Over 70 teenaged girls descended on mtsu last week for the fourth-annual Southern Girls Rock ’n’ Roll Camp.
From as far away as Texas and Vermont they travel, eager to learn new instruments, improve their skills and forge positive relationships with other girls who share a common love for music.
The camp was founded by Kelley Anderson in 2003 as the Southern complement to Oregon’s Rock ’n’ Roll Camp for Girls with the hope of encouraging other young women to become more involved in music.
Although beginning the week as strangers, these girls share a common love for music that bonds them over the course of a week as they hone their skills and work together, forming lasting friendships and learning about the intricacies of the music business.
With a curriculum that includes screenprinting, photography and music theory classes, SGRRC is a foundation they can draw upon for years to come in the music industry.
Taking advantage of MTSU’s state-of-the-art media system in the Wright Music Building, SGRRC provides beginning, intermediate and advanced instruction in guitar and drums, classes for bassists, keyboardists and electronic musicians. This allows the girls to focus on their own strengths and receive personal, one-on-one attention from the instructors, mostly volunteers from the area.
Some, like vocal coach Sarah Matthews, are returning as instructors after years as campers.
“I’ve been coming since the beginning. I just love it and can’t get away from it,” she says. “The camp was such a positive experience for me and I hope to bring that to a new generation.”
After establishing bands early in the week, the girls work hard to learn a new song for presentation at Saturday night’s camp showcase. Though a few bands opt for cover songs, most of this year’s eclectic mix of bands wrote their own music and lyrics for the pinnacle performance.
“It really is the best part of the week,” shares Anderson, who enjoys listening to the progression of the songs through the bands’ daily practices. “They work so hard to get it all together and it’s exciting to see it pay off once they’re out there onstage.”
And the girls love it.
“Everyone is really friendly and it’s a welcoming atmosphere,” shares Maya Wimmer, 13, of Brentwood, who started a band with friend Olivia Throckmorton.
“I’d had a guitar forever, but I’d never really picked it up. My mom heard about the camp, so I came three years ago and finally learned to play and I love it,” says Throckmorton.
These Southern rockers find the camp both rewarding and challenging.
“They try to teach you more than you can handle, which forces you to try harder and reach for more,” Says Heather Fraser, 15, of Nashville.
Molly Swift, 16, of Brentwood, agrees, “The individual classes really help with learning guitar and music theory. The different levels of training make you constantly strive harder.”
Middle and high school can be a tough time for girls as they try to find their place in the world. SGRRC is a great place to encourage self-discovery and development. These are girls who aren’t afraid to express themselves, whose individuality and uniqueness stand out impressively.
Whether fastening a guitar strap and raising her head proudly, kicking off flip flops to beat the bass drum, or standing boldly in the spotlight with a microphone in hand, these girls exude confidence.
And that is pure rock ’n’ roll.
