School of Rock
They write, perform and record their own songs. They cover the classics – from the Ramones, to Black Sabbath and Nirvana – as well as newer bands such as Queens of the Stone Age or Shiny Toy Guns. They play at festivals, parties and venues all over Central Ohio just as any other local band would.
The difference, however, is the One Union Project group is comprised of kids ages 10 to 15. Members take lessons in guitar, bass, piano, drums or voice at the Rock Factory Art and Music Studio in Pickerington, which also provides guidance in song-writing, performing and recording. The studio also takes care of booking and promoting shows and events.
Audiences won’t hear Madonna or the Jonas Brothers at a One Union Project show. A genuine love for rock ‘n’ roll and performing joins the band members together, which reflects in their songs and performances.
“Before the show, they are pretty pumped up,” says Corinne Corbett, owner and art director of the Rock Factory. “After the show, they’re still pumped, but tired. It takes a lot of energy for kids to put on that kind of show.”
One song that really gets them excited is a medley they perform of two Black Sabbath songs: Paranoid and War Pigs.
“They mix them together and it’s really cool,” Corbett says.
The band consistently grows and changes as old members move on and new members join the program. Rock Factory encourages its older members to start their own bands or to join another so they can apply what they’ve learned on a larger scale.
One Union Project gets behind-the-scenes support from family, friends and volunteers. They all work together to nurture a creative environment for the development of the children and teenagers, Corbett says. Also, all of the volunteers or teachers who get involved play in local bands or work professionally in the arts.
Rock Factory has a full stage area with lighting, sound and special effects, so kids can get experienced in a setting similar to a live performance. This also makes it a great place for local and national bands to play shows. Bands from as far away as Canada have appeared there, even though Rock Factory has only been open for a year. Rock Factory is designed differently from a typical music lesson studio, as it leases space for independent musicians, art instructors or bands who want practice space.
The openness of the studio gives students a chance to interact and promote themselves with more experienced musicians and artists. The students can learn from them and network at the same time.
Younger children with an inner rock star can also participate in the “My First Rock Band” program at Rock Factory, which is designed for kids ages 6 through 10. It gives them a basic overview of rock ‘n’ roll and is coordinated by volunteers. The Rock Factory hosts this and other programs through the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department.
Rock Factory Studios is located at 449 Hill Rd. North in Pickerington. For more information, call 614-735-4715 or visitwww.rockfactorystudios.org.
Emily Gibb is a contributing writer for Pickerington Magazine.
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