Member Spotlight

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Student Performance News - Carolina S.

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This year on 3rd Thursdays in Kennett, the studio is producing a series of performances which we are calling Rock the Ramp! While there is a community building aspect to this, the Ramp Concerts are also a vehicle to provide our students with a performance opportunities.

This month, our guest performers were The Sin Brothers, our friends Erik and Mark Hetzel. They perform extensively throughout the region - the definition of what I would call local professionals. Where grooveKSq differs from other studios is that grooveKSq pairs students up with working professionals in front of a live audience. This is what musicians do, they play live. It is the best way to hone your skills.

Below is an excerpt from Carolina’s performance. She totally poised and under control, and the moment is absolutely not too big for her. Awesome performance by Carolina here.

The remaining schedule for Rock the Ramp! 2025:

August 21st: Resting Funk Face - BT, James McLaughlin (organ), Robert Mastroppolitto (guitar) play some 1960s and 1970s soul and jazz.

September 18: The Dukes of Bavaria: BT leads a German-style brass band which meets British and American hard rock and metal.

October 16: the grooveKSq All Stars - a showcase for some of our intermediate and advanced students

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New Music Alert!

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One of the objectives for our more experienced members is to get out of the practice room and use their creativity on the drumset to play gigs and make records.  There's a new single out from Dan Ciccone's band, Cicco: Dark Tea.  Click below to check it out.  Dan is a long time member of the studio and is out there making musical things happen.  

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When Preparation Meets Opportunity

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When Preparation Meets Opportunity

All the students come with slightly different goals. Some want to be in a rock band with their friends. Some want to audition for a music program at the college or university level. Some come to the studio just to have fun. Some put the work in to be professional players. ALL of these goals are legitimate, and I’ll help you move towards your goals - whatever those may be. The important thing here is that the teaching objectives are defined by the students.

The students undertake all this preparation: hand speed workouts, ear training, repertoire work, etc., so that when an opportunity presents itself, they are ready to step in and do a professional job.

Student Spotlight: Thomas L.

Congratulations to Thomas L., who recently won the PMEA District 12 audition and will be participating in the District Band Festival (and also District Chorus)! District 12 is comprised of all high schools in Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties, so there is a lot of competition for these festivals. A lot of work went into preparing for the audition, which required pieces on snare drum, xylophone and timpani. A short clip is below.

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GrooveFEST Spring 2022 Recap

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Well, what a fabulous day this was! The students all played with confidence and conviction. These student performance days are truly my favorite thing, as we can get out of the practice room and show friends and family what progress has been made. The students really do make the most interesting choices for the songs they want to learn. Many musical styles were well represented: punk rock, jazz and funk classics, some hard rock in there as well, and also a rudimental classic from the 1940s.

Thank you to the students’ families who attended, and especially to the three families who were in attendance even though their son or daughter was not performing that day. That really says a lot about the community that is surrounding the studio and these awesome young musicians.

We also have to thank Mark and Jossy Osborne for allowing our students to come in and perform at Kennett Brewing Company, that was a treat to have a professional venue for the students to experience.

There will be video pieces for each student coming out this week on our social media platforms. Stay tuned!

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation for the general support of the studio to enable us to produce more programming like this. Click here to donate.

You can also stay in the loop by joining our email list. Text GROOVEKSQ to 66866 on your smartphone.