4C The Power Workshops @ Wilson High School
Posted: 11/19/2009 - 2 comment(s) [ Comment ]
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Category: General Blog

On November 6, 2009, 4C the Power provided free workshops for the students of Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, CA. After working this event, my motivation to succeed in my future endeavors has increased much more. I've mentioned before that I wish 4C the Power or something like this organization existed while I was in high school. Maybe if it did, my passion to pursue a career in singing would've been different. 

I had the opportunity to be Clara Chung's runner and sit in her class. I was impressed. She was able to connect to her students right away. They spent about an hour just talking about their passions in music and how long they've been playing music. It wasn't until the second hour that they finally started creating a song together. Where their inspirations for the song came from was HILARIOUS! We were in a classroom that had posters in Spanish all over the walls. They sat near a wall with Garfield posters that had quotes like "Fly High!" and "I think I'm a little paranoid... me too." (The poster had Garfield looking in a mirror and his reflection said the "me, too" part. Heh heh. They started using the quotes as a part of the song which made them laugh every time they sang the lines. Then, Clara asked them questions to start getting ideas about what their song would be about. If only I had my camera with me, I would've recorded the entire thing. The students started throwing out ideas left and right.

From talking about the stuffed lion in the classroom, to being paranoid, and popcorn chicken.... after 30 minutes, they created a song. THIRTY MINUTES! THREE, ZERO! How incredible is that?! All they had to do was fine tune their playing and they were good to go. Each of the students had their own instruments and Clara had her egg shaker to add that extra "flavor" into the mix. 

Incredible.

They did awesome during the showcase, too. I wish that the microphones worked because the lyrics were pretty good.  My favorite part was the bridge and chorus: "I'm getting paranoid, getting paranoid [repeat x3]/ Soon, very soon, I'll fly my balloon into the moon, into the moon, into the moon. Soon, very soon, I'll sing my own tune coming next June, coming next June, coming next June."

Pretty good, huh? 

It was a great learning experience for all of them, especially for me. Time for me to start jotting down ideas for songs. 

 

"And here. we. GO!" :]

Music; my Life, my Love.
Posted: 11/1/2009 - 2 comment(s) [ Comment ]
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Category: General Blog

"If God is the DJ, then Life is the dance floor; Love is the rhythm, and You are the music."
- unknown 

 

With that said, let's all head to the dance floor and feel the rhythm the DJ is providing for us. :]

 

I'll write a little more later I just wanted to share that quote with you. Hope you're having a great day! 

 

Another thing I want to share:

"LOVE" - Jaeson Ma

 

 

"LOVE" by Jaeson Ma is truly inspiring. I'm in awe every time I listen to it. 

My interpretation of JM's song in a nutshell: 
Know God, Know Love. No God, No Love. 

Yes? No? I think so. 

4C: The Experience
Posted: 10/26/2009 - 9 comment(s) [ Comment ]
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Category: General Blog

  Hello friends and fellow EV-ers! :]


I just wanted to blog a little bit about my experience working with 4C The Power. 


My first time hearing about 4C The Power was through my friend, Ianne (Marianne). I would always hear stories about her meeting up with her friends in the Bay Area who are also 4C interns and my curiosity peaked hearing about what they do. I wanted to know more about what the organization did, who they were reaching out to, and how they were able to be involved with this type of organization.


 What caught my attention with 4C The Power is the outreach they do for middle school and high school students who are interested in the Arts. Students who sign up for workshops with 4C The Power are able to work with a local Asian American artist of their choice. Workshop choices include Hip-Hop/R&B song writing, spoken word, dance, film production, DJing, photography, fashion, etc. 


How amazing is that?!


While I was in school, I found it difficult to find an organization that I wanted to volunteer for because competition for intern positions was very high, and the work they did for the organization wasn’t exactly what I wanted to focus on. And then I found 4C The Power. Or did 4C The Power find me? LOL. 


I was able to see a few of the interns in action earlier this year at the ISA concert in San Francisco. They were staff members of ISA and I observed how hard working each one of them were. To my surprise, many of them are 4C The Power interns also.


Reading blogs about and seeing pictures posted on the 4C the Power website/blog of the first workshop held in the Bay Area with artists Far*East Movement, Wong Fu Producations, Jin the MC, DJ Virman, Stereotypes, Jeremy “Passion” Manongdo, Paul Dateh, Meme and Della of A.S.I.I.D., and Glenda of Fanny Pak made me want to be a part of this movement even more. Artists are able to connect and give back to the community by teaching students how to achieve similar or greater success with what they’re passionate about while being able to build a career out of it. The 4C program helps encourage students to pursue their passion in the Arts. By doing so, it also encourages students to want to succeed in school therefore allowing students to graduate.

I wish there was something like this around while I was in high school.
 

I knew there had to be a way for me to finally get involved with 4C The Power. 

A couple of months later I was able to meet the founder of 4C The Power, Diann Kitamura and the 4C interns. By June, I became an intern and started working with 4C The Power. It’s been an amazing experience so far and I’m glad to be a part of such an amazing team. I’ve received so much support from this group in the small amount of time that I’ve known and worked with them especially when it comes to showcasing my talents – just like we do with the students that take workshops with 4C. I had the privilege to perform during the first Southern California/L.A. 4C the Power workshop showcase because of Diann’s (Mama D) faith and confidence in me and the support of my fellow interns. I was a wreck performing in front of people in the industry whom I admire but knowing that Mama D and my friends were all behind me made me pull through and give it my best. :]


I’m having a great time working with all of them and I’m looking forward to what we have in store for us down the road.


I encourage you, if you have any questions or are curious about what we do, to visit our website www.4cthepower.com or email4cthepower@gmail.com or ask me about it. :]


Become a part of the Movement! I’m loving every moment of this experience. I’m sure you would, too. :]

 

4C The Power : Culture, Community, Creativity, Career