A lab is a place that provides an opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a particular field of study. Artist and educator Lamar Harris was “shocked and overwhelmed” by the talent local high school students have shown in The Lab that he created.
The Lab started as a collaborative workshop he organized and orchestrated along with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Grammy-winning composer and Jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard. The workshop culminated in a live performance in mid-May.
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Like the original program, its extension—dubbed From The Lab—is designed to help high school musicians, deejays, producers, and songwriters network with other young artists in the area, create and record original material, learn business and financial literacy skills, explore brand development, learn recording and production techniques from professional engineers, and have their work critiqued by artists and producers from around the country.
The first of two five-week sessions is scheduled to start in September, and Harris is already accepting applications on his website. The program is free for the young artists who are accepted, with Jazz St. Louis providing space and recording sessions scheduled for Smith Lee Studios and Gaslight Lounge.
Local and national artists including DJ Charlie Chan Soprano and soul singer and songwriter Sy Smith will also be collaborating with and critiquing the young program participants on their work. Harris also expects many others to lend their time and talents.
“A lot of people just want to be able to see young people be able to develop and hone their gifts,” Harris says.
Program participants will be sharpening their skills outside the studio as well. From the Lab will touch on industry topics like developing program proposals and sponsorship requests and cover business basics including insurance costs, savings strategies, and retirement planning.
“You can be the most talented musician, but still be broke and homeless,” Harris says. “I think talent alone doesn’t sustain artists. You’ve got to have business sense.”
Harris also hopes the program helps its participants establish networks with other young artists as well as established professionals who can serve as musical mentors long after each five-week workshop ends.
“I’m thankful and blessed to be able to do it,” he says. “I’m thankful for the people who have gotten involved and I look forward to seeing what these young people are going to do in the future.”
