Parkland: A Season for Giving 2008

$1,300 - 2008 CD Sets Record!!

2009-01-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

All sales have been accounted for and it's now official: our CD raised $1,300 for our charity, making this year's effort our most profitable of the three year's we've run the project. The business office is cutting the check and we'll be sending the check to CHILDREN OF FALLEN SOLDIERS RELIEF FUND any day now.

Katie Stahl Hears from Nashville Producer!

2009-01-11T18:57:00.000-08:00

A few weeks before the break I sent an mp3 of Katie Stahl's track, "Christmas Is So Much More," to Nashville area producer Jim Danecker. Jim plays keyboards for Christian contemporary recording artist Michael W. Smith and runs his own studio, The Whine Cellar. I brought Jim up to Parkland to do a workshop with our students a few years back and he was gracious enough to agree to check out Katie's music. As it turns out, HE LOVED IT! In fact, Jim, Katie, and I spent an hour on the phone with Jim discussing the possibilities for the future of this song. Katie is waiting to hear back from Jim with options for professionally producing it down there so it can have a life after our CD. Jim also encouraged Katie to keep writing and shared with her some great insights on the way the music industry works.

Way to go, Katie! We'll keep you posted on what happens :)

Make That....$1250!

2009-01-11T18:54:00.000-08:00

It seems I spoke too soon in my last post when I predicted the money this year's CD had raised. WE DID EVEN BETTER! After accounting for our last sales deposit before the break and some over-the-break sales, it now looks like we'll be sending a check for $1,250 to the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. I'm very proud of all my students efforts on this year's project - both musically and in all the extra-musical chores that producing a CD entails.

Way to go!

$800 for a Great Cause

2008-12-24T14:17:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas eve and our official sales period has ended. To date, we've earned approximately $800 for the charity "Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund" -- WAY TO GO! For those of you who wanted to buy the CD but still haven't, we do have more CDs and we hope you'll still consider buying one (or more) in the following ways:

1. CDs are on sale right now via AMP Recording (click the link on the right sidebar). AMP will mail your CD for a very reasonable fee.
2. The entire CD, or individual tracks, can be downloaded from the iTunes Music Store right now.
3. If you are a student at Parkland High School - or know one - CDs can be purchased directly from Dr. Watson (or anyone in the Music Production class) at PHS in Room A120.

We'll be sending a check to CFSRF early in the New Year. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas. Peace and Joy in the New Year.

Regards, Dr. Watson

"Season for Giving" Now Available at the iTunes Store

2008-12-20T21:12:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas our CD, "Parkland: A Season for Giving (2008)," is up and available for download at the Apple iTunes Store. If you'd like to download tracks, the entire album, or just want to check it out, visit the iTunes store and search for "Parkland."

FYI, the music was submitted about five weeks ago to the iTunes store through a service called Tunecore.com. For a small fee, Tunecore helps with the details of establishing an independent label, getting track files in the correct format, and submitting them to the iTunes store. Then, it takes weeks for Apple to review all submissions to be sure they meet the specifications.

BTW, our label is called "Music 4Good" and reminds us that we use our talents to make a positive contribution to the world in which we live.

Taking It to the Streets!

2008-12-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

One of our assistant producers, Rich, came up with a great idea to extend sales of the CD beyond the concerts and in-school opportunities that are winding down. In between cracking us up with his signature faux sincere wit :) Rich suggested that each class member take some CDs into his/her own sphere of influence (home, work, friends) to find customers that otherwise might not buy the CD. A great suggestion and we look forward to this helping finish strong.

Thanks to everyone in the class that gave up an evening, or two, or three to set up a sales table at one of the district's winter/holiday concerts. It all adds up and I appreciate your dedication to the project you started over a month ago.

We're "In the Black"!

2008-12-10T20:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight at the Parkland High School Winter Concert, featuring Concert and Symphonic Bands and 9th/10th Grade Chorus, sales of the CD exceeded our "overhead" costs (for duplication) and inched into a small profit (exactly $18, I think).

That means everything we sell from here on out will be profit...and that means money we can send to our charity, the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund.

Special props to Dan and Chris from the class, who spoke to the Senior Citizens Dinner before the concert and staffed our sales table all night. They've turned out for several other events and are working hard to make this year's project a success. Thanks!

***PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS about this CD. In about a week and a half it'll all be over.

CD Released!

2008-12-06T03:40:00.000-08:00

This past week marked lots of activity releated to the official release of our CD! On Wednesday (12/3) we introduced the CD to the Parkland school community at a special a.m. Coffee House at Parkland High School. In addition to students, several adminsitrators, faculty, parents, and other special guests joined us as we played tracks from the CD - and featured a few live performances. Also Wed., 2nd period, we hosted a "media launch" in the PHS Music Tech Lab. Representatives from Service Electric TV and the Parkland Press came out to report on what we've created. Sales have started coming in via our school district employee order form, Coffee House sales, and sales at several district holiday concerts during the week.

We're almost at the "break even" point from the overhead cost of duplicating our original run of 550 CDs, and hopefully during the next week of sales we'll begin to turn a profit for our charity.

