Neal Raskin

Raskin’s innovative teaching idea, “Big Foot Beat,” is focused on creating a recording studio on campus to educate students about the music industry, foster collaboration and showcase student talent. The “Big Foot Beat” will become an annual music recording and production project. Each year, students in the school’s Music Technology class will operate the campus recording studio and produce a CD of music performed by their peers. All Big Foot Union High School students will have the opportunity to have their music appear on the CD and will be selected through an audition process. This project will give students real world experience and a look inside the popular music industry. They will gain valuable experience working hands-on with professional equipment and serve in different roles to complete the following tasks: auditioning talented students, obtaining applicable copyrights, recording music, using professional software to mix the music, producing a CD, creating album artwork, and marketing the CD. This project will engage the entire student body in a collaborative and creative way.