Striking up the bands

Tom Titus

The walls of Huntington Beach High School will be reverberating

Saturday with a four-hour band concert to benefit the school’s Academy

for the Performing Arts music program.

Specifically, the event -- dubbed Concert A.L.I.V.E. -- will help

support the Song Writing and Recording Arts program at APA. Equipment and

technology supplies are needed for the expansion of the musical arts

course. Tickets, at $6, are available through all activities offices in

the Huntington Beach High School District and at the APA office.

Concert ALIVE, which will be performed from 4 to 8 p.m., has drawn the

participation of local professional bands along with community high

school bands. Featured will be the ska band “Suburban Legends,” whose

members include several APA alumni.

Among the local high school music makers participating will be “Out of

Order” from Fountain Valley High School, “Odd Project” from Huntington

Beach High School and “Following January” from Marina High School.

Professional combos include “The Line,” represented by Volcom

Entertainment, and a Los Angeles-based band called “Too Loose.”

The APA’s Song Writing and Recording Program is the only course of its

kind in Orange County, with an innovative UC-approved curriculum that

teaches high school students to prepare for a career in the music and

recording arts industry.

The courses, taught by instructor Craig Jensen, include music theory,

lyrical content, technical arrangement, sequencing and recording

techniques. In collaboration with Golden West College, students also

receive college credit for this class.

“These kids are being given the opportunity to learn valuable skills

that will help them pursue a career in the music industry,” Jensen says.

One student, Jenna Pinkham, is finding it challenging but rewarding.

“It’s not easy, but in the year I’ve been in the class I’ve learned

how to use the technology to put my words to music and how to collaborate

to ensure a strong finished product,” Pinkham declares.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.

FYI

A.L.I.V.E.

WHEN: 4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 9

WHERE: Huntington Beach High School auditorium, 1905 Main St.

PHONE: (714) 963-2414