Rock Band Programs

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ROCK MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES!

WINTER 2012 CLASS OFFERINGS:

ROCK THE BASIE!

CLASSES MEET ON TUESDAYS FOR 9 WEEKS

January 24, 31

February 7, 14, 21, 28

March 6, 13, 20

Final Concert: Thursday, March 22 at 8pm

If you’ve ever fantasized about performing on the Count Basie Theatre stage, this program is for you. Experience what it’s like to be a real “rock star” as you participate in full band rehearsals; tweaking your stage presence and gearing up for the full-length concert at the end of the session.

All instruments and all levels of musicianship are welcome. The material covers classic rock, blues, country and jazz. An audition process will place you in a band with your peers, and your role in the band will be arranged not only to enhance your current skill level, but also to take you to the next. Here is what past participants had to say:

“Thanks again for putting the Rock the Basie program together. It was all that I hoped for and then some. I had a great time and I learned quite a bit about constructing a song, mic dynamics, group dynamics and performing live. All around, a wonderful experience.” - Jim Fields

Rock the Basie veteran Paul “Blues Riffs” Bartoli, had this to say about his experience: “There’s nothing like the first time you climb onto the Basie stage; to be on the same stage as famous acts (BB.King, Buddy Guy, Greg Allman) is a real blast!”

Emancipate your inner rock star and call today to reserve your audition spot! 732-224-8778 x 125

Performing Arts Academy Interview with: Rock the Basie Director Marc Muller

You’ve been on tour with major musicians in the past, do you have any advice for people who have a family and are going on tour?

My kids were 9 and 4 when I started the long tours. The tours were basically 3 weeks away and 1-week home for 2 two-year periods. It was certainly challenging for all involved, my wife, my kids and me. I remember we had 2 sets of Dr Seuss books and I’d call at bedtime and read to them. I’d always try to get them some little object from every city or state I visited. Nothing big, just something from the region I was in. Will never forget finding something totally Swedish in Sweden and seeing stamped on the bottom “Made in Weehawkin NJ”!

When you were on tour, what was the most interesting place (city or venue) that you played and why?

I’d have to say that was when I was doing these summer jazz tours with Karen Mantler, daughter of Carla Bley back in the 80’s. I remember being in Berlin while they were still split east/west and taking the subway that cut into the East for 1 stop. So surreal, felt like I was in a movie. Then I was there again right after the wall fell and it was like a whole new city. So amazing to see both before and after, in such a short span of time.

What was the weirdest thing that ever happened while on tour?

The coolest thing that ever happened was while at the Houston Enormo-Dome in Texas during the segment of the Shania show where we were given the spotlight to say a brief “Hi” to the audience I had my family on the cell phone at home and said over the mic that my family didn’t believe I was in Texas, so, recreating a scene from one of our favorite movies Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, I sang into the mic “The Stars at night, are big and bright!” and sure enough, on cue, 25,000 people sang out as loud as could be “(clap, clap, clap clap) Deep in the heart of Texas!” It was one of the most amazing experiences on a stage for me in my life, as silly as it was.

How did you meet the other members of the band? Were some of you friends in the past and decide to form this band?

The core of the 1st show at the Basie last year were actually band mates from the annual Beatle note for note shows I had been doing at the State Theater in New Brunswick to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their releases. I knew these guys were, like me, programmed to learn things at a very high level of accuracy and could handle the perhaps more difficult job of applying this note for note concept to the Grateful Dead.

Why Grateful Dead?

Through my work with the “Rock The Basie” program I had gotten to know the Basie’s CEO, Numa Saisslin. I had just finished my own jazz CD featuring Victor Wooten and Rod Morgenstein and had given him a copy. To my amazement, one day I walked in and heard it playing in his office. Goodness Gracious, he actually listened to it! Anyway, he told me that if I could come up with a show I might be able to do it at the Basie. Knowing from past experiences if I had done a show featuring my jazz material I could probably guarantee about 4 or 5 people, and that’s if my kids came! So I went home and gave it some thought when, all of the sudden, it hit me like a brick wall, a 40th anniversary performance of a band that meant a very lot to me in my musically developmental teen years, the Grateful Dead. I emailed Numa with my pitch and he was in 100% from the word “go”. I spent the next 6 months of my life more inside the Grateful Dead’s music than I had ever been before. It gave me a new even greater appreciation for the music I grew up listening to. And I felt like I was 16 again.

Besides the Grateful Dead, is there any other type of music you enjoy playing?

To be honest, after I saw Jeff Beck play in NYC in 79 I began my journey down another musical path, towards jazz, basically insuring a life of poverty! As a lifelong professional musician though, my ears have been open to any and all types of music. In the 80’s I toured with Tommy Shaw from Styx and had a pointy headed stock guitar AND used hairspray! Big highlight of that 2-year relationship was spending 6 months opening for Rush, and my 1st experiences playing arenas. My dad got to see me perform, basically down the road from where I grew up in Hackensack, at the Meadowlands arena. He passed away shortly after that. So happy we got to share that experience together. He was so proud he almost broke my hand shaking it after the show.

How do you (and the band) prepare for shows?

Practice your parts until it hurts. It’s an amazing amount of material to have to have under your fingers.

Do you, or anyone else have any pre-show (or after show) rituals?

Nope.

How is the rehearsal process?

Everyone in the Dead On Live band are totally “Deadicated” to the project and work far above and beyond to be prepared for each time we rehearse together. These guys are the best.

What’s it like to be in a recording studio?

