Young girls in Guelph who love music will get a chance to rock together at a new March Break camp designed especially for them.
Girls Rock Guelph, a music camp for girls ages 10 to 13, takes place March 14 to March 19 at Central Public School. Deadline for signing up is March 5.
Camp organizer Steph Yates said the camp is intended to help young girls feel confident about expressing themselves musically, help build that confidence and teach them new musical skills.
The girls will be broken up into groups of similar age and form "bands" that will practice, learn to play instruments and eventually perform at a Saturday night concert for friends and family with the help of a mentor that will work with them all week. No experience is necessary.
"We're hoping to empower a young generation and equip them with basic skills. We want to encourage and help them enjoy music," said Yates, a singer/songwriter whose latest project sees her team up with Alanna Gurr in the band Cupcake Ductape.
While Yates believes this is the first camp of its type in Guelph, she said others have been successful in other cities.
Yates found out when putting a local compilation of women's music together recently just how difficult it could be to get women to share their talents.
"So many women love to play music, but they didn't think they ever could," she said. "I had to cajole women to share. There were so many closet musicians who didn't think they could ever do it."
Yates said there have been countless times over the years where she was the only woman performing on a bill.
"I've noticed the rock scene in Guelph is very male-dominated. Being the only woman on a bill was a 'thing.' I wish we didn't even notice at all," she said.
Part of the week will see local female musicians drop in to perform for the students and help teach.
In a perfect world, Yates admits, there wouldn't be a need for a girls' only rock camp. But the reality is that many young women don't feel comfortable expressing themselves musically.
"I think the history of role models is that a lot of women that rocketed to success in the music industry did so because of their sex appeal and appearance over skill. That's really frustrating for me," said Yates.
Girls Rock Guelph is made possible with the help of Kazoo! Fest and the Guelph Community Foundation,, the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition and The Oak Tree Project.
The camp is limited to 20 participants. For more information go to www.kazookazoo.ca/girls-rock-camp/ or contact Yates at [email protected].
