The LBC is in the House!

When it come to recording music at school, the LEADERS Beats Center (LBC) is the place to be. The LBC is a combination of a writing lab and a production studio. It was organized by teachers and is run by students with the ultimate goal of creating music. Thanks to previous  Music Teacher Mr. Greg Flattery, students have the equipment and knowledge to write and record their own music.

LEADERS (Learning Education Advancement Development and Employment Readiness Skills) is the after school program that helps students develop their academics, talents, responsibility, and character. The LBC is a great addition to what LEADERS has to offer students.

With the help of Mr. Leroy Fullwood (Dean of Students) and Mr. Ken Klatkiewicz--aka Mr. K.-- (head basketball coach/guidance counselor), the LEADERS Beats Center has all the assistance that it needs. Mr. K. helped establish this program, he said, because, "It’s no secret teenagers love music and not a day goes by I don’t hear them saying their own raps or singing someone else’s lyrics. So why not use the studio in conjunction with the classroom to help grow their creativity?"  The reason Mr. Fullwood helped establish this program, he said is because, "It was something I was into, I’m a music fan and it brought me back to when I used to rap." These two supporters are the reason the LBC is alive and active. When asked, "What made you want to promote the LEADERS Beat Center?" Mr. K replied, "I was speaking with [English Teacher] Ms. [Lauren] Brown, and she wished students were more excited about writing." Mr. Fullwood said, "I saw it as a creative outlet that is also entertaining." 

Giving the students a chance to record their own music is something that has never been done before at Messmer, and the students appreciate the adult pioneers for their time and effort. According to Alexius Heard, (studio producer assistant/artist) "The LEADERS beats center is a place where students can show their musical potential." She feels it takes "...hard work, dedication and mad skills" to become a MC.

JaVaughn Harris (studio producer/artist) said, "The LEADERS Beats Center is a program where our school can record our musical talents for free." JaVaughn has a big part in the LBC--he has the experience, the lyrics, and the skills to show our school’s rappers how to record professional music.

A world without music is like a world without water; it is needed in different ways. Martin Luther once said, "Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." The LBC will leave its mark on Messmer High School because of the hard work, dedication, and talent that the participants and advisors put into it. If you have music that you would like to record for people to hear, join the LEADERS Beats Center!

--Contributed by senior Treveon Howard