The Deep Roots Music Project

Helping Young Writers Bridge the Gap Between Possible and Impossible Since 1998

Teen Writers and Local Musicians Team to Create Three New CDs in 2008

Reynolds and Roosevelt Carry On Strong,
Girls Inc. Joins In

In 1998, a teacher and his students came up with the idea to write their own lyrics, and then recruited professional musicians to help them make their own CDs. The young writers and the teacher had no experience in such matters, yet they were determined to achieve their goal step-by-step. Through lyrics and  music, they found inspiration. Former Deep Roots student lyricist Raishawn Kairuz explains it like this, "The project not only gave us a forum to say things that we felt needed to be heard, but also made us feel we had things to say that were worth listening to."

Now, The Deep Roots Music Project is working with teen writers at three locations in the Portland area.

Madgesdiq visits with students at Roosevelt

In addition to the established programs at Reynolds and Roosevelt High Schools, Deep Roots proudly welcomes  Girls, Inc. of Northwest Oregon as a new participant in Deep Roots. Together, Deep Roots and Girls Inc. helped a group of talented teen girls and an all-female cast of professional musicians produce Deep Roots' first ever all-female CD. Special thanks to Dr. Martens for sponsoring this year's Girls Inc. program.

A musically diverse representation of community-minded local musicians, including long-time friends of the program such as Madgesdiq, Liv Warfield, Stephanie Schneiderman, Ray Frazier, Michael Jodell, Breanna Paletta and others have joined in an effort with Portland teen writers to create these collaborative CDs.

With the professionals' guidance, students write the lyrics,  visit recording studios, organize community concerts, create cover art, and engage in all the basic steps necessary to produce an original music CD.

Participants Travel from Near and Far to Take Part In Summer Workshop

A few weeks ago, in July, we hosted the first annual Deep Roots Music Project workshop and conference at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. The goals of the weeklong workshop were to provide interested educators and social workers from throughout the country with the specific skills and knowledge they'll need in order to establish new Deep Roots sites in their communities.  We also worked to develop strategies to help make the Deep Roots program even better for students and more sustainable for schools and social institutions.

Educators from Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., and California joined program founder Chris Gragg, and also Portland musicians Sattie Clark, John Henry Bourke, Dave Fleschner, and Madgesdiq, for an intense week of writing, examining song lyrics, and recording music.

The other particiapnts were; Tara Julian (Boston, MA), Dina Varsalone (Boston, MA), Chris Stroffolino (Oakland, CA), Richard Brown (Roosevelt H.S. -Portland, OR), Shannon MCCarl (Reynolds High School - Portland, OR), Nann Alleman (Scapoose H.S. - Oregon), Chuck Laiti (Tigard H.S. - Oregon), Catherine Malinis (Girls Inc. - Portland, OR), Jill Silk (Girls Inc. - Portland, OR), Shyree Mezick (a former Deep Roots student participant who now lives in Washington, D.C.), and Anna York (Franklin H.S. - Portland, OR).

By staying in close correspondence and organizing monthly meetings in Portland, the workshop participants continue to  share Deep Roots with young writers.

Are you interested in becoming a Deep Roots teacher? If yes, click here.

Deep Roots Releases 10-Year Anthology CD
A collection of great songs, photos, and student testimonials taken from a decade of collaborative creativity

For over ten years, teen writers and Portland area musician-volunteers have teamed up to write and record original songs for their annual music CDs. To mark our 10-year anniversary, The Deep Roots Music Project has released an anthology CD. Deep Roots: Music Project Anthology 1998-2007 contains 12 great songs, and at least one song from each year of the program's existence. In addition to the twelve songs, the anthology is packaged with an elaborate sixteen-page booklet that is filled with photographs, lyrics, cover artwork, student testimonials, and other choice bits of Deep Roots history.

Among the volunteer artists represented on Deep Roots: Music Project Anthology are good friends Madgesdiq, Rubberneck, Luther Russell, Breanna Paletta, Mike Coykendall, Geoff Byrd, John Henry Bourke, Ezra Holbrook, Amelia, Sideproject, Andy Tabb, and Dr. Theopolis,

All revenue from the anthology CD's sale is used to ensure that The Deep Roots Music Project stays strong and viable, and continues to inspire young writers. To purchase on-line at CD Baby, click here

Support young writers and buy your Deep Roots CD now at CDBaby.com

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