Yesterday you learned about what went into putting together the first Annual Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles in Part I of this III Part series (click here to read Part I). Today, we will be learning more about the actual camp week and activities that occurred during each camp day.
“Are you ready to rock out? Welcome to Rock Camp! Follow the signs up the stairs to the registration table”
That was one of the many greetings that first met the campers and their parents in the midst of a blur of activities and getting acquainted with the (almost fifty, in quantity) campers that made up the camp on that first day of the first week of the first ever annual Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles. A high energy morning that set the tone for the rest of the week of camp. Each day would start with Punk Rock Aerobics and lead into a variety of weeklong daily classes which included: musical instrument/vocal instruction, screen printing, self-defense, songwriting, and zine making, etc.
Here is a video by official Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles videographer team Britt Ringer and Donovan Vim Crony, which shows some of the excitement of the first day of camp:
Early on some of the volunteers set their own desires and goals for the week. Volunteer Band Counselor Alli Bohl shared hers, “I hope the campers will leave knowing a little more about themselves. I want them to walk away strong and confident in the fact that they are female and they can accomplish anything they want to. Whether it be learning how to play guitar or becoming the first female president.”
To help get a jumpstart on the day and as previously mentioned, each morning started off with Punk Rock Aerobics (pictured left – photo by Becky Gebhardt) led by volunteer Chaska Potter, to help get the campers loosened up and ready for a full day (9:00 am to 5:00 pm) of learning and fun.
During each lunch hour the campers were treated to special lunchtime performances from various singer/songwriters, local bands, and performers (among them Ali Handal, Byata, DJ Automaton, Janet Robin, Lucy Schwartz, Mel Kurdian, Pasadena Scottish Pipes and Drums, Raining Jane, and Spare Parts for Broken Hearts).
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from left to right: Lunchtime performances by Spare Parts for Broken Hearts (photo by Beth Schore) and Raining Jane (photo by April Buker)
(Click on images to enlarge)
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The campers also enjoyed the daily skits depicting many situations and scenarios the campers might encounter in years to come, put on by the volunteer-comprised “Famous Rock Camp Skit Time Players,” (pictured left – photo by Beth Schore) who would perform during each morning assembly.
When away from the campers each day, the volunteers involved with the camp would share stories with each other about the day’s activities or the growth they’d see campers experiencing while grabbing something to eat or drink in the faculty lounge, speaking in an almost awestruck fashion.
“I had no idea that the girls would be so eager to learn and would embrace every aspect of this camp. Additionally, all the workshops that the girls attended were so interesting. I wish I had those when I was a kid,” stated Volunteer Band Coach and Guitar Instructor Taneashia R. Morell
As the campers formed their bands and selected their band names (Dancin’ Paint, Electric Vampires, Flipped Off, Future Generation, Pop Fusion, Punk Rock Sisters, The Blood Roses, The Flaws, The Kewl Kicks featuring DJ Pink, and Trouble in Training) — which we can all agree would rival any hipster-come lately band’s name currently out there—the growth within the campers was evident as they went from their daily courses to band rehearsals each day.
The willingness and desire to learn in what should have been a time when lessons of any sort were not a desired option, (as this was after all, their summer vacation) was infectious carrying over from one camper to another.
“The campers were all very open and bursting with creativity. Even those campers with shy and quiet personalities had many opportunities to shine. It was apparent from the songs that they wrote that these girls have a lot to say about their lives, their ideas, and the world they live in.” Volunteer Band Counselor April Buker observed.
Like Buker, all of the volunteer instructors, coaches, and counselors seemed to be equally impressed by the campers and how quickly they were taking to their instruction and direction. “The girls took to their instruments so quickly, it was amazing to watch everything come together in just one week,” exclaimed Volunteer Band Coach/Guitar Instructor Erica Flores.
Volunteer Guitar Instructor and Band Coach Marisa DeMeglio added enthusiastically, “They were really excited but never too wild — a perfect bunch! My guitar players were so focused. I loved watching the band I coached as they solved problems and put their song together. I hope they continue playing and writing music! I think they got a taste of what it’s like to be in a band and play a show, as well as more general concepts like sharing ideas and working collaboratively.”
