Kansas State School for the Blind Launches Music Recording and Production Studio Offering Students Access to New Opportunities and Vocational Skills
Kansas City, KS, April 07, 2008 --(
PR.com)-- A partnership with community members provides new opportunities for persons with visual impairment through music education and hands-on recording engineering and production education.
On Monday April 7th, students at the Kansas State school for the Blind (KSSB) will celebrate the installation of a recording and production studio. Thanks to the Boss/Roland Corporation and a dedicated community volunteer, a brand new 12 track portable CD studio has been donated to help launch a recording studio program for students with visual impairments.
Community volunteer and Sprint Manager Kelly Myers is passionate about music - and she's passionate about the student's at the Kansas State School for the Blind. The high unemployment rate for the visually impaired and the naturally-occuring connection to audio capabilities drove Kelly to work on developing a new program that includes installing a recording studio right on the campus. Leading the effort with Della Molloy, KSSB music therapist and community volunteer, Curtis Harris (Jazz Hall of Fame Inductee - Latin Percussonist - Isaac Hayes) the program will offer a music recording and engineering production studio with integrated and multi-purpose educational features. Myers and Molloy provide hands on recording and music production, performance and engineering expertise, community and media outreach. Curtis teaches percussion, back up harmonies and song structure.
The new, groundbreaking program will integrate deeper levels of music and audio production education with the hope of providing new career opportunities to those who suffer from vision loss. "As far as we can tell, this is the only focused year-round music program for the blind like it in the country." This is an extremely talented pool of individuals, said Kelly Myers, President of the KC Blind All-Stars Foundation and Music & Production Studio founder. The student's learn valuable social, musical, recording, and engineering education necessary for new vocational opportunities. The student's are writing and recording their own original songs for their benefit CD that will be available this summer from the KC Blind All-Stars Web site (www.kcblindallstars.com). There are hopes of acquiring a big-name to step in and help support the project through the donation of a song to the CD or a mentoring opportunity. Two of the students have already been invited to perform at the Gem Theater June 7th in the famous Kansas City 18th and Vine District where Charlie Parker played. The program team hopes to gain support from the local business community and local radio and TV stations to support employment and internship positions for those student’s interested in a communications, advertising, writing, producing, performing, engineering and on-air talent careers.
“Our partnership with the Kansas State School for the Blind represents a significant focus on music recording and production education that I hope will lead to new employment opportunities,” says Kelly Myers, Board President Kansas City Blind All Stars Foundation. “With the unemployment rate in the visually impaired community at staggering levels (70-80%), new ways of educating and employing the visually impaired are top priority. Through the power of music, technology and the right talent this project will impact students for many years to come.”
About the Kansas City Blind All Stars Foundation:
Where They're Going: Future Solutions Now
Living in an ever-changing society has brought many new challenges to people living with visual impairments (VI) including a seventy percent unemployment rate among the VI community. The Kansas City Blind All Stars Foundation (KCBAS), located on the Kansas State School for the Blind campus has been established with new programs to vigorously combat these obstacles. The music recording and production studio project will serve as a cornerstone program through providing new vocational opportunities.
Photo Opportunity:
Monday April 7th, 2008
Kansas State School for the Blind – Music Lab
1100 State Avenue
Kansas City, KS
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Media Contacts:
Kelly Myers
President
Kansas City Blind All Stars Foundation
816-309-4249
MyeIsleProductions@yahoo.com
