Gwynese Craighead thought the music she made was just for her own enjoyment ... until she collaborated with 11 other Wilkinsburg High School students to produce a rap CD. "It really did build my confidence," said Craighead, 16, who will be a senior. "I think it came out very well. A lot of people don't get this kind of opportunity." A dozen students at the school participated in the 21st Century afterschool program designed to not only stimulate interest in music but also help participants create music. The students created Top Notch Productions, a fully-equipped music recording studio. The studio began in October with the students meeting twice or three times a week to learn how to use the state-of-the-art equipment, writing music and record songs. They produced a 13-track rap CD that they are now selling to family members and friends in Wilkinsburg and surrounding communities. "It's great," said Jasmine Jones, 16, one of the rappers on the project. "I've always liked music and I finally got to be in the studio." Program director Shawn van Mastright said the students were professional and worked as a team as if this wasn't their first project. "I was really impressed with the students," van Mastright said. "I really watched them grow. They really went beyond what they had to do and they really seemed to enjoy it." Van Mastright applied for and secured a three-year, $24,000 a grant to develop an afterschool recording studio for Wilkinsburg High School. As band director for the middle and high schools, he was aware of some students with interests in music and recruited a handful of others. In all, 12 students worked on the project producing the music, writing lyrics and performing the songs. "In the end, they made 13 songs, almost an hour of music on the CD," van Mastright said. Songs include By Any Means, Top Notch, Eye Candy and Love to be Hated. Della Ferguson, guardian for Tyrell Ferguson, one of the rappers on the project, is pleased with her nephew's commitment to music. "I love it," she said. "I'm a jazz person but I listen to Ty's music. It's so real and there's no cursing on it." Craighead, who aspires to pursue music marketing, collaborated with co-studio chief operating officer Scott Thompson to produce the music and the rest of the students performed the songs. "I thought it was very helpful since I want to go into the music business," she said. "It gave me a little bit of experience to see what it's all about." The group already is looking to next year when they plan to produce two more projects--a rap and a rhythm and blues CD. The current project can be purchased for $5 at the Wilkinsburg School District Administration Building, 718 Wallace Ave., or by visiting the studio's website at www.topnotchpa.com . Proceeds of the CD sales help sustain the studio and help fund future projects.

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