T.I.P., the Tipitina's Internship Program, offers a small number of internships to New Orleans-based

Artistic director Donald Harrison, Jr.

high school musicians. This unique entity leverages Tipitina's Music Incubator, a group of resources allowing students to be immersed in a music internship by fostering mentoring relationships, offering engaging extracurricular activities, participating in workshops with musicians, producers, and scholars, and providing access to resources and facilities that would otherwise not be available to these students. The program, produced by the artistic director, jazz musician Donald Harrison, Jr. and head of production Chris Finney improves skills in performing, recording, and producing, as well as developing awareness of the business side of the industry. The Tipitina's Internship Program meets after school on Mondays and Tuesdays at the state of the art MusicShed Recording Studio. The program runs throughout the school year.

The program targets students from high schools in the Greater New Orleans area. Students are recruited through recommendations by band directors, school principals, and parents; they enter the program through an application and audition process. Program participants are ethnically and socio-economically diverse; this diversity is one of the program's many strengths.

Tipitina's Internship Program staff assists students in filling out college applications, writing essays, procuring references, and researching scholarship opportunities. The majority of students who have gone on to high-level university music and production programs have done so with many of hours of support from the Tipitina's Foundation staff. Past participants have continued their music studies at the Juilliard School, Brown University, the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at Tisch School of the Arts / NYU, The Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, and the Berklee College of Music.

As a result of the Tipitina's Internship Program, students have had the opportunity to play at numerous paid events, such as national conventions, conferences, parties, benefit concerts, and movie openings…starting them on their music business career path.

T.I.P. Activities

T.I.P. meets after school on Mondays and Tuesdays. Students spend time developing instrumental skills, learning recording technologies and production techniques, participating in workshops with musicians, producers, and scholars, as well as receiving general academic tutoring.

Donald Harrison featured in Feb. 2007 JazzIz magazine

The program creates positive change in the lives of young New Orleans musicians. To meet that aim, the following curriculum components have been established:

Recording studio sessions

Video clinics

Internet tools and resources

CD duplication seminars

Promotion, publicity, and advertising master classes

Music business master class

Music production lessons

Ethnomusicology of New Orleans music

Academic tutoring

Music performing master classes by world class musicians such as Olu Dara and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews.

T.I.P. Resources

T.I.P. activities and objectives are supported by the resources listed below:

Music Shed Rehersal Facility · Year round rehearsal space and computer lab at the state of the art Music Shed.

CD Duplication · The Music Shed has the ability to create artwork, assemble, and duplicate compact discs.

Web Site · www.tipitinasfoundation.org is a dynamic, high-traffic site featuring audio/video streams, ticket sales, and merchandise. The site regularly showcases emerging local artists.

Venues · Tipitina's original Uptown music club (established 1977) and Tipitina's French Quarter (established 1997) provide young artists with exposure and experience performing for the public.

Homegrown Night · An ongoing Thursday night forum for emerging talent. Bands earn opening or headlining spots for other prime nights, based on attendance. Performers also receive CDs and videos of their performances.

Video Production · Video facilities include high-end digital cameras and non-linear video editing suites.

Music Office Co-Op · A public access office housing administrative tools for musicians to conduct business. Includes computer stations, fax, phones, photocopying, reference library and other business resources.

For more information about the Tipitina's Internship Program please contact Programs Director