Keep spreading the word about "Parkland: A Season for Giving"!

Christmas Is So Much More!

2008-11-28T16:43:00.000-08:00

Well, it's "Black Friday" and there's probably no better day than today to reflect on the meaning of Katie Stahl's song, "Christmas Is So Much More." In addition to Katie's fine music and a strong performance by vocalist Britanny Linn, the song's lyrics convey a great message that Christmas is so much more than gifts, decorations, and all the rest of the stressed-out routine that many Americans accept with the holidays. One of my favorite lines in Katie's lyric says it all: "A gift from the heart is worth a thousand from the store."
Katie's lyrics challenge us to remember that Christmas is about love and sacrifice. Which ties in perfectly with the charity we're trying to help with sales of our CD, CHILDREN OF FALLEN SOLDIERS RELIEF FUND.
Maybe that's why "Christmas Is So Much More" is in the lead with votes in the poll on our blog (see lower right)!

Online Sales Are Up and Running

2008-11-25T19:21:00.000-08:00

For the first time this year, the "Parkland: A Season for Giving" CD may be purchased online. To order your CD and have it shipped directly to you in just a few days, please visit our partner AMP Recording. Now it is possible for those wishing to support our music and our charity, but who are not in the Parkland community, to easily get our holiday CD. Tell your family and friends!

Important Things to Do

2008-11-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

After creating songs, producing tracks, generating artwork and liner notes, and duplicating the product, we now have hundreds of CDs to market and sell. I KNOW we can do this (and possibly more) if we apply the same drive and determination I saw when creating the music.

TWO important LAUNCH EVENTS are planned for Wed., Dec. 3: FIRST, at 7:00 a.m. in the Parkland High School Auditorium Lobby we'll be hosting our Coffee House CD Release Party. The CD officially goes on sale and we hope to hear either live or recorded performances of tracks while friends enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, etc. from the Performing Arts Club. Later, during 2nd PERIOD, we'll be hosting a MEDIA LAUNCH in the Music Tech Lab (A120). This will be an opportunity for media to come and see what, where and how the class has created the CD. We can share the software and hardware we use, show project files, discuss the charity, and more.

Our First Shipment of CDs Have Arrived!

2008-11-20T15:21:00.000-08:00

I just received a delivery from our duplicator with the first 200 of our CDs. They will be sending our CD order in installments, leading up to our CD Launch Party at the a.m. Coffee House (Lobby of Parkland High School, 7:00 a.m., Dec. 3). They look and sound great. Now we can get "the product" out to our two local shops (White's Christmas Chalet and Young's Music Store) so they can get them on the shelf (or counter?) before Thanksgiving.

Get the CD at WHITE'S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM!

2008-11-18T20:44:00.000-08:00

This just in....the "Parkland: A Season for Giving 2008" CD will be available for sale at WHITE'S CHRISTMAS CHALET! WHITE'S has trees, wreaths, horse drawn wagon rides, a snack bar, trains....and a beautiful gift shop that will carry our holiday CD! When you visit WHITE'S to pick up your Christmas Tree, purchased a few CD's as gifts or stocking stuffers! Many thanks to White's owners (and Parkland residents), Brian and Jackie Bucks. White's Christmas Chalet, 3045 High Hill Rd., Slatington, PA 18080, 610-767-0177, www.whitechristmaschalet.com.

We're on Facebook!

2008-11-16T20:43:00.000-08:00

The first step towards our Holiday CD going "viral" has been taken! One of our CD contributors has started a Facebook group called, "Parkland: A Season for Giving 2008." If you're on Facebook, consider joining to show your support. MySpace anyone?

Get the Word Out!

2008-11-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

Our holiday CD for charity, "Parkland: A Season for Giving 2008," is in duplication...we should have the CDs by the end of next week. The last few class periods were dedicated to brainstorming ideas for selling as many copies of the CD as possible so we can help the charity (Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund) as much as possible. As the class develops sales outlets and opportunities, please help us get the word out about this unique CD. Keep your eyes on this blog for news about the project.

Master in the Can!

2008-11-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

Today we wrapped up all creative chores related to tracks for the CD! All tracks were burned on a "master CD" and FedEx'ed to the duplicator after school. There are some awesome selections on this year's CD. As always, most students wish they had more time to continue to refine and polish. Many in the class have learned a valuable lesson about the amount of time, care, and planning it takes to develop a track from inception to completion. Now - as we wait for our AMP Recording of Maple Shade, NJ to duplicate our CD - our project moves into the marketing, PR, and sales stage.

A Worthy Cause

2008-11-02T05:24:00.000-08:00

This year, students in the Music Production class have chosen Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund to receive the proceeds from the sale of the "PARKLAND: A Season for Giving" CD. Please visit their website to read all about this worthy charity which provides scholarship and other aid to children whose parents have given their life fighting in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Blog for 2008 "Season for Giving" CD Project

2008-11-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

This is the blog for Parkland High School's "Season for Giving 2008" charity CD project. The Music Production class has been working hard on some very creative, attractive tracks. I'm very pleased with their work and anxious to share it with the Parkland school/community and beyond!