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| Thursday, September 02 | | · | The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things - Toronto International Film Festival |
| · | Billy at Neuqua Valley High |
| Wednesday, September 01 | | · | David Pajo Interview - Punk Planet |
| Thursday, August 19 | | · | Jimmy's studio photos. |
| Saturday, August 14 | | · | Journal Post From Jimmy 8/14 |
| Wednesday, August 11 | | · | James News - Remix of Blue released |
| Thursday, August 05 | | · | Jimmy C. News |
| Wednesday, August 04 | | · | 08.03.04 - Billy Journal Post |
| Monday, August 02 | | · | BC Live show. |
| Friday, July 23 | | · | More Breaking Benjamin News |
| Sunday, July 18 | | · | Jimmy Chamberlin's self-maintained homepage |
| Saturday, July 17 | | · | Pumpkins on GTA: San Andreas Soundtrack |
| · | 07.15.04 - Billy Journal Post |
| Thursday, July 08 | | · | This song so many have covered |
| Wednesday, June 30 | | · | IGN's Breaking Benjamin CD Review |
| Tuesday, June 29 | | · | Corgan's analysis a smashing success |
| Monday, June 28 | | · | The Wrigleyville Report with Billy Corgan |
| · | Billy Corgan: Blinking with Fists |
| Sunday, June 27 | | · | ''Rock's Graduate Student'' |
| · | Looking For A Break |
Older Articles
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| Star gives students a thrill - Chicago Tribune |
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 The Grammy Foundation sends Billy Corgan to Naperville's Neuqua Valley High
School, where music is more than just another class
By Grace Aduroja
Tribune staff reporter
Published May 26, 2004
Performer Billy Corgan and music students at Neuqua Valley High School have
something in common: multiple Grammy awards.
On Tuesday, the former lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins and Illinois native
stopped by the Naperville school to answer questions from students about the
grunge movement, being famous and music. (More...)
"I just left the studio to come here," Corgan told the 400 boisterous students
who attended the after-school session. "You're ruining my album!"
His visit was arranged by the Grammy Foundation to reward the school's stellar
music program, which was named one of six Grammy Signature Schools Gold
nationwide for the third time. The school won a $5,000 prize.
The students were more excited at the chance to meet with Corgan.
Although his signature band split before many of the kids entered high school,
the students were thrilled at the opportunity to chat with a music superstar.
The hourlong session ended with Corgan hopping on the piano to serenade the
teens. It was the only time the audience fell silent.
"It was a lot more real than I thought it would be. It wasn't phony," said Erin
Johnson, a sophomore who plays the flute. "It was the behind-the-music story
instead of what you just hear."
Next month, the students will have a mentorship session with Gwen Stefani, lead
singer of the band No Doubt.
"The name Grammy has some name recognition and brings some attention," said
David Sears, senior director of education programs for the Grammy Foundation,
based in Santa Monica, Calif. "That's what we want--to bring positive attention
to what's going on in schools."
Studies show student musicians perform better in math and science classes, have
better verbal skills and score about 100 points higher on SAT tests than their
non-musical peers, said Mike Blakesless, deputy executive director of the
National Association for Music Education.
"There's a lot of data demonstrating what I think parents and teachers and kids
have known for years," Blakesless said. "Involvement in music can and will make
for a richer school environment. Kids take pride in it."
At Neuqua Valley, about 850 of the 3,200 students study music. Competition is
stiff for the higher level bands despite the requirement that students dedicate
time to private lessons and participate in after-school vocal groups, jazz
ensembles and brass quartets.
"Our faculty is able to convey through the art form that passion is an OK way to
live your life fully," said Charles Staley, fine arts chairman and band
director. "Most important, they [students] understand what beauty is, and they
understand what it takes to get to a high level of artistry."
To encourage music in schools, the Grammy Foundation kicked off the Signature
Schools program in the 1998-1999 school year. The schools that win a Gold award
offer well-rounded music programs encompassing band, vocal and orchestral
courses, and some non-conventional forms of music.
At Neuqua Valley, the most evident examples of the unusual are the two steel
drum bands, which produce a tropical sound that is more Caribbean than west
suburban.
For vocal variety, students can join Neuqua World Voices, an after-school group
that performs selections from Israel and Puerto Rico to Thailand and India.
Staley says the students' focus on music rather than accolades is why the school
has received Grammy recognition in each of the five years it has applied.
"They don't necessarily see it as a goal that they've been trying to reach," he
said. "It's just affirmation of what they've been doing."
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