Happy On The Ground: 8 Days at Grammy Camp premiered during Grammy week at the Grammy Museum at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles last month. The film is a feature length music documentary that captures the heartwarming personalities and passions of an extraordinary group of 83 talented teenage high school musicians who participated in Grammy Camp, one of the Grammy Foundation®’s Grammy in the Schools® music education programs for high school students and schools. Within eight challenging days, the students meet one another for the first time, collaborate, compose original music, and create a special concert performance. During this special week, the hand-picked group gains invaluable insight from top musicians including Gavin Rossdale, Boyz II Men, Barry Manilow, Dave Koz and Pearl Jam’s Dave Krusen. The film also explores the lack of music education funding in our school system, which is detrimental to the music industry’s future and aspiring musicians. The film demonstrates the fresh-faced passion and determination of the students at Grammy Camp, which creates opportunities to still find hope in the art of music. The camp’s mission is to provide high school students with an interactive residential summer music experience. Focusing on all aspects of commercial music, this unique opportunity provides instruction by industry professionals in an immersive creative environment with cutting-edge technology in professional facilities.
I spoke with Grammy nominated band Quetzal at the premiere. Click on the video link to hear what they had to say about their nominations, music in schools and more.
The East L.A. Chicano rock band ended up taking home their first Grammy for Best Latin Alternative, Urban, or Rock Album, for Imaginaries, released on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings that weekend.
For more information about Grammy In Schools: www.grammyintheschools.com
For more information on Quetzal: http://quetzaleastla.com/
