Creativity In The Classroom

Student songs showcased at FREE STYLE concert at LA's Ford Amphitheatre

In the Spring of 2008 more than 1,000 students from 23 Los Angeles Unified School District high and middle schools took part in Reprise Theatre Company's Lyric Writing Program sponsored, in part, by The ASCAP Foundation. The goal was to teach students how to express themselves through songwriting, with an emphasis on the students' own stories and experiences. Each classroom participated in two workshops over a two-week period with each student completing his or her own lyrics.

Fifteen students were selected to collaborate with prominent ASCAP songwriters and composers to set their words to music. Among the songwriters involved were Stephen Bray, Titus Burgess, Desmond Child, Marvin Etzioni, Lewis Flinn, Rick Garcia, Jay Gruska, Eve Nelson, Lindy Robbins, Michael Skloff, Georgia Stitt, Shane Swayney, Eric Whitacre and Barrett Yeretsian.

On July 11th, the fifteen songs were presented in an exciting public concert called FREE STYLE at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. In addition to hearing their lyrics performed on stage by outstanding artists, the students participated in a workshop, led by ASCAP Foundation President Marilyn Bergman, to learn about copyright issues. They were also given ASCAP membership applications to start them on their way towards possible songwriting careers.

The hopes, dreams and fears of the lyric-writing students were reflected in the pieces that they created. For many, seeing and hearing their stories come to life musically, was a life-changing experience.

The program was conceived by Reprise Artistic Director Jason Alexander and ASCAP's Michael A. Kerker.