(March 22, 2017 - Champaign, IL)- A local independent record label, Lyrical Innovations, announces the launch of their Better Grades, Better Ways program. The program is aimed at local high school students who are interested in careers within the music industry, particularly pertaining to the Hip Hop and R&B genres. Whether if students are intrigued to work behind the mixing board or behind the microphone, Lyrical Innovations is creating a program built around educating students about the making of Hip Hop and R&B music while increasing academic performance.
Although it is not affiliated with any programs created by high schools themselves, the ultimate goal of the Better Grades, Better Ways program is to work in parallel with school curriculums in order to motivate students to achieve the best grades possible. As a direct result, students are allowed the chance to reap the benefits of using professional recording studio resources without having their parents pay thousands of dollars out of pocket. A bi-annual (per semester basis) contest will be offered to students who wish to participate by sending a 3 to 5 minute mp4 video of them performing an original song or cover song of their choice to Lyrical Innovations' program director. Students who wish to learn about recording arts and work alongside recording engineers during projects will send in a 3 to 5 minute mp3 audio of another artist they recorded. Out of every student who submits a video or audio track, four will be selected (2 girls and 2 boys) to have the chance to create a 15 track L.P. and have it promoted throughout the local community to gain knowledge of how the music industry works on a smaller scale.
While the program is indeed directed to assist students by motivating them to do better in school, it also enables the local community, as well as the rest of society, a much different perspective on Hip Hop music in particular. Often labeled as a violent sex and drug oriented genre, the program is designed to create positive messages about Hip Hop music that others can draw inspiration from. In this perspective, the goal of the program is meant to lighten Hip Hop music's questionable reputation with content relating to overcoming personal struggles, solving social issues, and community action seeking for peaceful resolutions.
Students who are selected to participate in the Better Grades, Better Ways program must follow a set of guidelines. Students must:
Lyrical Innovations is currently working with high school superintendents in order to expand this program beyond the company's current capabilities. Without sufficient funding, the program is limited to only a couple of genres with few students who are able to participate each semester. If high schools are able to evaluate the effectiveness of this program over a period of time and decide to use the program as a reliable resource to encourage better grades, funding can be used to create incentives for students who are looking to work with other genres of music beyond the local community. After encouraging local school districts to use the company's resources, Lyrical Innovation hopes to increase the program's reach on a national level.
Founded and owned by Dale De Vries, Lyrical Innovations is an independent record label whose focus involves the creation and marketing of local Hip Hop and R&B talent in the Central Illinois region. The company offers services such as