Rock Band

The Northampton Community Music Center is proud to present this unique summer program for students ages 10-18 who want to develop the skills they need to create and perform successfully in a band. Veteran band musicians and teachers will guide students through rehearsals and preparation for their final performance on the last day.

Students of guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals with at least two years of prior study are encouraged to register. Students of other instruments are also welcome and will be accommodated to the best of our ability. There will likely be several students who play a particular instrument in each assigned group, and the roles of participants within each group may vary across different song choices. Students are expected to demonstrate agreeability and flexibility, putting what best serves their band before their own individual desires. We want everyone to have an equally enjoyable and productive experience in the program.

Students will be placed in compatible groups according to age and experience level. Six songs will be assigned in the week of the program. All participants will be given lyrics and links to recordings of these songs via email, and are expected to arrive on the first day with a basic familiarity of them. Students are encouraged to review songs with their private music teachers in the weeks leading up to the program, but this is not required. Chord charts will be made available to students who request them. In addition to the assigned music, groups may work on a song of their collective choosing, as long as it is deemed appropriate by the coaches and Executive Director.

OPTIONAL BONUS WORKSHOP

Participants ages 13+ can opt to come earlier each morning for workshop classes in basic studio recording for a modest up-charge. Using NCMC's recording studio, participants will learn about mic'ing, multi-track recording, editing and mixing techniques using software like GarageBand and Logic.

SCHEDULE

Each day, students should arrive for check-in by 11:30 a.m. and be picked up at 4:00 p.m. Students enrolled in the recording studio workshop should arrive by 10 a.m. The final performance will be presented at NCMC at 2:30 pm on Friday. Family members and friends are invited to attend!

Monday-Thursday:

1-11:30 Optional Studio Recording Class (ages 13+)

11:30-12:00 Rock Band Setup/Free Jam

12-12:10 Daily Assembly

12:10-2:00 Coached Rehearsals

2-2:30 Snacks (provided)

2:30-3:50 Coached Rehearsals

3:50-4:00 Cleanup/Instrument Lockup/Checkout

Friday:

10-11:30 Optional Studio Recording Class (ages 13+)

11:30-12:00 Rock Band Setup/Free Jam

12-1:15 Coached Rehearsals

1:15-2:15 Stage Setup/Sound Tests/Snacks (provided)

2:30-3:30 Final Performance (invite friends/family)

3:30-4:00 Cleanup/Checkout

TUITION

$350 + $20 reg fee

+$100 to enroll in Andy's recording workshop (optional)

As always, financial aid is available to qualifying students: apply at ncmc.net/aid prior to program registration.