SUMMER PROGRAM 2019: LET’S ROCK!

A Rockin’ Experience for Middle School and High School Musicians

After the success of CSPA’s Summer Jazz Camp for the past 4 summers, CSPA opens its doors to aspiring rock ‘n’ roll musicians from 6th to 12th grade, open to instrumentalists and singers.  One of our primary goals is to take students that have been studying privately or in their school band program and exposing them to a small group experience, playing in a rock band. 

This program is a great way for musicians to meet and play rock music with others their age.  All interested guitarists should know basic chords (i.e. G, C , D , E, A major and minor) and a scale pattern or two. We will group bands by level. 

There is no formal audition, but students should already have a rudimentary knowledge of their instrument.  Drummers should have some familiarity with a drum set, etc. Keyboard players should be at least graduated to level two. Saxes and trumpets and other wind instruments are always welcome.

Activities will include choosing, improvising and/or creating “jam” progressions as well as covering well-known classic rock tunes.  A live performance will culminate the program.

Jim Keyes is an accomplished musician, performer, songwriter and composer. He’s as likely to be heard playing original songs on an electric guitar in the rock band Hot Rod Pacer as he is singing 18th century ballads in Colonial garb. He has collaborated with many rock musicians throughout his career and plays more instruments that you can count on 2 hands! His solo act can be viewed in local eateries and performance halls in the Tri-State area as he covers rock favorites from the 50’s to the present, mastering old and new songs with his own flavor.

As a historic musician, he is drawn to its rich history and legends and his music appears on network and cable TV shows. He is currently a “green-light” composer for Getty Images. In 2008, Jim scored Historic Hudson Valley’s installations, “Winter Wonderlights” and “The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze”. Jim’s strong connection to the Hudson River inspired him to release his fourth CD of original music, “Time On The Water”, a collection of songs paying homage to life along the River.