{"id":12998,"date":"2018-07-14T19:10:48","date_gmt":"2018-07-14T19:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atlantamusicproject.org\/?p=12998"},"modified":"2018-07-14T19:10:48","modified_gmt":"2018-07-14T19:10:48","slug":"amp-musicians-join-t-i-for-npr-tiny-desk-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atlantamusicproject.org\/amp-musicians-join-t-i-for-npr-tiny-desk-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"AMP Musicians Join T.I. for NPR Tiny Desk Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"L

L to R: Dantes Rameau AMP executive director, Nicole Neely arranger, My Guy Mars music director.<\/p><\/div>\n

In a matter of days after receiving a call from Cricket Wireless about collaborating with some of their celebrities partners, seven Atlanta Music Project students were in Washington D.C. performing with Atlanta-born hip-hop legend, T.I., at his NPR Tiny Desk concert.<\/p>\n

The whole experience was quick and surreal. As soon as\u00a0AMP was made aware of the\u00a0itinerary for\u00a0production we knew we had to get to work, and fast!<\/p>\n

Three\u00a0of T.I.’s most famous\u00a0records were selected by his music director My Guy Mars, to be played for the concert. Each song had to be arranged for AMP’s instrumentation, and so well-known hip-hop orchestra arranger Nicole “Strings Chick” Neely was brought in for this purpose.<\/p>\n

Several of our\u00a0most advanced young musicians were already “On Tour” in Los Angeles having won national auditions to participate in the National Take-A-Stand\u00a0festival with the LA Philharmonic. It created the perfect opportunity for the next group of rising AMP stars to put the results of their commitment and dedication on display.<\/p>\n

\"Rehearsal

Rehearsal at Crossover Studios. Photo courtesy of Bob Andres\/AJC.<\/p><\/div>\n

Rehearsals for the performance were held at Crossover Entertainment Group rehearsal studios. When you walk in the building there are\u00a0autographed pictures of all the major label recording artists who’d been there before.<\/p>\n

Stars like Whitney Houston, Usher, TLC, Justin Bieber. It was quite intimidating but obviously the right place for the occasion. Rehearsals started right away, learning the parts for four straight hours. Tuesday, same thing, only this time let’s make it five hours with no break. On the van ride home violist Nyasjah Brooks said “this is brutal!” So we stopped for Gatorade and decided to work some more. Later that same Tuesday, the students rehearsed for three more hours at the historic Gilbert House until 11:30 at night. #heartrequired<\/p>\n

\"T.I.

T.I. greets the AMP musicians. Photo courtesy of Bob Andres\/AJC.<\/p><\/div>\n

Wednesday was the media rehearsal day where T.I. was invited to speak to the media and listen in on the rehearsals with AMP and My Guy Mars.<\/p>\n

T.I.\u00a0arrived\u00a0relaxed, his daughter Heiress, clinging to his neck and shoulder. The Cricket Wireless team was also in attendance, led by Dawn Benton. The media frenzy was electric.\u00a0The flashing cameras and assertiveness of reporters was quite an experience. Our young musicians had seen it before on television but now they were the subject.<\/p>\n