Two local virtuosos are looking to inspire the next generation of Kelowna’s musicians.
Alisa ‘Ali’ Anderson and Conroy Ross have combined their experience from professionally producing their own music as well as their teaching abilities to make the second annual Rockin’ in the Sun Bandcamp even better.
“It (the end of camp performances last year) made me tear up a little. For the performance last year, my husband was doing sound and I was watching for the most part. I took a step back and was rocking out behind the audience crying a little bit,” said Anderson.
“To see well-performed songs and seeing them succeed, that is why I teach and do the band camp. I get to see their growth.”
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Ross took over Darrell’s role last year, after having played in The Pickups with Anderson’s husband.
The duo have already secured a bigger venue, DunnEnzies Pizza Co. Upper Mission, donated without cost by the owners. The team said the donation of a space has allowed them to open the camp up to the public instead of just to their students.
“There is nothing like this in the Okanagan,” said Ross.
“It’s so rewarding for the kids. They work so hard on their instruments and keeping them engaged in the summertime, and that momentum up from working on it in the wintertime is important. It’s that little extra practice.”
Students will be arranged into bands and to work together on popular songs by musicians such as Imagine Dragons and Billie Eilish, and will learn technical tips, how to wind cables and learn how to properly rehearse songs.
“We will teach them about transitions in the songs, highlight them and help them break it down,” said Anderson.
“They will run the song once then break it down, find the pieces that don’t work and look again. Then they will perform it for the parents on a Friday and they can have a nice meal.”
The camp is for children between the ages of 10 to 15 who already know how to play their instruments.
For enrolment, e-mail rockininthesunbandcamps@gmail.com
The camp will run the weeks of June 8 until Aug. 23.
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