For Christmas last year AJ got a Bass guitar and lessons. As parents, we put many things in front of our kids to see what sticks – what they really like and thrive at. I wasn’t sure how this would go for AJ – would the bass end up in a corner covered in dust?
Turns out – AJ really enjoys it and has taken to it quite well. He takes lessons down at Guitars Etc… on Main street here in Longmont. His teacher, Mike has done a great job, and has complimented AJ on his work and effort throughout the past 6 months of lessons.
This summer AJ participated in an extra “Rock Camp” (not geological, which is what I thought when I first heard it, but musical). For a week kids met every day and worked on a complete set for a Saturday concert.
These photos are from the concert. They are not great – lighting at concerts suck and I’m still a rookie with the new SLR camera – but it gives an idea what the final product was like. Video would be a better demonstration, and there is something on AJ’s camera that Joie took – I’ll rustle that up and post it later.
The kids played a 5-song set of tunes from he Rolling Stones (Satisfaction), Nirvana (Smells Like Teen Spirit), and Black Sabbath (Paranoid), among others.
At least two of them took turns singing lead on the songs they weren’t playing. One of the music teachers played drums, there were 4 or 5 electric guitar players, and AJ alternated with another teenage girl at bass.
I have no musical talent whatsoever, but like many who don’t, I enjoy music and do my share of jamming in my car when I’m alone (when I do it with the kids in the car I’m quickly asked to knock it off…). That said, I really enjoy watching AJ and all of these kids develop their talent. It is very impressive and even more fun to watch.