Thursday, September 18, 2008

Rio's Rock Band

Dear Parents,
Our after school program will be hosting auditions for two real rock bands that
will learn and perform 3-5 songs in a ten-week session. This is NOT a video
game. Each session the two bands will divide up with their instructors and learn
their individual parts for the songs that we will be doing. This means that the
first half of each session the two drummers will go with Emma Littlefield to
learn the drum parts, the vocalists and rhythm guitarists will go with me to
learn their parts, and the bassists and lead guitarists will learn from Ryan
Zash and Devin Avey, two members in my band, The Wild Rovers. The second half of
each session we will all come back together to perform the songs as a band in
the Multi Purpose Room.

The goal of this experimental after school class is to give students a shot at
being in a band and to experience the thrill of performing REAL songs for
people. In fact, if you know anybody with band equipment that they would be willing to
donate, or let us use for 10 weeks, please let me know. Students who have their
own instruments will be encouraged to bring theirs each week.

Our auditions will be next Friday, September 26th in the Multi Purpose Room
starting at 2:30 p.m. Each child will need to come with some song, or part of a
song that they will be sharing their skills with. If your child does not make
the first session, we will be having another rock band session in the spring.
More details will be coming soon. All students who are interested should be
encouraged to come, even if they have never even played before. The main thing
we will be looking for is rhythm and students who will practice, practice and
then practice some more.

Please e-mail me if you would like your child to participate in the auditions
and we can go from there. Specify which instrument they will play....Vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass or drums. Choose wisely parents.... You
just might have a band in your garage in a couple months ;>)
I also sent this letter to each class.

Rock on,

Martin Sweet
Rio Del Mar After School Coordinator
5th Grade Teacher
Rocker

"Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which
it would not reach if it were left to itself. " ~Henry Ward Beecher