MAYVILLE - Chautauqua Lake Central School played host Thursday to a woman who, in her career, has performed for more than 10 million people around the globe.
Critically acclaimed guitarist Jennifer Batten - perhaps best known for her role on Michael Jackson's blockbuster Bad, Dangerous and HIStory tours - paid the school a visit Thursday to share her music and give some tips to students from Jennifer Davis' guitar class. Other interested students from CLCS were also welcomed into the school's chorus room, which was packed to capacity for the event.
Ms. Davis' class is taught via distance learning, and the Chautauqua Lake students were joined in the classroom by their classmates from Cassadaga Valley Central School. Fellow guitar students from Clymer and Sherman central schools tuned in via the interactive television monitors.
''She was looking for other opportunities to play somewhere,'' Ms. Davis said of how Batten, who is playing a show in West Seneca tonight, came to Mayville. ''BOCES came through and picked up the entire tab, which was great.''
Batten played several tracks off her most recent studio album, 2008's ''Whatever,'' for the students. In addition, she performed guitar licks from several of Jackson's hits for them, including ''Beat It,'' ''Thriller,'' ''Smooth Criminal'' and ''The Way You Make Me Feel.''
Ms. Davis said Batten's connection with the King of Pop was a big draw for many of the non-guitar students who attended Thursday.
''You just can't imagine what it's like to tour with a guy who is that famous,'' Batten said in response to a student's question about being around Jackson. ''There were kids outside all night long singing 'Billie Jean' and all of his hits, and any time we would try to leave the hotel there would be a mass of people following us.''
In addition to the Jackson tours, Batten has also toured with guitar legend Jeff Beck. Ms. Davis said the chance for her students to have a demonstration and workshop with an artist of her stature was one-of-a-kind.
''It's amazing for them to see someone in person who has her level of skill with the guitar,'' she said. ''Just the experience that she can offer to them - it's a rare experience. I never had an opportunity like this to see such an outstanding musician such as her perform.''
More than just a guitar lesson and performance, Batten's appearance also reminded students to stick with their goals and discover their own talents through hard work and dedication. Sharing stories from her own life, Batten told students she failed in guitar lessons when she first began and was rejected by the Guitar Institute of Technology when she first applied.
''One thing I learned from Michael Jackson was rehearse, rehearse, rehearse,'' she told students about how she learned to play all the songs she performed in concert at such a high level while repressing stage fright. ''It takes an extra amount of focus.''
Germaine and Pappalardo Music Shoppe in Jamestown donated an electric guitar for the event, which Batten signed. Ms. Davis said students will be selling raffle tickets for the guitar, a case and two months of lessons, with proceeds from the drawing going toward an award to be given to an outstanding student from the class at CLCS' awards night.
Batten was the first performer Ms. Davis has brought to the class, she said, and the students' reaction to the appearance has her wanting to make special guests a regular part of the course.
''It's certainly given me ideas,'' she said. ''I don't think we'll be able to match this for a while, but I'd love to keep it a tradition at least once a year.''
