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RECORD TIME

By Rusty Marks
CHARLESTON GAZETTE
STAFF WRITER
December 6, 2001

BUFFALO -- In years past, Mark Hopkins had to haul his choral students to a recording studio somewhere when he wanted to make an album.

Today, Buffalo High School’s choir and band director has a recording studio just a few mouse clicks away.

"The Best of Christmas in Buffalo," the fifth volume of Christmas music recorded by Buffalo’s Showtime choir, is now on store shelves. This one, which combines new tracks with cuts from Showtime’s four previous releases, was recorded right in the Buffalo High School band room.

Hopkins has a computerized studio at his fingertips in the cinder-block building behind Buffalo High. Up to 24 parts can be recorded at once, then mixed together just like a professional studio. "There are very few schools that have recording setups," he said. But, thanks to zealous grant writing, the technology is available to all four of Putnam County’s high schools.

Hopkins and his students recorded nine new songs for the album, which is available on CD and cassette. He went back to previous volumes to round out the collection, for a total of 21 tracks. Songs on the compilation include two different versions of "Emmanuel," "Jamaican Noel," "Rock ’n’ Roll Santa Claus" and more traditional fare like "White Christmas," "Carol of the Bells" and "Silent Night" - the latter with parts in Japanese.

Hopkins began the Christmas project in 1987. The first three installments were available only on cassette, so Hopkins dug out the old master recordings and dusted them off for the new CD compilation.

Hopkins said the CD project showcases Buffalo High School, but is also a valuable learning tool for the students. They learn about singing, recording, production and distribution.

"We may not be able to have the biggest choir," Hopkins said of his 19-member entourage, "but we’re learning stuff about real-world music. We’re showing them stuff that they can use in church, and they’re learning stuff that they can use at home or in their careers."

Hopkins said the finished product isn’t perfect. "But hey," he added, "they’re in high school."

Students in the choir said they had fun with the project.

But, while each student gets a solo somewhere on the CD, not all like to hear themselves sing. "You’re really picky and a perfectionist when you listen to yourself," said Kallie Cart, a senior. "You’re always thinking you could have done that so much better."

Hopkins said some of his students had never sung before signing up for his class.

But he said his choir students are enthusiastic about the project.

"Everybody will do sports, but not everybody can sing," said 17-year-old Beth Nease.

Hopkins said he got per-mission to use pre-recorded music for some tracks. But class members play all the in-struments on others, including a remake of the Bob Dylan tune "Ring Them Bells."

The tune turned out to be one of the more inspired songs on the CD. Students were in class when terrorists attacked on Sept. 11, and couldn’t help thinking about the airliners that slammed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field.

"When we were recording ‘Ring Them Bells,’ we were having trouble getting inspiration, finding that energy," Hopkins said.

He sought to encourage a feeling of unity in his singers and got it when he asked the students to think about the attacks.

"They really understood it, and all of a sudden this sound came out of nowhere," Hopkins said.

"Our hearts were there," agreed Tia Arthur, 18. "We weren’t just a choir singing."

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