16-Year-Old Grahm Bailey a Musical Success at Grammy Camp
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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 23, Number 33 Thursday, August 23, 2007 16-Year-Old Grahm Bailey a Musical Success at Grammy Camp by Elizabeth Lane Grote Grahm Bailey was one of just four keyboard play- 2007 proved to be a busy summer for those oppor- ers in the United States to have the privilege of at- tunities. In June, Grahm attended a classical piano tending the 2007 Grammy Camp in Los Angeles. camp at the University of Indianapolis, honing his As a young child, Grahm took lessons as a hobby, technical skills. In July, he traveled to California but wasn’t continuous. Then, as he reached his pre- to change gears and practice his pop with Grammy teen years, he grew serious about music and pur- Award winning musicians. sued it with a passion. At sixteen, he hopes to make Lots of teenagers learn to play an instrument, a career of it and is diligently seeking educational dreaming of becoming a famous musician. Very few opportunities. of them get the opportunity to be personally men- tored in their pursuit by Earth, Wind, and Fire. Yet, Grahm was able to do just that. The Grammy Foundation provides this educa- tional opportunity for a select group of talented, young musicians between the ages of 15 and 19. Multiple career tracks are offered as part of the Grammy Camp, including performance in a variety of instruments, plus audio engineering, fi lm scor- ing, music production, and music journalism. The students were hosted by Citrus College in Glendora, California, just outside of Los Angeles. But Grammy Camp doesn’t focus only on honing the creative talents of its attendees. Grahm Bailey Continued on Page 2 Grahm Bailey with fellow rhythm section musicians at Grammy Camp 2007. Grahm Bailey at the keyboard. THE Page 2 August 23, 2007 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $38 6 months $21 3 months $13 1 month $6.50 Grahm Bailey Continued from Page 1 Grahm explains that he learned how the music It provides young hopefuls with valuable busi- business has changed just over the course of the ness skills to help them succeed in the real world. past eight months. He learned that record compa- Students received sessions with those in the busi- nies now expect musicians to be knowledgeable and ness, which included Global Positioning Services self-suffi cient within the industry at the point of partner Jerimaya Grabher, Executive Vice Presi- signing, that self-promotion through the internet dent of Concord Music Group John Burk, American and shows is important. Idol musical director Rickey Minor, author Donald A valuable facet of the experience for Grahm was Passman, and songwriter/producer/recording artist the opportunity to meet the variety of young musi- Jeff Lorber. cians in the same position as he is, plus all of the The Learning Experience at the Grammy Camp A 2-hour master class with Jon Beasley, Fellow keyboard player John Paul asks a question the musical director for American Idol. in master class with Jeff Lorber. Grahm with fellow keyboarders in a 2-hour master class with Jeff Lorber. Jeff is demonstrating how to comp in jazz music. THE August 23, 2007 Page 3 experienced people who are already in the business. “It’s defi nitely about connections - networking and Open ‘til 6 p.m. connections,” Grahm says. He recalls the valuable Evenings advice given by Donald Passman, acclaimed author of All You Need to Know About the Music Business. Passman advised that in the world of pop, it is, fi rst and foremost, a business. Grahm Bailey Continued on Page 4 www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the Fashion Conscious Woman A Few of the Artists Grahm had [email protected] Women’s Apparel the Opportunity to Work With Girls Wanna Have Fun SALE Great Prizes! Grahm Bailey with Earth, Wind, and Fire vocalist Phillip Bailey at Grammy Camp 2007. No relation, of course. Just Another Excuse Daily to Shop! Drawings August 23rd thru 20% off September 1st Vera Bradley Pendleton Bleyle Sleepwear Grahm Bailey with American Idol musical director Rickey Minor. Fall Coats Crabtree & Evelyn New Gift Collections Blue Willi's Foxcraft Blouses and MUCH More! 409409 Alexander Alexander Street Street, LaPorte,LaPorte, IN IN 326-8602326-8602 On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway TurnTurn Rightright on