a group of marvellous artists.  A special thank you to our sponsors:

Flanagan's Irish Pub & Restaurant

International Plastic Surgery

Lt. Col David Burch, JP

DAP 2012 - - WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Day #6 - Praise, Pointers, and Progress

Day #6 started with the group travelling to Fellowship of Love Church in Fayetteville, GA.  We were blessed with the sounds of Higher Standard, as well as the word from Pastor BaSean Jackson - it was a wonderful service.

After church, we travelled to Davenstar Media Group to sit and chat with Video Director/Producer, Chet A. Brewster.  Chet has directed numerous productions such as "The Queens of Comedy," "The Kings of Comedy Tour", and 9 Tyler Perry Stage Play DVDs.  We were blessed to have the opportunity to sit with him and ask questions about the business.  He shared his insight and provided a quick tour of his facility.

Here are some pictures from our time with Chet:

After this meeting, we were whisked away to an impromptu interview with Studio Steffanie at her studio.  Steffanie Haggins is the founder and CEO of StudioSteffanie Modeling & Entertainment Agency.  StudioSteffanie is consistently busy hosting TV programs, golf tournaments, political events, and various other corporate sponsored events throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.  We were blessed to have her conducted an in depth interview with the team which will be broadcasted on TV One soon - keep an eye out for it!  Thanks again to sister Toni D for organising the interview and to Studio Steffanie - your time and energy was greatly appreciated!

Studio Steffanie

We then raced over to Camp Creek to do some quick shopping - which ended up being a good hour of "quick" shopping - lol!  We travelled over to Orange Room Studio where we had a final session with John Beal.  He congratulated the team on their accomplishment and provided a final copy of their track.  I believe this was the first time the group had heard the full song!!  The song is amazing and our team was very proud!  As we started to leave the studio, some emotions ran high and tears started to fall.  As usual, this started a flood of tears from others and they all supported each other to cope with our leaving.  After they gained their composure, we left the studio to go to dinner - - this time, we chose Olive Garden.

We arrived at the Olive Garden, but had decided that we were going to the movies after, thus the food was a bit rushed.  In fact, I am not sure if anyone was even able to eat their food!?  Jason joined us at dinner and provided his thoughts and love to all the students.  He expressed his appreciation for their hard work and encouraged them to always reach beyond their limits - - which started more tears.  We were able to say a quick good-bye to Jason (who was going to arrive at the airport tomorrow morning) and then we arrived at the theatre to see "The Amazing SpiderMan" and "Ted".  The movies ended just after midnight - - we said our good-byes to Toni (who was our running liaison for the week) - - and went back to the house to clean, pack and sleep.

Here are a few pics from our "good byes" with Jason:

Our final day will be posted soon!

Day #5 (Part 2) - A little Higher Standard with some Juke Joint

After our adventure on Stone Mountain, we ventured to Fayetteville, GA to watch Jason at work with his amazing Praise Team, Higher Standard (HS), in their weekly rehearsal.  They were preparing a few selections for Sunday's worship experience at Fellowship of Love Church.  After introductions to the members of HS, Jason got right to work, taking the team through their paces, highlighting points and tips for our young artists.  He put Jahroy on drums to keep the pace, Dylan and Chiante were asked to watch Bro Dell Phillips (Minister of Music) on keys, and he had Delijah assist with the Alto part in one song.  They got to see how Jason conducts his team, allowing them to mess up, but pushing them past their own limits.  It was a good lesson for our group.

Here are a few video clips from our time with Higher Standard:

After a bite of lunch, (Subway, any one? - lol), we went back to Orange Room Studios to relax and review the track.  When we arrived, we were greeted by Guitarist Kyle Williams.  Kyle has performed with numerous artists in the Atlanta area and is a regular key player for Open Mics at Apache and Creative Live events.  Here is a clip of Kyle introducing himself to the group:

Kyle provided some excellent guitar tips for Emma as well as vocal tips for our singers.  We were unable to record his vocal performance for our group, but he was amazing!!  He jammed a little with Dylan and Emma (see video clip above) before we left to prepare for the evening's event - Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint - - the John Beal Collective!

After everyone was prepared and ready to go, we ventured out in the weather to Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint in the heart of Atlanta to see the John Beal Collective perform.  The jazz band consists of John Beal on keys, Kyle Williams on guitar, Tommy Why on Bass guitar, with guest artists on drums, vocals, and horns (these members change based on availability, etc.).  We were seated and were treated to an amazing performance by the band.  We watched them perform some wonderful songs including "Ribbon in the Sky" with Kyle floating on his sweet falsetto - it was a truly fantastic performance!

