The kids of Pepperland: Arianna Perez (from left), Gianna Perrone, Noah Greene, Flower Martin, Zack Ritter, and Nick Perrone on drums. (Photo: Courtesy of Pepperland)
Children learn to love music at a young age, dancing in Kindermusik classes and library story times, and while watching the “Imagination Movers” or “Sesame Street” on television.
In some, their passion for music extends for years, serving as an outlet for much teen angst and rebellion. For others, it instills discipline and sticktuitiveness.
Music camps and schools around Atlanta are taking on the task of pushing these kids one step further — helping them fine-tune their music skills so they may one day perform professionally. Or just be good enough to sing around a campfire.
Pepperland Music Camp, located near Murphy, N.C., is one of many outlets for Atlanta kids to get into music. “[Pepperland’s] vision is a lifelong process to provide a special place for kids to be free to laugh, cry and enjoy nature … inspiring musicians of the future,” says teacher Holly Howell, who lives in Atlanta. “The kids learn how to communicate with each other using music as a tool.”
The teens from Pepperland performed at a benefit this summer at Eddie’s Attic, an all-ages music venue in Decatur, and played their greatest hits from last summer’s camp. The diverse set list included songs from a variety of genres: Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” the Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier,” The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze,” and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” They ended the show with “Brick in The Wall” by Pink Floyd and “Oye Como Va” by Santana.
Pepperland celebrated its fourth year this past summer, and according to music instructor Jesse Wells, the same group of kids have been attending the camp since the first year, and “they’re moving up and branching out this year.” “The kids will be writing and playing their own songs,” Wells explains. “We aren’t just teaching them power chords, but how to work together, make good choices, and broaden horizons through rock-and-roll.”
While Pepperland is a two-week, out-of-state camp, Atlanta has several year-round schools to further a student musician’s passion. Atlanta’s School of Rock — which also has facilities all over the U.S. — performs in venues such as 10 High in Va-Hi, WonderRoot near Cabbagetown, Vinyl in Midtown, as well as competing at the Hard Rock Café downtown in a Battle of the Bands.
Georgia Perimeter College freshman Caitlyn Kelley has been attending the School of Rock for several years. While in high school, she performed in the school’s “show band” for almost a year, as well as forming her own band, Contraband, with friends from the school. (Her new band, wouldyoukindly…, has a total of five members and plays more “deathcore/metalcore/post-hardcore.”)
Kelley got her first guitar from her dad when she was about 9. “I stared at it for a year,” she said. “A year later, I heard ‘Seven Nation Army’ and picked up the guitar and taught it to myself.”
Caitlyn Kelley on the keyboards for School of Rock (Photo: Courtesy School of Rock)
In addition, Kelley plays drums, bass and piano. This allowed her to play in many songs during a season at the School of Rock. “Currently, I’m cast in the funk show on mostly keyboards with bass parts and a few drum parts tossed in,” she says. “I’ve been working my tail off preparing for the keyboard parts, because those are the ones that are usually really important in these types of songs.”
The show, which was scheduled in September at the Five Spot in L5P, was a collection of about 20 songs ranging from the Jackson 5 to Aretha Franklin.
By the time Kelley finishes her freshman year of college, she’ll be 19 — too old to participate in the School of Rock as a student. But she thinks she would be a good teacher and would love to teach at the School of Rock.
Camp Jam is in the process of building a brick-and-mortar facility in East Cobb that will allow the music school to offer private lessons, as well as have a small stage area and labs where students can watch instructional videos or DVD concerts, and host clinics.
“Last year, we did a lot of after-school programs and we were doing it mobilely,” says Steve Freeman, national director of Camp Jam, which is in its eighth year. “There were a lot of people interested and it was tough to make it work. If you’re in one spot and people get to know that’s where you are, they’re willing to drive.”
Camp Jam, which is held in various cities for one week in the summer, has more than 2,000 participants nationwide. “One of the biggest compliments we have from the camp is a lot of parents can’t believe what their kids are doing on stage,” Freeman says. “They are shy and wouldn’t play in front of anyone.”
There are bands that have formed through Camp Jam and perform throughout the year. Teens have performed at the Taste of Atlanta, homeowners’ association events, adult parties and festivals. Freeman says there are campers who have gone on to be professional musicians, but “we should keep track of that better.”
Peter Maraldo is the founder of Planet Rock School of Music, a year-round program that accepts musicians from age 7 to college-age. Planet Rock performs two show seasons a year, culminating with concerts in December and May.
“We have the tendency to attract the most serious kids in the business,” Maraldo says. “Most are determined to have a career in the music industry, whether it’s producing, singing, playing …”
Planet Rock currently has 60-75 students. “The ultimate goal is to have these children writing and performing their own music,” he adds. The majority of his students study three instruments a week, and they are encouraged to play other genres of music outside of the school.
Maraldo admits there are few places for underage bands to play, but his school has held concerts at Center Stage, the Mablehouse Amphitheater, and heaven in the Masquerade.
He says his concerts draw anywhere from 700 to 1,000 attendees and offer about eight hours of entertainment.
Girls’ Rock Camp ATL, a non-profit organization, offers a six-day summer camp for girls ages 10-16, while 17- and 18-year-olds may apply to be a counselor-in-training. During the camp, musicians learn guitar, bass, keyboards or drums and form rock bands to perform in the end-of-the-week showcase.
Charlie Bond pounds the drums at Pepperland’s music camp. (Photo: Courtesy Pepperland)
What these camps and schools have in common is teaching kids to work together and form bonds while learning how to communicate with each other using music as a tool. They’re using music to create a safe and positive environment for children to grow creatively as people and as a team where everyone must do their part to succeed.
Howell, the instructor at Pepperland Music Camp, says, “My experiences at Pepperland as an instructor and part of the camp family have been magical and renewing to my creative spirit. To see the looks on the faces of the campers as they try new things, learn to get along with each other and succeed is amazing and is what keeps me going back.”