AlexanderAlexander Monday-FridayMonday - Friday 10 am 9:30 to 6 topm 7 Saturday Saturday 9:30 9:30 am to to 5 5 pm Grahm Bailey (left) with Earth, Wind, and Fire drummer John Paris. THE Page 4 August 23, 2007 Grahm Bailey Continued from Page 3 It’s All Classical Technique at University of Indianapolis U of I instructor demonstrating some of the techniques Grahm Bailey with instructor Jackie Chan. on the classical harpsichord. As talent is not enough in itself to succeed pop and movie music, it was a vast difference from the classical piano workshop which Grahm had attended just weeks earlier at the University of Indianapolis. Grahm values the opportunity to hone his technical skills within classical training, but still has a love of playing pop. “I enjoy contemporary music,” he says. 2007 marked his third consecutive year, studying at U of I, but was eager to gain a variety of opportuni- ties. Keyboarding with Earth, Wind, and Fire And after spending half of July at the Grammy Camp learning to play the keyboard alongside Earth, Wind, and Fire, he has an ambition to im- prove his skills in jazz and blues music. It was this experience, working with Earth, Wind, and Fire, which had the biggest impact on Grahm. Camp attendees were divided into groups and assigned a song to master on their respective instruments. Grahm’s song was “September.” He played keyboard alongside Myron McKinley, prac- ticing, learning, and culminating in the opportu- nity to play onstage alongside EWF at Citrus Col- lege. That’s certainly an experience that none of those young musicians will soon forget. Earth, Wind, and Fire at Grammy Camp 2007. Grahm says that those interested in learning more about the 2007 Grammy Camp can get a broadcast through Comcast on Demand, as well as a free podcast on iTunes. Meanwhile, Grahm is staying musically active in his home community of Michigan City, Indiana. He has worked with Young People’s Theatre Company, Footlight Players, and has won a Music Achieve- ment Award through the Unity Foundation. He was recently musical director for I Love You, You’re Per- fect, Now Change with Footlight Players, which sold a record number of tickets, played to a full house Grahm is mentored by Earth, Wind, and Fire keyboardist nightly, and even added a show in order to accom- Myron McKinley. modate a portion of the additional demand. THE August 23, 2007 Page 5 Look no further than Dan Coffey On the other side of these windows is the 20 x 40 indoor pool. Weather inclement, no problem stay home and swim. Sunny day, Michiana beach one half mile away. Invite Master class with artists Dave Koz, Lee Ritenour family and friends and Gordon Goodwin to name a few. to share your lovely 3 bedroom, 3 bath cottage on a pleasant wooded lot. $499,000 Charming house on wonderful 5 acres with old barn, chicken coop, newer heated garage. Property fenced for horses. Yard perfect for chil- dren and pets. Mile long views of pas- tures, grapes and big blue sky. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. A special place to escape every weekend. $349,000 Grammy Camp 2007 attendees took a fi eld trip to the Capitol Records California ranch atop a building. (Photo by Daley Hake.) dune 2 Chicago blocks to Michiana beach. Keep the indoor pool or add 1,700 square feet of living space to your home. High ceil- ings, great spaces, 3 bedrooms, wood fi re- place shared by living room and family room. Privacy on 5 Village lots. $689,000 Situated atop a dune extending into the trees and within 3 properties of Lake Michigan. Live amongst the tree tops in this bright, airy, easy to maintain home with a great sense of privacy. 2 bedrooms, possibil- Grahm relaxes with the guitar on the Gibson Bus. ity for a 3rd. Nice sized living space provided During the upcoming season, he will be music di- by kitchen, dining area, family room and living rector for I Do, I Do with Footlight Players. room with fi replace. Grahm still has two years left of high school be- $449,000 fore he’ll go on to college, where he plans to con- T: 269.469.5635 E: [email protected] tinue his music studies. He hopes to make it in the W: remaxhc.com cutthroat world of pop music, but remains aware of just how diffi cult that is. “I’ll do music regardless of what happens,” he says. He’s well on his way to being better aware and better prepared than most. Even better, he has the love of music to inspire harbor country him.