Pupils make a joyful noise
Johnny Carr, a teacher at Brookwood Elementary School, directs his music class as they learn to play different instruments. The school has released a CD of Christmas music, featuring nearly 700 pupils singing 15 traditional carols. Great Big Stars is the school's eighth CD.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Brookwood Elementary School is looking to promote Great Big Stars in CD form.
The effort is the latest Christmas CD from the pupils of Brookwood Elementary.
"It's a different approach to music,'' Brookwood music teacher Johnny Carr said about the venture.
"It's a more hands-on approach showing (what is done), instead of just learning from a textbook."
Nearly 700 pupils from the school sang on the disc, which includes 15 traditional Christmas songs, such as Angels We Have Heard On High and Jingle Bells.
The disc is the eighth recording produced by the school.
Carr, who also owns a Christian-themed recording studio in Evans called Shepherdsong Studio, uses the recording process as a hands-on teaching project.
"I thought it would be a great idea for the students to learn how CDs are actually made," the 51-year-old said. "Instead of just teaching it to them, we actually made one.''
Carr and his 13-year-old son John began recording tracks in the summer. When school started back in August, Carr practiced the songs with pupils for seven weeks before recording the voice tracks.
So far, 300 CDs have sold, and Carr recently ordered 150 more.
Each disc includes 15 bonus tracks, which play only the musical accompaniment to each song recorded by the Brookwood pupils.
"A lot of times, people need a song to sing in a Christmas show, or a Christmas play at church, or even at school," Carr said.
"Now they have like karaoke tracks that they can sing along to."
Each CD costs $10, and all proceeds benefit Brookwood.
"Great Big Stars" is available at Family Christian Stores in the Augusta Exchange shopping center, Center Stage Music in the West Town shopping center and through the school by calling 855-7596 or by e-mailing jcarr7@comcast.net.