I’m usually wearing a bathrobe and slippers. My studio is in my home, where I do sessions for people in NY, LA, Nashville, Canada and Europe. And even some incredible local people too!

Is there a certain process that happens when recording?

Rather than try to be a good guitar player, or drummer, or bass player, or whatever, I try to be a good musician first. If one does this than you’ll end up doing a nice part, no matter what instrument.

Do you have any tips/advice for people who want to record an album?

Pay your musicians well! Haha. Be prepared. Do as much pre production as you can before going in to record. It’s not really the place to experiment, unless you have a very large budget. And, if you do, call me…

If you could go on tour with anyone, who would it be and why?

Bruce, because he’s the Boss. Or Further, now that I have such an intimate knowledge of so much of the material. Really though, I wish I could tour with my own original jazz stuff. If I could only get my kids to come!

You play a variety of different instruments-what’s your favorite to play and why?

Guitar. It’s closest to who I am. Or drums because they’re so much fun.

Did you start playing music at a young age?

As early as I can remember. Classical lessons when I was 8. I remember transcribing “Stairway to Heaven” when it came out!

Who was/is your biggest musical influence?

The Beatles and Jaco Pastorious.

What made you want to be involved with and become the director of the adult Rock the Basie program?

I was giving lessons to so many adults that needed to play with other people to make what they were learning make sense. You can take all the lessons you want but you really need to apply what you learn in a playing situation. Finally, one of my students Cliff Wittenberg approached someone at the Basie saying they should talk to me. He called me and said I should call and…. they talked to me. Thank you Cliff!

What does this program mean to you?

A LOT of work! I think I could take an easy approach and sort of let things come together but that’s not me. I come from the Mutt Lange School of work. If you’re not going to go for the best you can do, don’t go.

What lessons have you gotten out of this program?

Have a game plan of what you’d like to accomplish but, as with all things in life, be open to other opinions and direction as well. Nothing beats teamwork.

Having been in the music industry, what’s the biggest lesson that you’ve learned?

See above.

You’ve not only toured, but have done music for television shows such as Pepper Ann for Disney. Was the process different for creating songs for T.V versus creating songs for other musicians?

It actually helped me a great deal as a writer and producer of other writers. Much of the TV music had to be no more than 1½ minute long. It forced you to only keep the strongest part of a song or arrangement and cut out any fat. I still apply this to any song I work on.

How did you like creating music for T.V? Do you prefer creating songs for T.V or for other musicians?

I don’t know, what does it pay?

If you can give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue a career in the music industry, what would it be?

See above.

Rockit gives young musicians an instant opportunity to play rock-n-roll with their peers, bringing them to perform live as a band and experience the dynamics of working together to achieve a common goal. Vocalists, Drummers, Guitarists, Bass Guitarists, Keyboardists, Brass and String players are encouraged to complement their private studies with our live program. After the initial audition (and orientation class) the musicians will be divided into bands and rehearse for the next six weeks. On Sunday, March 4th, a rock concert will be held on-stage at the Count Basie Theatre. All band classes are 90-minutes long and taught by qualified instructors. Space is limited. Come experience and see why Rockit is the premiere rock band showcase for young musicians!

Audition Requirements and Procedure: Ages 8 - 16

• All students must be currently studying with an instructor or a self taught master of music.

• Students must perform a TWO-minute selection that best represents their style and ability. Vocalists may audition with a karaoke CD, musical accompaniment or sing acapella. Singing along with a prerecorded CD with vocals is not permitted. Karaoke is suggested.

• All other musicians may audition with live or CD accompaniment, or solo.

• Students are expected to bring their own guitars, straps, drum sticks, brass and string instruments. All other equipment is provided, including a full pedal board for guitarists.

• All students must attend all rehearsals unless extenuating circumstances should occur and must also perform in the end-of-semester concert.

• SUGGESTIONS: Instruments audition with a cd track or accompaniment. Guitarists need two minutes to get through a verse, chorus and solo. Soloing is not a requirement but helpful in band placement. If vocalists decide to audition acapella, please ask us for a starting note or bring a pitch pipe. Vocalists tend to go out of pitch without this. No medleys please.

If your child meets the requirements and is interested in joining Rockit, please complete the application and return it with a $10 audition fee made payable to: The Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank NJ 07701. You will be notified of your child’s audition time once the application is received.

Fees:

Audition Fee: $10 Due with application

Program Fee: $335.00 (plus $10 registration fee): Due upon acceptance into the program.

All students must comply with these guidelines and entrance to the program is based on their audition performance. Participation in past Rockit programs does not guarantee placement. The above-noted requirements are necessary to insure that each child enrolled in the program has a positive learning experience. Each band will be assigned a specific time and day for their 90-minute rehearsal class.

Scheduled program dates are:

Orientation: Saturday, January 21, 3pm (for all accepted students)

Rehearsals: Each accepted student will be assigned to one 90-minute rehearsal timeslot on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday.

The rehearsal schedule dates for this session are as follows:

Wednesdays: January 25; February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Thursdays: January, 26; February, 2, 9, 16, 23; March 1

Fridays: January 27; February 3, 10, 17, 24; March 2

Saturdays: January, 28; February 4, 11, 18, 25; March 3

Concert: Sunday, March 4, 3pm on the stage of the Count Basie Theatre.

For more information, please go to www.rockitlive.org or contact Rockit at 908-601-7027, or the Count Basie Theatre 732-224-8778 x125

Rockit! 2012 Count Basie Theatre Performing Arts Academy Winter Application Form

Click to download Rockit Application.


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