| musicgarage music programs that perform™ |
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pressgarage
Getting your first gig is a big deal for any struggling
musician — or beginning musician — for that matter.
 MusicGarage.org Come Together: SLC's MusicGarage is an all-inclusive club. 
Utah Arts Alliance’s loft is prime garage-band practice space. Located in industrial South Salt Lake, it’s open and remote. The only neighbor to annoy is RC Willey, and its spokeswoman, Paige Davis, doesn’t seem the type to complain—unless the dulcet tones of fledgling rockers (sometimes out-of-tune or off-time) are her pet peeve. Those very sounds—a croaked cover of “Crimson & Clover”—emanate from a small room down a back hallway at the UAA building. A four-piece band of teenagers (two guitars, drums, keys) and one big dog stand crammed into the room, where teacher Steve Auerbach wildly waves his arms, signaling chord changes. The song and the class conclude, and Auerbach praises the band—especially the tow-headed guitarist who bravely stepped up to sing. “They’re getting better,” he says of the group, part of Auerbach’s MusicGarage program. A lifelong musician/producer/engineer, Auerbach helped establish the Paul Green School of Rock in Utah. When PGSoR downsized its Utah presence last year, Auerbach’s position was eliminated. Hoping to continue in that line of work, he started MusicGarage.org. A different kind of youth music academy, the program exists as an affordable alternative—not necessarily a competitor—to schools like PGSoR and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Academy. According to Auerbach, fees for those programs range from $200-$350/month, and include private lessons, rehearsals and shows. While not unreasonable, the rates can be tough for some families to afford. MusicGarage “is not a music school and we’re not a business,” he says. “We’re more like a music club or a community.” Private teachers keep on teaching; MusicGarage is an add-on service where musicians of all ages and stylistic leanings can get performance training for the rock-bottom price of $10 an hour. The only restriction is that, due to the band-performance emphasis, only intermediate-to-advanced players may enroll. Ya gotta have some chops if you wanna get in on the gigs MusicGarage sets up after their 10-week cram sessions. Students might even have to lay down some tracks at MusicGarage’s sister facility, Midnight Records Studio. In its short existence, MusicGarage has put down real roots in the community, teaming with the Salt Lake City School District on a Sony-sponsored music-production computer lab, and Park City Community Education for a rock-specific performance program. Early next year, MusicGarage will open a rehearsal space/venue/recording facility in Bountiful. Auerbach is stoked. “If I had a day job, I’d volunteer to do this work because it is fun and important work.” Published: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009 6:32 p.m. MDT Musicgarage gets all ages onstage Kids, adults get a feel for what it's like to perform in concert By Jennie Nicholls Steve Auerbach, former coordinator for the Paul Green School of Rock, thinks he has created the solution for getting musicians that stage experience. His latest venture, musicgarage, gathers 16 like-style musicians and forms them into a music group, which after 10 weeks of jamming and rehearsal, performs a concert. "It's for musicians to actualize their musical skills on stage — but it's a lot cooler than a recital," Auerbach said. The group of 16 meets once a week for two hours and is cast to songs rather than forming definitive bands. Musicgarage focuses on collaborating with kids who are taking private lessons in jazz or rock, and connecting those students with others in an interactive, band environment. "It creates a whole social aspect, a social platform, to help create a new music community in Salt Lake's music scene," Auerbach said. Students will report back to their instructors about their performance progress. "A report goes to the private lesson instructor. Then we can connect their lessons to their rehearsals to perfect their efforts," Auerbach said. Aside from young rockers, those of an older generation, possibly still reveling from the latest Cream reunion tour, can pull out their guitars and play with a group via musicgarage. The Web site address is www.musicgarage.org. Auerbach believes there are adults who don't have the time to start up their own band but have time to practice two hours a week. "This will keep music in people's lives," Auerbach said. Auerbach referred to the project as "recession proof" because musicgarage is based on simply keeping kids involved in music and doesn't require a hefty fee. "I want to be more accessible. Who can afford a couple hundred dollars a month on an after-school program in this economy?" Auerbach said. Musicgarage is $10 an hour for two hours per week. The cost covers a practice facility, drums, amps, mikes, keyboards and a producer to manage the group. Auerbach said musicgarage will help musicians reach their rock potential and help them get over the onstage jitters. "These people already know how to play. They know how music works and how to play their instruments, but this teaches them how to utilize their craft, learning how to be a musician in a real setting with confidence," Auerbach said. Auerbach, who will be a group producer, said is excited to be working with talented kids again, since he left School of Rock in early 2008. Interested musicians need to be at an intermediate to advanced level to participate. Musicgarage just started its fall session, which runs through Nov. 17. Park Record Park City, Utah Newspaper (link) Out of the garage, into the classroom Parents push for after-school rock program Greg Marshall, of the Record staff August 15, 2009  Gabe Reilly, a musicgarage student. (Greg Marshall/Park Record) A group of parents and students is urging the Park City School District to adopt an after-school program for the fall. The subject: rock 'n' roll. Called musicgarage, the course would be geared mostly toward junior high students and would be held once a week for 10 weeks at Treasure Mountain International School. Classes are for kids who have at least a year of instrument study. Organizers have tentative plans to hold classes Monday afternoons beginning the first week of October. Jane Toly, the leisure learning coordinator for the district, said a decision about the program will be made by the start of September. "We definitely want to offer it," she said. "We're in the process of getting approval. If students want to perform, we want to help them." The status of the program will be published on the community education section of the district's website, pcschools.us. One of the aims of musicgarage is to allow intermediate and advanced musicians to rehearse together, and eventually form their own groups, said instructor Steve Auerbach. Auerbach concluded a 10-day pilot workshop Friday. Students learned an assortment of classic-rock songs by the likes of the Beatles, Stevie Wonder and U2. A cover of Bob Dylan's sprawling "Desolation Row" also made the list. The group performed the set Friday at O'Shucks at Quarry Village. "They chose the music," Auerbach said. "The whole goal is to provide something that's a little different and let students actualize their skills through recitals." Parents are enthusiastic about the idea of an after-school program, even if enrollment remained slim in August. Six kids signed up for the summer session. Auerbach said he hopes a program in the fall would attract about 16. Having the district sponsor rock classes after school would be convenient for kids, and their road-weary parents, advocates say. Patty Deden looked on as her daughter, Christine, played keyboard on a cover of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles She said band rehearsals complement Christine's traditional private lessons on piano. Christine has taken keyboard lessons for about a year and is enjoying the experience, according to her mom. Her wardrobe suggests as much. At the rehearsal, Christine wore a T-shirt branded with images of John, Paul, George and Ringo. But the most important lessons have little to do with rock. "She's learning teamwork by playing with kids around her own age," Deden said. |
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Listen
here: musicgarage.org
founder talks to RadioWest's Doug Fabrizio about music, learning and youth. music programs provider |
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