Schools
Camp Visit: BandWorks Gives Kids a Taste of Being in a Band
Patch looks at different camps each week this summer, this week is one that incorporates music with fun and learning to perform a small concert by week's end.
BandWorks offers local workshops throughout the year, in addition to weekly summer camps that teach students the fun of music while still preparing for a small concert for their families by the camp’s end.
“This is a great program,” said Red Dutta, a father of one of the children at BandWorks. “It’s a great opportunity for them to have fun while becoming better musicians.”
At the location of the summer camp, students learn music for three hours, morning or afternoon shift, focusing on all different aspects of a band, including the opportunity to alternate between instruments and between vocalists, according to Jeremy Steinkoler , who founded BandWorks in 1993 in Berkeley with his friend Steve Gibson. Steinkoler said the camp teaches students everything from groove, tempo, dynamics, soloing, musicianship, to stage presence and more.
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“BandWorks offers kids the unique experience of playing in a real rock band. Not a video game, not air guitar,” Steinkoler said. “It's a chance to work together with other kids toward a common goal; to make new friends, develop their musical skills, musicianship, and get a taste of what it's like to play in a real band.”
Eric Getter, a private music teacher of 20 plus years and one who holds multiple roles at Beechwood School in Menlo Park, heads the summer camps at Oak.
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“Music is not like global warming,” Getter said. “I think everyone is in agreement of its necessity.”
One week’s afternoon group of pre-teen students named their band “Santeria’s Rocking 21 Guns of California.” The name of the band pulls in parts of songs, or musicians, from different tunes the group played, such as Green Day’s “21 Guns” song.
Dutta said his son has participated in the other workshops throughout the year and has “really enjoyed” them.
BandWorks offers workshops and private lessons in addition to the week-long camps offered in June and July. The closest locations for workshops are San Jose and San Carlos.
Above and to the right is a video of one of the songs performed by “Santeria’s Rocking 21 Guns of California.”