Rock ‘n’ Roll High teaches teens how to start, promote a band

STEPHANIE BERTHOLDO/Acorn Newspapers ROCK ON—Calabasas High School student Jackson Faver, 15, left, and Agoura High School students Bobby Geiger, 16, and Uri Segal,17, perform in the band Vaudeville Pop while attending Rock ‘n’ Roll High at the Agoura/Calabasas Recreation Center. The boys, who wrote many of their own songs, said they learned the importance of stage presence, among other things. Young, aspiring rock and rollers are learning how to make it in the competitive music industry through a class, Rock ‘n’ Roll High, now being taught at several local venues.

Rock ‘n’ Roll High is the brainchild of musician Aaron Burch, 25, a music producer and drummer with Good Cheer, a band that has toured the country for eight years. Classes are conducted at the Agoura/Calabasas Community Center, the Thousand Oaks Teen Center and the Agoura Hills Recreation Center.

After graduating from Pepperdine University in 2002, Burch worked for the Boy Scouts of America. “I loved working with kids and helping (them) through those tough years, but rock and roll has always been my heart and I wanted to design a program that would teach kids how to be in a band,” said Burch. “Being in a band has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.”

Emma Berson is an 8-year-old musician with a passion for the electric guitar. Although the class is intended for students 11 and older, Emma convinced Burch that she was ready to rock.

“I love this class,” said Emma. “It’s the best class ever.”

Emma’s brother, Alex, 11, was the first one in his family to hear about the class. He formed the band, The Black Stars, with aspiring songwriter Matt Pulos and drummer Dshefali Goel, 13, a student at Lawrence Middle School in Chatsworth. Dshefali is proud of the fact that she’s the only female drummer in the class.

“They would never have met and started playing together had it not been for this class,” said Dan Pulos, Matt’s father.

Between the three sites, 44 students have met and formed bands, one of the class requirements. They first learn three current rock songs, said Burch, but soon write original songs.

Students are guided in the business end of music, from how to book and promote a show to taking press photos and contacting newspapers. The students eventually record a CD in a professional music studio, and even learn about posting their music on the internet to generate buzz and build a fan base.

Branko Andrews, 12, a member of The Skulls, said, “Playing with a band . . . I’ve never done it before. It’s really good.”

Burch said he wants his students to face the pitfalls of starting a band. “I love it when they reach their biggest problem, because if they solve it, they will learn a lot about how to work in any group,” Burch said. “The biggest problem is making a decision amongst several people . . . . going with the band’s collective will and not just their own. It’s tough, but when they get it, it’s very rewarding to see.”

During the last class, students were taught about stage presence. Burch encouraged them to be more animated during performances. “How you sound on stage is totally secondary to how you look on stage,” he said.

The next session of Rock ‘n’ Roll High I and II will be offered at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center, the Agoura Hills Recreation Center, and the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center from mid-January to March.

The program is $150.

Graduating students will present a concert at the Calabasas Community Center tomorrow, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. The concert costs $7 at the door. The Black Stars, Legion, Vaudeville Pop, The Skulls, Athena, Pogs and the Underachievers will perform.

For information on enrollment, call Aaron Burch at (805) 907-8933 or e-mail him at anburch@ hotmail.com.