Access Denied

One of the first workshops I led was a Blues music camp in 2009 at Central Campus co-sponsored by the Central Iowa Blues Society.

Of course, these students were bright and they expressed frustration at the conditions around them. As we got acquainted and I listened to their experiences I couldn’t disagree with their basic premise….or the lyrics that came from our collaboration:

[Access Denied Lyrics]

They call it education-No child left behind

well what I see 'em doing-driven me outta my mind.

Try to get the information-but the path (is) blocked,

I try to get an answer-but my record gets docked.

You're supposed to be training me to make a choice

When all you really do is just block my voice,

And when I try to see, you say access denied

And then you wonder why I'm goin' outta my mind.

[we're trying so hard, we're trying' so hard,

we're trying so hard, trying' so hard]

[we're trying so hard, we're trying' so hard,

we're trying so hard, trying' so hard] 2x

Information's free that's what they say-

At least that’s why we're rockin' in the USA

If you gonna stand there and block my way,

you'd better be prepared for what I got to say:

They call it education

No child Left Behind

But when I look around me

I see academical crime

and when you do the crime

you gotta do the time

Sometimes I think

we’re being left behind.

[to Chorus w. guitar solos Miles Schon and Victor Gomez]

©Dartanyan Brown 2011

The recording above is from a live performance of the song played two years later at an end-of-workshop concert at North high School.

Master guitarist and former student Miles Schon at North High School July 2012. Hear him burn on Access Denied with Victor Gomez then-NHS senior on guitar

I brought guest guitarist and former California student Miles Schon in from the SF Bay area to join our student musicians and boy howdy did he add some fire to the proceedings! You might have heard of his father Neal.

Judge for yourself the creative energy generated by students playing alongside professionals and a teaching artist. It’s an example of what can happen when you show faith in young people ready to try their best and give it everything they can. To do any less would be……. “academical crime.”

The families of the young musicians and vocalists were also thankful for the time, energy and resources that were offered to their kids…at no cost!

My son Jaimeo and I teamed up to bring some hard core creativity to Des Moines students. You’ll hear more from him soon.