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VOX • Fall/Winter 2012–13
ARTS ABO U NDING
The Muse in the Midst
By M arcus G ould ‘15
“Well I don’t know if I’m walking on solid ground Cause everything around me is crumbling down And all I want is for someone to help me” These lyrics, from the song ”I Need A Dollar,” by Aloe Blanc, have been an inspiration to Ramzi Moushabeck ’14 in his recent development as a songwriter. Though he has been playing music for six years, two years ago, Ramzi decided he wanted to write his own songs. This year Ramzi was a student in Dan Pac’s songwriting studio block. In a recent interview about the class, Ramzi said that this Studio Block offering gave him the time to really sit down and work on new songs. He added that Mr. Pac helped him to write lyrics that were actually meaningful to him. In the class, Academy students have the opportunity to work with Pac, an exceptional musician and songwriter, to create songs of their own inspiration. The projects range from simple composition, to assembling chords that sound good, to lyrical projects and songs complete with both lyrics and music. The projects that have come out of the class have been performed at Academy coffee houses, Academy concerts, and even at other venues. Academy students have created some amazing songs and this class has helped them do that.
Various groupings of Women Who Rock singers on stage.
Women Who Rock By Anna C abre ’15
B
fant supplies the idea, and from there the students give some of ased on learning about strong women themselves to the song, creating a lovely mix of planned music and their music, Women Who Rock and passion. Seventh grader Xavi Castro inspires young musicians to pursue their says, “Mr. Chalfant inspires me to do better in my own music. love of music no matter their gender, He makes it easy to do what you love. I love the drums. I’ll ask thus making it one of the most Rock so exciting and successful him if I can play the drums in a popular band blocks. Freshman is that instructor David Chalfant song, and he’ll say sure!’” Natalie Herrick says one of the lets the students, “do what they Women Who Rock allows for things that makes Women Who want with the music.” Mr. Chal- all ages. Freshman Claire DiLeo
says of this balance, “It’s impressive that so many people from so many age groups are able to work together.” Women Who Rock strives to create a community based on passion, not age. Mr. Chalfant encourages everyone to work together in a reflection of the equality that The Academy teaches, reminding us every Thursday that there are no boundaries when it comes to music.