Album Cover Art

by Mr. Kilpatrick, Art Room 100

 Project Objective: Students will be able to design  a 12" x 12" album cover for a musical artist or group of their choosing in order to apply past lessons of primary and secondary colors, complementary colors, and warm and cool colors.

In March, I brought my tabletop record player and several albums into Art Room 100 to show students the value of album cover art. Students agreed that packaging for LPs gives a musical artist a great opportunity to connect with a listener visually as well as auditorily.

First, we watched a "How Its Made" video about vinyl records.

The project took approximately 5 class periods. Every day, 5th and 6th grade students were allowed to pick different records to listen to - some old, some new. A lot of the music was weird and alien to these young scholars, but they kept an open mind. We discussed many different genres of music, touching on lessons they already covered in Ms. Gould's music class earlier in the year.  I was impressed by the vast amount of musical knowledge students had comprehended since last semester.

Guest DJs:

Ashlynn and Jordyn chose the Beatles.

Raymond chose Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong.

Jade played the sounds of Philadelphia with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.

Janeliz was very curious and excited to hear the Flaming Lips & Fwends covering the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album. She especially liked the songs Miley Cyrus sang on.

Kyria chose Philly jazz queen of the organ Shirley Scott.

Tymire soothed the class with the fragile but beautiful voice of Billie Holiday.

Some days, we would even break into short, impromptu dance parties:

Stan Kenton's "Cuban Fire"!

Rawkin' out to Philly's own Man Man!

These guys really seemed to get into Johnny Cash.

While listening, students worked really hard on album covers of their own. Here are just a few:

Sonieris' Taylor Swift album cover design

Chrystal's Ariana Grande album cover design

Gianberto's Daddy Yankee album cover design

Kathie did an alternate take on Les Claypool's Duo De Twang album cover, using mostly cool colors instead of the warm in the original.

Najia's Beyonce album cover design

Shaniah's take on a Shakira album cover design

Paula's Tyga album cover design

Wildcat Mardi Gras 2015

Since there was a snow day on Fat Tuesday this year, Memphis Street Academy's 5th and 6th Grade Mardi Gras party was pushed to the following Thursday. In Art Room 100, after learning about New Orleans and the Carnival holiday, scholars partied down to some New Orleans Dixieland and Funk music. They also created Mardi Gras masquerade masks as they ate Jambalaya and homemade King Cake.

Students had a blast learning about the culture and holidays of another city. Some even asked why we can't have Mardi Gras every week.

Friday "Jam-n-Draw" in Room 100

Click on the photo to see a larger version

Last Friday afternoon, as the Memphis Street Academy Cartoonist Society held their meeting in Art Room 100, some very special musical guests dropped in for a pleasant surprise. Music teacher Joe McNichols walked in, unpacked his trumpet, and started playing "When the Saints Go Marching In". Many students continued to draw. Some joined in (as they are also musicians as well as visual artists). Mr. McNichols then improvised with students who taught him "Friend Like Me" from the upcoming school play "Aladdin". This is a testament to how hard Ms. Van Orden has been working with these kids. They love these songs and look forward to our Spring Musical.

Next thing, Engagement Coach Mr. Fred "Sojo" walked in with his violin and started to jam with Mr. McNichols and some of our students. Little Candace brought out her flute and played us some notes. A few students sang along. The gang played Christmas carols and many other tunes as our students continued to work diligently on their cartoons. Several teachers, who were leaving for the weekend, stopped in to hear the music and say hi.

These after school clubs provide a fun, less busy time, when things can relax and slow down. It is during times like this that I see exactly how much our students are growing and learning. They are SO smart and amazing. These are also the times when I can see how the faculty and staff of Memphis Street Academy are growing as a community and family. Moments like this strengthen my faith in this school, my coworkers, and especially our students.