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Last week, songwriter Vicki Logan came to the Chisago Lakes Middle School Breakfast Club to share with students aspects of her career in the music business.

Logan showed students the system that she uses when writing a song. Beginning with the original idea, she plays notes into a keyboard which is loaded with hundreds of simulated instruments and sound effects. She commits to memory the passages she likes. To bring her music to a final product, Logan hires musicians to play various instruments to bring out the sounds she wants during recording sessions.

Logan told the students that it is possible for a song writer to have complete artistic control of her/his work by paying for all the production costs personally rather that signing with a company who then has say about the editing and finished product.

She explained to the students that there are many jobs in the music industry. Some people are on the creative end and others work in production, marketing, managing and technology.

The most important message that Vicki Logan wanted the students to take away is that you do not need to fit a specific "look" to be successful in the music business or life. She encouraged the students to follow their own dreams and not let other people tell them that they cannot be what they want to be.

The Middle School Breakfast Club meets monthly during the school year. The breakfast program features speakers on careers and academic enrichment opportunities.

If you have a career or hobby that you are willing to share with middle school students please contact the Chisago Lakes School District Volunteer Enrichment Coordinator, Jina Saueressig, 651- 213-2014 or email: [email protected].

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