The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - The Club, Dayton's afterschool program, offers an innovative middle and high school music program beginning Monday, October 25. The organization will again partner with Walla Walla Music Organization (WWMO) to introduce students to skills needed in the music and live sound industry.

Instructors from WWMO will be on hand to work with high school students on Mondays and with middle school students on Wednesdays. They will learn basics in music production, audio engineering, recording, and live event sound, focusing on professionalism and possible career paths.

The Club and WWMO offer the program free of charge to students, ensuring it is available without financial restrictions. For Executive Director Jim Pearson, it is an opportunity for The Club to interact with middle and high school students, some of whom have aged out of the afterschool program. To give the older students dedicated space for the project, The Club's board rented space from Port of Columbia at the Cameron Street Coworking building.

Pearson sees the program as a positive collaboration with WWMO and its founder, Rodney Outlaw. He described Outlaw's teaching approach as getting results through relationship building.

"He is interested in his students' success and creating pathways to potential careers in music," said Pearson.

Beginning with a MacBook, instructors work with the kids in music production and electronic music, with engineering as the focus. Over the school year, students will move on to live performances, setting up a local band for sound, including using a mixing board and mics.

"This year, we would like to have two performances at The Club, run by the students," said Pearson.

Last year, Outlaw offered the project to The Club virtually for free. Pearson and the Board wanted to pay WWMO a fair price for the program going forward. In a case of bad timing, a significant grant which included funds for the music project fell through. Fortunately, The Club could continue the program this year through community-supported funding, including donations through the Blue Mountain Foundation's Giving Guide. Pearson is confident that the program will be able to get grants next year after it demonstrates success.

Students interested in enrolling must be in grades 6 through 12. Due to limited space, the program will be limited to 12 students per session. Attendance is not mandatory, as all Club's programs are voluntary. In addition, Pearson expects some students will rotate through the program due to school athletic and other afterschool activities.