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, when they first came up with the idea to write their own lyrics and make their own CDs, it's unlikely that any of the Reynolds High School seniors in Chris Gragg's English class expected their class project to kick off a 10-year, 229-song run. But here we are, a decade later, and The Deep Roots Music Project continues to thrive and grow.

Madgesdiq visits with students at Roosevelt

This year, three programs in the Portland area are working on Deep Roots CDs.  All three new CDs will be released in May 2008.

In addition to the established programs at Reynolds and Roosevelt High Schools, Deep Roots is proud to announce the arrival of a new Portland site. The Deep Roots Music Project is teaming with Portland non-profit Girls, Inc. of Northwest Oregon to help a group of talented teen girls, and an all-female cast of professional musicians, to produce Deep Roots' first ever all-girl CD. Special thanks to Dr. Martens for sponsoring this year's Girls Inc. program.

A talented array 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.

Please see our calendar to find out more about our 2008 concerts and public fund-raising events.

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 will continue to work together to share Deep Roots with young people throughout America.

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 run. In addition to the twelve songs, the anthology is packaged with an elaborate sixteen-page booklet filled with photographs, lyrics, cover artwork, 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

Upcoming Events

Thursday, May 8:
Reynolds CD Release Party
(6 - 9:30) at Reynolds H.S. MPR
Monday, May 12:
Roosevelt CD Release Party
(5:30-8:30) at Roosevelt H.S. Cafeteria
Thursday, May 22:
Girls Inc. CD Release Concert at Portland Convention Center

Please help support the program and buy your Deep Roots CD now at CDBaby.com

For the latest on
"All Things Deep Roots"
click here and go directly to the Deep Roots Blog on Myspace.com

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