Students get a Backstage Pass to music production.
Two students from the Urban Assembly Unison School in Clinton Hill in Krhyme Stopperz’s “Heed The Warning” music video
Giovanni Green has taught 12 apprenticeships across Renaissance Academy, Urban Assembly, and Isaac Newton Middle School, finally reaching the “cool” factor that makes students stop to talk to him in the hallways—even if they’re not one of his students. It’s no wonder his Backstage Pass apprenticeship is one of the most popular. Students write the lyrics, lay down the beats, finish an original song, and get to visit a real music studio.
“Heed The Warning” by Krhyme Stopperz
After all the years of Backstage Pass, his classes have produced 25 original songs, including their first, titled “Candy Ice Cream.” During his most prolific apprenticeship, the students created up to eight original songs in one semester, either performing them live at a WOW! Event or filming their own music video.
It’s more than just the joy of creativity that keeps students engaged; Giovanni observed that it’s also “having that outlet. Who knows what that outlet will turn into?” Students have tackled tough, real life topics like gangs, drugs, and diabetes.
Jaden in her element! Click to watch K.W.A. (Kids With Attitude) perform their original song “Changing Times”
He recalls a few students have gotten hooked by the apprenticeship, enough to participate seven times! Jaden was only officially a part of his apprenticeship twice, but came back a record five more times in a row just to contribute, even if she was technically in a different apprenticeship.
Another memorable student, Serenity, from the Renaissance Academy of Arts, Giovanni describes as a “mini-Cardi B.” Serenity is a naturally gifted writer, musically skilled, and contributes to projects of others as well.
When a student thanks him at the end of a field trip to see a real studio, it fuels Giovanni’s motivation to keep going. He said, “You want to laugh, you want to cry, it gives you the bug to keep wanting to do it.”