girls rock camp: loud without apology
9 Jul
“You want me to tune that for you?”
“She doesn’t write anything. He just tells her what to play.”
“Well, it wouldn’t hurt to have a cute girl on stage.”
“So, do you play acoustic?”
These are a few of the phrases I heard from boys as a girl guitarist. I do not miss those days. I really could have used a mentor back then, or even a whole congregation of female musicians routing me on. But, I couldn’t even find a female guitar instructor. I went to an old man who made me learn stuff like, “Gemini Polka.” I’m not kidding. I still have his instruction book. He was actually really great, but he couldn’t offer me the mentorship I needed as a girl standing on the sidelines of a mosh pit. I really could have used a Rock Camp for Girls.
Rock Camps have been a safe haven for girls to emmerse themselves into the music scene since 2001. I’m a volunteer at this year’s Girls’ Rock Camp Atlanta, and I could not be more excited. I would have loved to go to one one these camps when I was a teenager! It would have helped me tremendously. But I’m just as happy to participate as a volunteer and offer encouragement to these young musicians.
The pre-teen and teenage years are dramatic enough for girls, and when you fall into one of those camps of being “different” it can be seriously heartwrenching. Music is a great outlet to get you through the drama, and it was a lifesaver for me. But while most of my guy friends were in bands when I was growing up, very few of my girlfriends played instruments. The only option was to play with guys, but the prospect of playing with boys when you’re the only girl in the band is so intimidating when you’re young. I was asked to be in bands by guys a lot, but I could not handle the idea of them seeing me fail. Sad, isn’t it? I just didn’t have that kind of courage back then.
The Rock Campers have an expression, “make noise without apology.” That one really hit home for me. Girls do stuff like apologize for making mistakes, even during our first attempt to learn something. Where does that come from? It’s like apologizing for not being perfect. Part of what kept my music in the garage when I was younger was a fear of failure, even in the power-chord driven world of punk rock. While punk music does not require its musicians to be technically advanced, it does require its musicians to be loud and unapologetic, and I was neither.
Well, now I am both loud and unapologetic (at least in a music sense), and I cannot wait to give these girls the love and support that we all need when we’re learning something new and carving out an identity.
Girls’ Rock Camp Atlanta is a summer daycamp for girls ages 10-16. The camp takes place July 12-17, and there are still spots available. The camp provides instruction in bass, guitar, keyboard, drums, and vocals. Throughout the week, the girls are guided through the process of putting together a band and writing a song that they will showcase on July 17 at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. There are also workshops in areas like merch, songwriting, soundchecking, zine writing, and self-defense. Sound amazing? I think so.
Why do girls need their own rock camp? Check out the trailer for Girls Rock! The Movie to find out.
To find out if there is a Rock Camp in your city, visit Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls.
Become a fan of Rock Camp ATL on facebook and myspace.
Buy your tickets to the showcase at Variety Playhouse.
Oooh, that camp sounds great!!! I have not seen anything like that around here!
I know! I can totally see your daughter loving this camp. They do have one in d.c. Maybe by the time she’s old enough, they will have one closer to you.
I wish they had stuff like this when I was younger! I had a horribly mean piano teacher who fed tissues to her dog (because he liked them).
Wow. Tissues? What a bizarre environment for you to learn music!
I wish they had rock camp for me too. By the time the first one took place, I had already been married for a year…
Thank you so much for volunteering!! My daughter attended last year and is attending this year too. We appreciate all the women that volunteer – you’re great role models for the campers!!
Thank you!!! I’m really looking forward to it. I’m certain this will be my first of many years participating!