We were feeling our wounds as we had started our day quite early (4:45 am) to be exact, so we decided to leave after the first set and return to the house to get some much needed rest.  Our final full day would start at 8:30 am as we prepared for worship at FOLC.

Day #5 (Part 1) - Top of the Mountain

Day #5 started bright and early at 5:30 AM.  We ventured out of the house at 6:00 am to drive to Stone Mountain for a 7am Conditioning session with Grace Willis-Johnson.  Grace is our personal physical trainer, with several degrees in the fitness arena.  Her task was to motivate our group to complete the walking trail to the top of Stone Mountain, GA as a group.  With only a little prodding and encouragement, the group made their way to the top of the mountain - together and safe.  They truly felt accomplished - not only for completing the trail, but also in regards to their efforts with their song.  It took all of their collective, creative efforts to get it done - - both of which they should be proud.

Here are some pics and video clips from their climb "UP" the mountain:

Here's some pics and video clips from the walk "DOWN" the mountain (lol):

Day #5 continues . . .

Day #4 - J's Birthday & an Evening of Funk

Day #4 started before Day #3 ended - as we were still jamming with the Original P as the day began.  We were blessed to have them join us when we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jahroy who turned 16!!  We finally ended the fun and returned to the house just before 4am, which left only about 4 hours before the day officially would begin.

We officially started the day with our final Conditioning and Movement session with Brittany Steele.  The session turned into an impromptu discussion about the audition process, dealing with rejection, and other industry tips.  Brittany really enjoyed working with our students and inspired them to follow their dreams and wished them success in their careers.

We finally had gotten to a point where we had some downtime in our schedule, thus we travelled to do a little shopping.  We spent a few hours in Cumberland Mall, then stopped in Sam Ash - a music supply store.  Even though some of us were upset that we had to leave (namely Emma, Dylan & Chiante), we needed a few hours to rest and relax before the evening's festivities.

As we ventured out to Centennial Park for the National Black Arts Festival concert, the heavens opened up and poured out more rain than Hurricane Hugo!  Once we arrived, the men (Dylan, Jahroy and myself) were asked to plunge ourselves into the weather to enquire if the concert was still going on.  After a few tense moments and a brief run-in with a over-worked security guard, we were able to get to Ms. Rose of the Original P to confirm that the concert was still on - just starting a few hours later.  This allowed us to grab a bite to eat at the CNN headquarters building right next door.

After getting our food, we raced back to the park to take our position at the front of the stage.  The concert featured some amazing performances by Kindred & the Family Soul, tributes to James Brown, Go-go King Chuck Brown, and fabulous Nu Soul songstress Leela James, who ripped up the stage!

The night was capped off with an earth shattering performance by the Original P, performing some of their greatest hits including "Flashlight", "Tear the Roof off the Sucka" and "Atomic Dog."  The "amazing" turned into "epic" when the band invited the ladies of DAP 2012 onto the stage to dance with them during "Atomic Dog"!   After the show, we went backstage and spoke with the band, congratulating them on their performance.  It was an amazing night that I believe the students will always remember and cherish!

Here are some highlights from the Centennial Park concert:

Here are a few pictures as well:

Our night ended fairly early (just after midnight - lol) as we needed the extra sleep to prepare for our adventure at Stone Mountain in the morning!!  Day #5 coming soon!!

 

Day #3 - There's a Whole lot of Funk Going Round!

Day #3 continued with a quick dinner of take out - healthy and non-healthy - and back to the studio to record.  We had special surprise guests visit us at the studio - members of the Original P!!  The members had an upcoming performance in the Atlanta area and, by chance, met up with John Beal.  He discussed our amazing students and invited them to the studio - Viola!

Skyn Tyte, K Star and Ms Rose provided valuable insight into the music industry, including a bit of history regarding Blues Legend Bo Diddley.  They listened to the track and hung out with the students until the wee hours in the morning.  Additionally, the students were invited to see Parliament Funkadelic  perform the next night and hang out backstage - Epic!!

Additionally, when our guests listened to the track, they were so impressed with the work, K Star requested to perform a lead guitar line on the track!  He did it one take - truly amazing performance!!