Volunteer Drum Instructor Kristy McInnis added, “The girls surprised me in how brave and talented they were. A variety of personalities and ages, but they all brought with them a great attitude, ready to learn and be the best little rocker they could be. It brought me great joy, watching the girls learn new drums parts.”
(pictured right, camper drum circle exercise – photo by April Buker – click on image to enlarge)
Morrell proudly exclaimed, “watching a student who had never played guitar, be able to move freely through 8 different cords, with fierceness and ganas. She OWNED her instrument. LOVE IT!!!”
None of the volunteers for the camp remained unaffected for long as they witnessed the campers befriending girls from cultures and backgrounds different from their own
When asked how she would describe this first group of campers, Volunteer Band Coach/Keys Instructor Melineh Kurdian, stated, “I would describe the group of campers we had as incredibly diverse. They came from different family backgrounds, musical skill levels, and socio-economic levels. The brilliant thing that I found to be true is that they were overall able to relate to each other in a positive and open way. The five girls in my band were a perfect example of this: some were shy, some were outspoken, but they all found a way to fully express them selves and to add their own individual, unique perspective.”
With the help of their instructors, coaches, and counselors the campers continued to write and rehearse their songs which focused on various topics ranging from spending a day at the beach, going green, empowerment, rebellion, sisterhood, as well as to what they were feeling at the time or throughout the week. All in preparation of the camp’s culminating event, their Camper Showcase – taking breaks every now and then to post something on the Camp’s Shout Out! Board (pictured left – photo by Beth Schore).
After watching the videos of day 1 and day 2 of camp Singer for L.A. based band The Shakers, Jodie Schell, was inspired to send the campers a note of encouragement. When asked about her motivation to do this, she responded with “It was something I had really hoped to say in person, but I had to leave the morning of the showcase to play a show in Phoenix. I wanted to believe they were flooded with messages like my note throughout the camp, from all kinds of musicians and music fans… and then I worried that maybe they weren’t. From my own experiences, I feared that this camp wasn’t getting the recognition it deserved. While my band, The Shakers, was campaigning to win the Local Talent Search Contest for Lilith Fair, I heard a lot of backlash against the female-focused music festival. As if it’s an outdated concept to spotlight successful, talented women because the world today treats boys and girls the same. Which is just NOT true.“
The days would end with an afternoon assembly emceed by camp co-founder Mona Tavakoli. Parents would often show up early just in time to catch the afternoon assembly and witness their daughters (as well as the volunteers) jumping up and down involved in a high energy sing-along of the Camp Song, “We Rock L.A.,” an infectious jam written by volunteers of the camp that even featured a rap breakdown (click on lyrics at right to enlarge).
A few days into the camp, the campers even got to experience what a real photo shoot would feel like with photographer and camp volunteer Larissa Brantner-James (photo shoot behind the scenes photo by Marisa DeMeglio). The volunteers demonstrated to the campers how various poses would work and tried to make it as fun as possible incorporating the musical instruments, props, and even fans into the photos to keep the tone light.
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behind the scenes of photo shoot picture by Marisa DeMeglio
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Camp volunteers demonstrating posing techniques photos by Larissa Brantner-James (click on images to enlarge)
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On the final day of camp, one day prior to the first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles Camper Showcase, set to take place at the legendary Troubadour (a stage that might we mention many adult bands/artists constantly vie for a chance to play their music on) the campers went through a rehearsal of their songs. Each band would perform one song each during the Showcase. Although being the last day of camp and despite the tone being bittersweet, there was an electricity present consisting of the built-up anticipation as well as a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The campers powered through to the end of the day, as bands of campers planned sleepovers and wrote each other good-bye messages as this would be the last full day of camp they would be spending together. Most campers were not friends previously, but that didn’t mean that they’d be leaving the same way they came in. Quite the contrary, they would be leaving with a more defined sense of self and a multitude of new friends.
Check back tomorrow for the final installment in this series, A CELEBRATED SUMMER: PART III- We Rock L.A., which will focus on the First Annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles Showcase.
