Students Get a Lesson in Rocking Out

James Logue, 17, says he had a hard time keeping up with academics at  That's why he came to  this August.

At Fusion, Logue makes his own schedule (10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.). It includes the basics like English and History, but also a one-on-one recording session with BMG-signed songwriter Ari Rosenschein. 

"I was kind of behind," Logue explains of his freshman and sophomore year. "I think it was my auditory processing." 

"Well, I like that we are over here as an alternative to that," says Rosenschein comparing Fusion to one October afternoon.

"Speaking of auditory processing, listen to this track that James and I built. I think you’ll agree that auditory processing is not a problem for him."

Making Music

Rosenschein meets with Logue every Monday and Wednesday. Together, they create beats electronically in a program (used by most professional recording artists) called Pro Tools.

"James plays a lot of this stuff by hand—some are loops that we dragged in," explains Rosenschein of their new song, 'The Good Life.' 

The sound-proof room in which they work is filled with fancy guitars, computer monitors and a key board. The insulation covering the walls shines with a subtle glitter, and a few photos of musicians are taped to a windowsill. The room next door houses the drums. 

"I have a lot more fun creating music than listening to it," chimes in Logue. 

Teaching Style

Although some students at Fusion will likely have a career in music, others—like Logue—are just excited to have an artistic outlet out of the ordinary jazz band or drama class. 

Rosenschein feeds off of each student's individual vibe. Hannah, for instance, makes "garage-y type" music while Cal's most recent track is "heart-breakingly beautiful," says Rosenschein. 

"You can really hear how different all the students are—I don’t try to force anything. I'm a songwriter. That's what I do." he said. 

Rosenschein came to Fusion in August after teaching English and Social Studies at Hollywood School House. He's known as Ari Shine in the music world and has written songs of all genres from pop to Spanish language to what you hear on reality TV. 

"I feel much more grounded doing both things," said Rosenschein. 

"I played in a lot of bands and toured a lot—so it's nice for me to have a home base here and see my students. We have a little community where we all check in with each other."