'Camp of Rock' allows kids to kick out the jams

The Baltimore Sun

The music rumbled through the hallways of Park School.

Patrick Semesky bellowed out a song, practicing for a gig a few days later with a band called Funky Willy and the Git Down Boyz. Quinn Koches of Optimus Prime & the Autobots, plucked a brief solo on his bass guitar. And Alexandra Woodruff rocked on the drums with Here Comes Treble.

In all, about 75 youngsters were working on their rock 'n' roll moves as part of the DayJams summer camp.

"What these kids do here is real singing mixed evenly with guttural screaming," said Tobias Hurwitz, a guitarist who is the camp director.

For $540, participants -- from beginners to experienced musicians -- get to immerse themselves in rock for a week. They form bands, write songs, get tips on playing instruments and recording their music.

They learn about rock history in a clinic called Blues Had a Baby and Its Name was Rock 'n' Roll. Another class is an appreciation of rock guitar pioneer Jimi Hendrix.

The children also attend art classes where they create logos and T-shirt for their bands.

The day camp runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so there is time for breaks to conduct activities that include yoga and baking.

"It was nice to get a break from the music from time to time," said Alexandra, 13, of Abingdon, the Here Comes Treble drummer.

During their free time, the young musicians can unwind in a quiet room -- or in a loud room.

"In the loud room, they have to wear earplugs, but they can be as loud as they want to be," Hurwitz said.

All this builds toward a concert at the end of the week.

"On Monday, the kids come in and hear what we're going to do and they're like, 'How in the world are we going to do this?'" Hurwitz said. "On Tuesday, they are starting to think that they see how it could work. By Wednesday, they're saying, 'We rule!' Then by Thursday, they are testing their song, and Friday they're up on stage."

To give the campers a feel for how rock bands perform, guest performances are scheduled, Hurwitz said. The performers visit the camp and give the children a chance to be around older musicians.

One guest performer has been Michael Angelo Batio, the inventor of the "double guitar."

The best song written and performed by the youngsters for each week of the camp will be played on radio station 98 Rock's local music show, Noise in the Basement, and the members of the band that produces the winning song get to visit the station.

"We want the kids who attend the camp to experience everything involved with being a member of a rock band," Hurwitz said.

Patrick Semesky, 15, of Lutherville doesn't have any formal training, but last summer he started and sang for a four-man metal band called Cast Into Oblivion. He said the band has performed at open-mike events, and that the camp was a chance to hone his skills.

"I'm here to learn more about music, and how to write songs and perform," Patrick said.

During the camp he wrote a song titled "Unstoppable."

One verse contains the lyrics:

Spread your wings and soar.

They cannot stop our flight.

Victimized Nevermore. We will persist.

I am a raging storm.

I cannot be stopped.

Like fabled fury unleashed,

my wings have taken shape.

My flight is unstoppable.

"'Unstoppable' will surprise the audience," he predicted. "It has these rock words, and then there are some loud screams mixed in."

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