Burrell graduates who own businesses in the area might be able to get some help with publicity from current students in a new class at Charles A. Huston Middle School.
Teacher Brian Querry is seeking local businesses owned by Burrell grads to help with a project for seventh and eighth grade students in his Audio Recording and Music Production class.
The class, which debuted this year, teaches students various parts of digital sound, such as creating music with loops, basic work with MIDI (Musical Instrumental Digital Interface), using royalty-free audio, recording and more, Querry said.
“I’ve asked Burrell grads who operate local businesses to provide some info that will give students a ‘business profile’ from which to create their recording,” Querry said. “We’re doing radio commercials because this is an audio class, so students will create music and record their own voices for the spot.”
At the end of the project, the business would be able to keep and use the finished audio commercial.
Interested businesses can sign up on a link at Burrell School District’s Facebook page. The deadline is Tuesday.
Querry encourages business owners to meet with students at least once during the project, but that is not a requirement.
The Audio Recording and Music Production class is one of many new courses at the middle school following a transition of Stewart Elementary closing last year.
Huston teachers and administrators this school year shifted traditional “elective” courses such as art, physical education and music to what they are calling “studios” for seventh and eighth grade students, aiming to provide more real-world experiences and career-ready learning.
“The idea for this project came out of two things — giving students a way to apply the foundational work we have done and to give a real-world outcome, which is one of the main goals of the studios,” Querry said.
Querry hopes students understand what they learn in school can have a real-world application.
“By partnering with local businesses, especially ones connected to Burrell, it gives students an authentic audience and a real purpose for what they’re creating,” Querry said. “They’re not just learning how to record audio; they’re learning how to communicate, listen to a client and represent someone else’s business accurately and professionally.”
