http://www.myspace.com/phillipdrakemusic

Gulf Coast Observer - Index

Gulf Coast Observer - MississippiGulfCoastObserver - Index

Ocean Springs, MS--No, I am NOT interviewing
Jack Black, but that would be cool. Normally I write
about bands, their live shows & albums. This month,
I am going to focus on the creation of bands. What
brought the musicians together? What does it take to
be a musician? How do you get out of the garage and
start playing to actual people and not that Led Zeppelin
poster on the wall.
Let’s look at a few origin stories. Everyone knows
the story of 3 Doors Down, local boys, catapulted
into men of rock. Believe it or not, it could have only
taken one bad decision to remember them more as
‘the party band that could’ than what we know of
them today. You see, 3 Doors Down went through a
musician or two before they even came close to
creating the magic that is their music. If Brad
Arnold would have decided not to
take over lead vocals while
playing the drums;
the voice,
the feel, all
of it would have
made them something
slightly different. Of
course, as soon as the
band was signed to
Universal, Brad was
taken off the drums to
focus more on singing and writing lyrics,
which paved the way, evolving them to
something more.
Another good example of band creation
or ‘artist creation’ I should say is Marianne
Allison. Marianne wouldn’t be up in front
of audiences if weren’t for a Hurricane named
Katrina. The aftermath of the Hurricane gave her an
eye opener about following your dreams. Marianne
took all the songs she’d written, recorded an album,
won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2007,
and now has a band that plays consistently. Many
people can play guitar or sing, but one decision can
change your path if you’re searching.
Now I would like to focus on the title of this
month’s article, School of Rock. Experience Music,
located in Ocean Springs, is starting what they like to
call the Rock Band Program. Jeremy Bliven,
owner of Experience Music explains it like this:
“Basically we take students and non students of experience
music and get them playing together in a
real rock band format! We supply the rehearsal space,
sound system, booking of gigs at popular local live
music venues, management, and also will video their
first gig. We do all the work up front and gradually
put that responsibility on each band in the program as
we see them ready to do so! The point of the program
is to get each student into a real life onstage musical
experience! Taking lessons on various instruments is
great, but its time to get out the bedroom, and put the
skills to good use! We will hold auditions to put children
together in each band at the same amplitude! We
have had great success in the past and feel it’s a necessary
program in the development of the coasts next
generation of musicians!”
Not only is this a cool and creative way to get together
musicians searching for band mates, there is
also the opportunity to learn. All the instructors are
well trained local musicians, high school music educators,
instrument instructors. So far there are several
rock band programs. Two of the most popular are
the 3 and 6 month programs. For now, the rock band
program is only available to junior high and high
school kids, and kids playing for a minimum of 1
year. Jeremy says that the majority of students play
guitar, piano & drums; but horns, bass guitar and vocals
are becoming more popular.
So there you go. It’s not everything you need to
create a band or start your own music empire, but its
a little inspiration from me to you.
To contact Experience Music about
the Rock Band Program, call 228-
297-TONE
Experience Music is located on
Washington Street across from The
Reserve Apartments
Marianne Allison can be found on
line at: www.myspace.com/marianneallison
or www.Marianne Allison.net
www.myspace.com/phillipdrakemusic
Until next time…see you at the show!
Coast Observer www.coastobserver.com March 2009 Page 24