A SPECIAL boot camp next week will help aspiring young musicians prepare for life in a band.
Gig School is aimed at young people from the East Cleveland villages and takes place at Freebrough Academy in Brotton from Wednesday, July 27 to Friday, July 29.
The intensive three-day music summer school is run by Club Creative and supported by musinc, the Teesside Musical Inclusion project.
The young musicians will learn to play with each other in bands for the first time, learn a small set of songs and perform them at the end of the final day.
The young people will be introduced to instruments such as guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and percussion and singing – many for the first time.
They will learn how to communicate with each other as individual musicians and collectively as a band, learn about live music rehearsal set up and performance technique.
This is the fifth Gig School and follows previous successful projects held at half term and in the summer holidays.
Some young people are returning to develop their skills alongside a host of new participants recruited through Club Creative’s networks.
This year, for the first time, young people from BCT Aspire (Billingham) will be involved, providing and running the PA for the final performance Musical Inclusion Development Officer Gwyneth Lamb said: “Musical inclusion is all about giving young people the support and encouragement they need to develop their ability to express themselves through music.
“They embark on an intense and fulfilling journey which improves their self- confidence and verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
“Gig School is an important part of that process, helping to ignite their passion for music, and encouraging them to get involved with regular after school music making opportunities and take part in future events.”