Alternate Learning

Alternate Learning

Company type	Independent band
Industry	Music
Founded	1977
Founder	Scott Miller
Defunct	1982
Headquarters	Davis, California , United States
Products	Music albums, EPs

Alternate Learning (often abbreviated as ALRN) was a power pop and new wave ensemble active between 1977 and 1982. Originating from Davis, California, the group was fronted by singer-songwriter Scott Miller, who later established the 1980s band Game Theory and the 1990s act the Loud Family.

Initial ALRN phase (1977–1978)

Alternate Learning marked Scott Miller's debut recording project under the independent label Rational Records. The founding lineup—Miller, Jozef Becker, and Scott Gallawa—began their performances as Alternate Learning while still attending Rio Americano High School circa 1977.

Their self-titled first release, a four-track 7" EP, was produced by the original trio in Miller's home studio located in Sacramento and independently issued through Rational Records in 1979.

The band and this EP became closely identified by the acronym ALRN, prominently displayed on the cover art. Although officially credited to Alternate Learning, this release is widely recognized as the ALRN EP and occasionally called the Green Card EP, named after its opening song.

Davis-based original lineup (1978–1980)

In 1978, Miller moved the band to Davis, California to pursue college studies.

The group expanded with bassist Carolyn O'Rourke and keyboardist Lynn Ross joining the Davis incarnation, which earned local acclaim performing across the Sacramento region, San Francisco, and frequently at U.C. Davis venues.

By 1980, Ross, Gallawa, and Becker exited the band; Becker attributed his departure to interpersonal disagreements. Gallawa and Becker went on to establish Les-Z-Boys alongside Guy Kyser; Becker and Kyser subsequently co-founded Thin White Rope. Becker, who was also part of True West, reunited with Miller in Game Theory during 1989–1990 and later participated in Miller's 1990s ensemble The Loud Family.

Painted Windows era (1981–1982)

In February 1981, drummer Eric Landers and keyboardist Byl Miller (no relation to Scott Miller) joined Alternate Learning.

This lineup recorded the full-length album Painted Windows, which Rational Records released. Miller emphasized that the 1979 EP featured an earlier formation distinct from this iteration of the band.

Prior to the album’s January 1982 release, Alternate Learning performed their debut show alongside Pylon in April 1981 and maintained a consistent performance schedule through October of that year. They briefly resumed live shows again in February 1982.

All compositions on Painted Windows were penned by Scott Miller.

Disbandment (1982)

Following the release of Painted Windows, Alternate Learning’s final concert took place at the U.C. Davis Coffeehouse on February 27, 1982. The remaining members—Scott Miller, Carolyn O'Rourke, and Byl Miller—performed without a live drummer, utilizing prerecorded percussion and sound effects until drummer Gavin Blair from the X-Men joined for the concluding numbers.

Miller officially dissolved Alternate Learning in May 1982 and shortly thereafter launched Game Theory, which featured keyboardist and backing vocalist Nancy Becker, who had previously contributed synthesizer parts to Alternate Learning.

Partnership with Steve Wynn

In 1981, members of Alternate Learning joined forces with Steve Wynn to create the group 15 Minutes, which issued a single through Wynn's label, Down There Records.

The lineup of 15 Minutes included Wynn handling guitar and lead vocals, Caroline O'Rourke on bass, and Eric Landers playing drums. The single, featuring "That's What You Always Say" backed with "Last Chance For You," was both written and produced by Wynn, with engineering duties fulfilled by Scott Miller. Subsequently, the A-side track was covered by The Dream Syndicate on their 1982 release The Days of Wine and Roses.

Both songs were later included as bonus tracks on Rhino Records' 2001 remastered edition of The Days of Wine and Roses.

Game Theory’s Use of Alternate Learning Material

Within the double album Lolita Nation (1987) by Game Theory, the song "Pretty Green Card Shark" incorporates the introductory portion of "Green Card."

In 1990, Scott Miller reunited in the studio with former Alternate Learning members Jozef Becker and Nancy Becker alongside Michael Quercio to produce a fresh rendition of "Beach State Rocking." This updated version was featured as the opening track on Game Theory's retrospective compilation Tinker to Evers to Chance, distributed by Enigma Records.

Tribute Concert in 2013

After Scott Miller’s passing, a commemorative concert honoring his legacy was held in Sacramento on July 20, 2013. The event’s proceeds were dedicated to a scholarship fund for Miller’s children. Nancy Becker performed alongside Fletcher Gallawa—son of original member Scott Gallawa—and his band "Nan Becker and the Wheels," delivering a set that included Alternate Learning songs such as "Green Card," "What's the Matter," and "When She's Alone."

Reissues Featuring Remastered Tracks (2014–2020)

Following Miller's death, Omnivore Recordings acquired Alternate Learning’s original master recordings, which became part of Omnivore’s reissue series for Game Theory starting in 2014. The re-release of Game Theory’s Blaze of Glory that year incorporated four bonus tracks by Alternate Learning: "What's the Matter" from the ALRN EP, along with "Another Wasted Afternoon," "Beach State Rocking," and "The New You" from Painted Windows. A live rendition of "Beach State Rocking" was added as a bonus on Omnivore's 2015 reissue of Real Nighttime, while the 2020 compilation Across the Barrier of Sound: PostScript concluded with a remastered version of "When She's Alone."

Studio Albums

Year	Title	Format	Label	Catalog no.
1979	Alternate Learning (also known as ALRN)	7" EP	Rational	RAT-001
1982	Painted Windows	LP	Rational	ATI-002

Various Artist Compilations

Year	Title	Track listing	Format	Label
1979	The Other #1	"When She's Alone" (side 2, track 15)	CS	The Other Tapes
2004	Homework #9	"Sex War" (track 13)	CD-R	Hyped to Death (H2D #68)

Game Theory re-releases (with bonus material)

Year	Album	Additional tracks	Format	Label
REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Blaze of Glory	"Another Wasted Afternoon" (bonus track 13) "What's the Matter" (bonus track 14) "Beach State Rocking" (bonus track 20) "The New You" (bonus track 23)	LP, CD	Omnivore
REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Real Nighttime	"Beach State Rocking (Live Version)" (bonus track 19)
REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting	Across the Barrier of Sound: PostScript	"When She's Alone" (bonus track 25)

Collaborative projects

Ensemble	Release
15 Minutes (featuring Steve Wynn)	"That's What You Always Say" (Wynn) b/w "Last Chance For You" (Wynn) Issued in 1981 as a 7" single on Down There Records (DT-1) Added as bonus content on the 2001 remastered CD edition of The Dream Syndicate's The Days of Wine and Roses via Rhino Records (R2 79937)

See also

• Scott Miller
• Scott Miller discography
• Game Theory
• The Loud Family