Rock School to Begin Programming in 2014
January 15th will mark the beginning of the new Rock School programming at Youngstown! Rock School is a non-profit corporation located in Seattle, Kirkland, and Redmond whose purpose is to provide a positive environment for creativity and artistic musical expression. Rock School exposes aspiring young musicians to a rich musical curriculum designed to inform as well as inspire. Rock School had previously offered classes as part of Youngstown’s All Access program, so we are very excited to welcome them back to the Cultural Arts Center.
Thaddeus Turner, who has been working with youth at Youngstown through the Totem Star music program, will be offering a live music lab where students learn the basics of the music industry at both local and national levels. Participants will make a record, rehearse, conduct sound checks, and learn how to conduct themselves professionally. The class breaks into bands which will each be overseen by a musical mentor as they work collaboratively to write and perform original music. The overall goal is to bring the students to a level in which they can perform at Rock School showcases and record their songs in the studio!
Kelli Corrado, a resident artist of the Youngstown Cooper Studios, will be offering songwriting and vocal classes through the Rock School program. In songwriting, students will focus on learning how words and music interact to create an effective song. Through the listening lab, writing workshops, and group discussions, students will deconstruct specific songs to better understand what makes the song work. In the vocal class, students will study breathing, pitch control, supporting the air column, projection, and phrasing. After determining the vocal range of each student, participants learn how to transpose a song to a key that matches their range. Students will study care of the voice and warm-up exercises that prevent damage to the vocal chords using karaoke, guitar, and keyboard accompaniment as singing aids.
With over 150 years of combined experience in the music field, Rock School mentors like Kelli and Thaddeus provide the guidance, inspiration, and challenge necessary for students to take their music to the next level. During these sessions at Youngstown, students will be given the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to become professional musicians. Above all, Rock School programming is dedicated to the development of the whole person through mentorship with caring, supportive, and inspiring professional musicians. I can’t wait to discover the work that will come from the talented young artists participating in this program! For more information on Rock School, or to sign up for classes, visit www.rock-school.org.