Walk into the Resonance School of Music in Sewell, NJ on a Friday afternoon, say sometime between 7 and 9 PM, and lend your ear to the cacophony of education. As one would expect, the sounds of scales, metronomes, the whispered conversations in the lounge, and the improvement of pieces both practiced and ignored spiral through the hallways the way they do any other day. However, there is another addition to the collection coming from the back room. The vibration in the air carries hard-hitting riffs of years gone by, perhaps a screaming guitar solo and the solid rhythm of a drum set carrying the backbeat. These sounds may carry you back to an older time or even shed light on some new music of today that is still embedded in the tradition. All this stems from the Resonance School of Music Studio of Rock.
Here students of all backgrounds, educations, and taste come together to engage in the spirit that burned through the second half of the 20th century and continues to do so to this day. The spirit of Rock n Roll. Beyond bludgeoning instruments and wailing into microphones and amps, this class opens up the students to the rich history of Rock and its various styles as it developed through the years. From its origins in Blues and R&B, into the 50s with the first stars like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, through the 60s and 70s discussing the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rush and so many more until we reach our current location on the path of popular music. This season the band is playing “Come Together” by The Beatles, “Back in Black” by AC/DC, “Electric Funeral” by Black Sabbath, “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse, “Just What I Needed” by The Cars, and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana.
Along with the history, students build an understanding of the theory and style specific aspects that make the different subgenres of Rock so unique. Perhaps a simple rhythm, a certain scale or precise sound is emphasized to show where the music gets its own je ne sais quoi. When the band brings it all into a song, that is truly where the magic happens. Students can begin to understand the environment of being in a band. Listening back to a drummer, understanding timbre and proper placement of instruments in songs, stepping back or stepping up to take a solo are all indicative of Rock and are a vital part playing and understanding music.
If you or someone you know want in on the free-wheelin’ experience of Rock n Roll here at Resonance then be sure to stop by over the summer for the Rock & Recording Camp from July 16th to July 20, 2018 from 10 – 2:30 to get the full studio experience, from rehearsing to recording, or sign up for the class held each semester.
