HIT: SEC, Media center coffee house, Part 2

[Cheri Anderson <cherianderson@HOTMAIL.COM>]

Here are more responses:

It sounds exciting.  Will you have to be concerned about the content of the
readings/lyrics?  I tried a similar idea but because it was held at a public
school, I had to preview the writings and music lyrics before the students
could perform.
Jamae Bruton Media Specialist, Palm Bay High School, Melbourne, FL 32901

I've done this, with some success.  Two years ago (my first year on the
job), I did about 6 through the course of the year.  The first time, I wound
up doing most of the playing myself, or accompanied daring students (most of
whom had never heard of a coffeehouse before).  It caught on a little bit,
and we had some really great "moments".  Las year, we did 3, but interest
seemed to lag, so I retired it for a while.  I'm getting ready to try it
again.  It seems to help if you can line up a couple of "ringers" ahead of
time--students or faculty who you know you can count on.  Kids are very
tentative about it, but I made a point of making it as low pressure as
possible.  I even chose to do material that I was uncomfortable with so that
I could show it's ok to mess up.  I feel like it really sank in for some of
the kids.  Ours were pretty much music only (despite invitations to and
tentative interest from some writers), with acoustic guitars and/or piano.
Another challenge is that much of the music the kids like doesn't translate
well to the acoustic setting (and they don't seem too interested in Crosby,
Stills and Nash--a crime, really), but some things are pretty universal and
got their attention.  I got the principal to sing "American Pie" with me,
and a group of four kids to do Barenaked Ladies "If I had a Million Dollars"
(a funny call-and-answer tune most of the kids know).  These were good
icebreakers.  Also, try to get a school photographer to come down.  These
make for some great yearbook shots.  It's great that you have some teachers
interested in collaborating with you.  Good luck, BR

A few years ago, our Quill and School members and their sponsors had several
coffee houses in the library AFTER basketball games.  Folks were in the
school already for a Friday night's game, so they held the coffee house
after the game.  From 8-10 p.m.  Coffee and goodies were sold.  The open
mike was so much fun because there were so many different "voices" sharing
their love of words.  Live music was welcomed, original pieces encouraged.
I remember one night when we had some very intense poetry being read, and
then a young man stood up to the mike and looking out to the audience spoke:
  "Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away..." beginning the opening
lines of the first Star Wars movie.  Thus began a piece with much audience
participation!  Good luck to you.  Idea is wonderful!
Betty Laliberte, York High School Elmhurst, IL  60126

I would like to know what the general response to your idea might be.  I
think something like that might go over nicely in our Jr-Sr high library for
a special event from time to time.  I think I would consider starting with
book readings, and then progress to original works of the students and then
on to music--seeing how it progressed and developed.  A nice idea--thanks
for sharing...
Leona Chereshnoski, Jr-Sr High School Librarian, Clarke Bldg. South
Jefferson CS, Adams, NY  13605


Cheri Anderson, Media Specialist
Roncalli High School...a life prep school
3300 Prague Rd.
Indianapolis, IN  46227
cherianderson@hotmail.com

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