Oregon Music News

Blue Horns at Parkrose Middle School in 2010.

No one would dispute that Portland has a vibrant music scene but too often the young people who crave music the most are shut out; unable to attend live events for reasons ranging from financial to age restrictions.

Hello PDX Pop Now!

Founded in 2004 by a group of musicians, fans and industry professionals, PDX Pop Now! works hard to connect everyone with music. Successfully registering as a nonprofit in 2007, PDX Pop Now! has expanded their reach with innovative school outreach programs that take the music into the schools, making it more accessible to a new generation.  PDX Pop Now! sees students as valuable resources to keep the music scene diverse and dynamic. Kids can be appreciative supporters of music, creators of music, and organizers of music in their communities.

OMN caught up via email with Benna Gottfried, Communications Coordinator, and Lydia Mazer, Outreach Coordinator, to learn more about the creative school outreach program, and the event at Boise-Eliot school on November 14th.

For readers who don’t know about PDX Pop Now!, please share a little background information.

Benna: PDX Pop Now! works to promote and enhance Portland’s local music community and break down common barriers to accessibility. We fulfill this mission through three primary projects–an annual three-day, free, all-ages music festival [find OMN's coverage of the 2011 fest here], an annual 40-track compilation, and our school outreach programs. All of our projects are 100% volunteer run and curated by committees of volunteers.

Why do you think reaching out to schools is important?

Lydia: As anyone who grew up in Portland can tell you, the OLCC has really limited kid’s access to live music, and while that may be a helpful way of keeping alcohol out of minors’ hands, it also denies their experience of the extremely vibrant, powerful and inspiring music scene. By going into the schools, PDX Pop Now! is bringing local music, live performance, and music nonprofits to students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to this kind of programming.

What goals do you hope to accomplish in the schools?

Lydia: Our goal in doing in-school outreach programs is to get the students really pumped up, not just about making their own music, but also about being part of Portland’s music scene.

What does it take to organize an all-day event like the one scheduled for November 14th?

Lydia: Basically it goes like this: We choose a school and then ask if they would like us to come in on a school day and run a program. If they say yes, we start to ask local nonprofits (mostly ones that are musically themed, but sometimes not in the case of Hollywood Theatre) if they’d like to teach workshops on that day. Our booking committee then goes ahead and works on finding bands that they think would be of interest to the demographics at the school (for instance, you may have a different band play to an elementary school than you would at a high school). We then coordinate with the school about the organizations and bands that will be coming, call in some of our fantastic volunteers, and make it all look effortless.

Check out a video from last year’s outreach at Parkrose Middle School:

What does a typical school event look like?

Lydia: There are two parts to the day. When students arrive at school, they meet for their homeroom class and then immediately move on to doing workshops. Each student will get to participate in four 45-50 minute workshops each led by a different organization with a different theme. On November 14th, Hollywood Theatre will be leading a workshop where the students will hand color film strips that will be attached together and used as a visual element behind the bands during the concert in the latter half of the day. Ethos will engage kids in a one-time only live rock band performance with each student trying out different instruments. Vibe of Portland will teach the kids hand drumming. My Voice Music is going to lead a songwriting class, and Matt Berger from Laura Gibson’s band will also be leading a very special workshop. After workshops are over the students will then have a break for lunch and recess and will reconvene for the concert portion where we will have Radiation City and Cloudy October performing.

When did your school program outreach begin?

Benna: We did our first school program at Parkrose in 2008. Since then, we’ve done two additional programs at Parkrose, as well as programs at Boise-Eliot School in North Portland, and HB Lee Middle School in the Reynolds School District.  We are working on plans to expand the reach and impact of our school programs.

What will it take to expand the school outreach program?

Lydia: Each program does take a few months to plan, and since our board is entirely staffed by volunteers we are limited in how many we can do. Additionally, since it’s free to schools we’re also limited in that way. All public schools are eligible.

To learn more about PDX Pop Now! click here, and if you’d like to become a volunteer, get in touch with PDX Pop Now! at volunteer@pdxpopnow.com.