Here's some video clips from our evening with the funk!!:

This was a night that our students will never forget!!

Day #3 - Hard Work & Surprise Guests

Day 3 started with our Conditioning and Movement with Brittany Steele.  She continued working on strengthening the core of our students with exercises and tips for their overall fitness.  She added some choreography fitted for Broadway, to the excitement of Emma and Delijah.  Here are a few photos taken from conditioning:

After lunch, we got back into the studio and continued working on the song.  Emma had a surprise visit from Tommy Why, Atlanta area based Bass Guitarist.  He sat down with Emma and shared a few points:

Dylan also had some one on one time with Jazz Pianist, John Beal.  Outside of being the owner of Orange Room Studio, John has performed with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Angie Stone and others.  Here's a clip of John and Dylan during their session:

Day #3 part two - - uploading soon!!

Day #2 - Inspiration and Desire

Our day began with our first session of Conditioning and Movement/Dance with Ms. Brittany Steele.  Brittany is an accomplished dancer/choreographer who has a passion for perfecting performance by first perfecting the mind & body.  She wasted no time in whipping our young artists into shape:

Brittany highlighted the importance of fitness as a performer by having the students sing/perform while working out - - it proved to be a valuable lesson!  She had them work as a team - reaching for that goal as a cohesive group:

After lunch, the group went back to the studio to work on their song.  During their session, they were visited by a young recording artist - Issa.  A rising Hip Hop artist, Issa was the youngest performer to sign with Jive Records at the age of 16.  Currently signed to a deal with RCA, Issa has performed and recorded with the likes of Jacob Latimore, Soulja Boy, and many other amazing hip hop artists:

He sat down with the student artists and provided his insight, as a young artist himself, into the music industry.  We were very grateful that he was able to come and share with the group!

Here are some video highlights from the conversation with Issa:

The day ended with our students busy working in the studio producing their amazing track!  The 3rd day looked promising, but no one would be ready for what was in store!!  Stay tuned for Day #3 - - you will have to see the video to believe it!!

Day #1 - The Work Begins

Our day started bright and early as we ventured to Orange Room Studios for our first session with Jason - Song Writing and Musical Composition.  Jason explained the concept of song structure and discussed the "modern" song construct.  He got the team to analyse a current hit to further identify the song structure to assist them in their creation.  After throwing ideas around the room, the team decided how their song would be formed.

In that same session, Jason proved to be one for surprises - - - here is a clip of Jason putting Jahroy on the spot with an impromptu lyrical verse:

The students also met Mr. John Beal - Jazz pianist, producer and owner of Orange Room Studio.  He provided insight into the process of recording, studio etiquette, and more. Below is a clip of team entering the studio for the first time (note Chinyere's reaction - lol):

After a quick lunch break, the student had a visitor show up - -  ASCAP Songwriter/Producer  Marqueze Ethridge. "Queze" wrote arguably TLC's biggest hit, "Wateralls", which went on to win a Grammy. He has worked with numerous well known artists and producers including Outkast, Ludacris, Xscape and  Cee Lo Green among others.  He shared some insight to our students as they began the process of writing:

After that inspiration, the team got to work on creating their masterpiece:

  They worked into the late hours - the day finished at a wonderful 12:30 am!  The day starts tomorrow with an early 9:00 am exit for conditioning.  Stay tuned for Day #2!!

DAP 2012 is in Fully Swing!!

DAP 2012 has started!!!  We had a wonderful flight over to Atlanta via Delta Airlines without any trouble or issues.  The time waiting on the tarmac was used getting to know one another with stories of likes, music, and such.  Once we collected our luggage and obtained our transportation, we headed off to dine together and what better place that T.G.I.Fridays!!

The food was great - the service was good - but the conversation and atmosphere were amazing!!  This definitely set the right tone for the trip.

After dinner, we ventured downtown to meet and discuss our goals and objectives with Master Vocal Coach - Jason "JJ" Sylvain - who provided a breakdown of the week's events and exciting guests.  We were provided with 3 music tracks from which to use to create our collective song - - after much discussion, the track was chosen and we were tasked with created individual ideas for the piece - due of course in the morning.

We finally made our way to the house in order to start working on our ideas and get some needed rest!!

The day starts bright and early tomorrow - - but we are excited at the opportunity and the challenge!

Stay Tuned as we update you everyday with our activities - - video and photos will be posted soon!

PLM