From September to June, the secondary schools here in Delta ramp up their academies, keeping the kids productive and feeding their dreams.
But in the summer, Guitar Marty's Rock School keeps the music and those dreams firing.
This year is the 10th anniversary of kids ages 10 to 17 banding together to play favourite tunes. Over the decade, 350 young folks have experienced this, many ending up with not only musical knowledge, but lasting friendships through bands that grow and even perform.
Marty Hatlelid (a.k.a Guitar Marty), a professional musician since his own teen years, has been teaching kids how to rock in these week-long summer camps for a decade and has been a significant part of the local music scene even longer.
Camps run three hours a day, and young musicians and vocalists learn what it is to be part of a band, from coming up with a name and beginning a song together, to performing on stage.
Every year culminates in a November concert that rocks the Ladner Community Centre.
The first camp begins June 22 and continues weekly through mid August. More information is available at www.guitarmarty.com/rock-school.
