Visit with Rafe Esquith and his 5th grade students – June 10, 2010
Rafe and his students are amazing and inspiring. I am fortunate to spend an entire day with them beginning at 6:30 AM (this is when their day usually starts although school doesn’t begin until 8:00AM) through their after school Shakespeare rehearsal to their evening performance of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors.
I arrive and students are already there, putting away equipment from the previous evening’s Shakepeare performance. Rafe pauses our conversation as each student arrives, greets the student, and comments on something she/he had done well in show the night before. The atmosphere of the classroom is relaxed, comfortable, and inviting. His students call him Rafe and his teaching style is conversational. Rafe masterfully finds teachable moments numerous times throughout the day – connecting something that was said or done that day to something the students are studying, have studied, or have experienced in their lives. He knows each student and her/his family life. Rafe asks wonderful questions and leads students to think analytically and sequentially. He is not flustered by interruptions and, in fact, interrupts himself. Rafe always lets students know what to expect and what will happen next, helping them to think ahead. I am not treated as a stranger. I’m included in the Algebra lesson, the reading of to kill a Mockingbird, the discussion of a twilight zone episode about a trumpet player, and everything they do. I honestly feel more considerate, kind, and aware of others just by spending the day with them.
The production of Shakepseare’s A Comedy of Errors is invigorating. Rafe introduce the audience (only 30 people will fit) to each other before the show:
- Rafe’s book agent, Bonnie
- Kay, who works for a wealthy benefactor and has been to 15 years of shows
- Family members of the cast (family members only get to see one of the shows during the 3 week run)
- Brother of of the lead in the show. He had been Hamlet a few years before and comes on Saturdays to tutor Rafe’s current students. (Yes, current and former students work with Rafe every Saturday)
- the music teacher from the school
- a Music teacher for Cary, NC
Every student knows every line of the play because they all come to every rehearsal and learn patience as they wait their turn and delayed gratification as they work every day after school for a year on the production. Rafe and students select music to go along with the play and a former student (Now DMA in music) scores the music for the students. They all read music and many play more than one instrument. Students take turns playing keyboard, electric guitar, bass, drums, singing, and playing various other instruments. The music varies from Purcell to Stevie Wonder to the Beatles. There is also tap dancing (by a choreographer who worked on Broadway), sign language, and professional lighting and video (with the same light board used for the Academy Awards). The timing and understanding of the lines is impeccable and the acting is enthralling.
Rafe is humble, thoughtful, and opinionated. He truly teaches his students to work hard and be nice (their motto) better than anyone I have have ever seen or heard about. He signs copies of his 3 books for me to take back to my colleagues at Cary Academy. It is probably the best day I have ever spent in a classroom.
Visit with Disney Composer Carl Cedar – June 14, 2010
Carl has worked at Disney for over 2o years, writing music used in the theme parks. Before coming to Disney he was the music supervisor for the TV series, “Knight Rider” in the 1980’s. Knight Rider Theme Song.
We discussed the differenes between movie music that is underscore or a featured song. A featured song is written first and the video is shot and edited to match it. Underscore is music written to go with video aready shot and edited. He recommended an article about composer Michael Giachinno from the New Yorker magazine and mailed me a copy a few weks later. Giachhinno was awarded an Oscar for his score to Disney’s “Up” but is more famous for writing the music to the TV series “Lost”. I will be having my students study the article.
When he came to Disney, Carl brought the concept of using a headphones and a click track to recording sessions. A click track is basically a metronome that each player in the recording session can hear on headphones, in order to sync her/his playing to the video.
Most recently, he produced the soundtrack for the pre-show music to Disney’s new World Of Color water, sound, and light spectacular. He showed me the score and the cue sheet – detailing what happened musically with every second of the show.
Carl was gracious, helpful, and very kind to share his time and expertise with me.
Visit with Disney Audio Engineer David Sutter – June 14, 2010
David allowed me to sit in the soundbooth while he recorded a two hour sountrack workshop session run by a Disney conductor and a middle school band. Each student had a pair of wireless headphones to listen to a click track as the band recorded.
Sweetener tracks are tracks with extra instruments or sound effects that can be added to the group’s recording.
Over-dubbing is playing back a recording of the group throught the headphones and recording a second take. Then, when you add both together, it gives a fuller, richer sound.
We both agree that recording is a great learning tool for students.
Without the music, it is tough to tell the emotion of a movie. It is the music that tells the audience if what they are seeing is happy, sad, suspenseful, etc.
David pateintly answered my many questions as he worked the audio board to record the students.