Avenue A Music Project
 The Avenue A Music Project provides teens from Montague and surrounding areas a chance to discover and develop their musical abilities. In its early stages, there were a few broken and toy instruments to use and a computer in little more than a closet to use for recording.
With the move from Avenue A to Third Street, the Music Project has grown. There is now a 12’ x 12’ recording studio, as well as electric guitars and amplifiers, acoustic guitars, a piano, keyboards, a mandolin, a drum set, and a variety of percussion instruments. Of course participants are welcome and encouraged to bring their own instruments.
The Music Project meets twice per week on Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:00-6:00. During this time teens are encouraged to work on songwriting and recording. Youth Programs Coordinator (and music teacher) Jared Libby is available to provide instruction. Bands have recorded full CD’s with the Teen Center’s facilities.
The Music Project has also produced five compilation CD’s since the “Giving Youth a Voice” CD.
Every month, with few exceptions, the Teen Center hosts an open mic in the Brick House’s gallery area. Local bands and solo musicians attend and perform a variety of music. People also read poetry, show off silly magic tricks, etc. There is no need to be a regular participant in the Music Project to attend, but those who attend are always welcomed back to check out the Music Project.
Since these open mic events began in 2003, they have grown in popularity. With the move from Avenue A to Third Street, the Teen Center is able to accommodate a larger audience.
 The History of the
Avenue A Music Project
The Avenue A Music Project had its beginnings in 2002 when Robin Lane, a local musician, received a grant to work with teens to write and record music. With the help of Jeremy Latch and Todd Seaman, both AmeriCorps volunteers at The Hot Spot Teen Center, the “Giving Youth a Voice” CD was born. Jeremy continued on at The Hot Spot as the Youth Programs Coordinator following his AmeriCorps term and conducted the Avenue A Music Project in the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2004 with help from AmeriCorps volunteers Paula Peng and Jared Libby. When Jeremy left in June of 2004, Jared took his place and opted to continue the Music Project. The Teen Center moved to 24 Third Street from its location on Avenue A, but the Music Project’s name remains the same as a reminder of its history.
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