Local musicians team up for CD, concert of hope, healing for Haiti

by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published March 5, 2010

ROYAL OAK — Louis Canter can’t travel to Haiti and rebuild a house, or help heal the sick and injured. In fact, not many people can.

But what he and several other area musicians are doing is putting together a CD, and organizing a concert, that will benefit the people of Haiti through the funds they hope to raise.

Canter, the archdiocese’s coordinator of music ministries, and local musicians Susie and David Taylor, with the help of Detroit School of Rock and Pop executive producer Jason Gittinger, worked together last weekend to record a track to be played at the concert. They have several other pre-recorded tracks to add to what will be a four-song CD, “Songs for a Time of Healing.”

He’s hoping to fill St. Isidore Church, Macomb Township, and raise as much money for Haiti as possible. “The opportunity we have to minister to brothers and sisters that we don’t know and have not seen is incredible,” he said.

Canter said the project came out of a poem, written by Diana Macalintal, associate for liturgy in the Diocese of San Jose. As Canter was reading it, he thought that it needed to be put to music. “In two days, I had it,” he said. “It was right. It worked.”

Working against fast deadlines — writing music quick enough for performers to learn it, recording tracks in time for CDs to be pressed before the concert — they hope to have everything in line before the concert, and are working to have CDs available through the archdiocesan Web site, www.aodonline.org/haiti. A previous concert had been done earlier in the year, not long after the earthquake.

Susie Taylor, director of music at Our Lady of Hope Parish, St. Clair Shores, has worked with Canter before, lending backup vocals for him while he provides her with original songs, for example. “Louis is so talented,” Taylor said. “He gets a thought, and he can see the full picture in here,” she said, indicating her head.

Her husband, David Taylor, professor of music at Wayne State University, and who helps in parishes’ music departments, was also on hand Sunday to lend a musical ear, to make sure all the correct notes were hit. They named the song “A Prayer in Time of Hope, a Prayer for Haiti.”

“We don’t even know who is going to be ministered (to) by this,” Canter said. “It’s our gift. It’s what we do best. The disaster there is so complete — 200,000 people are dead. That’s a lot of futures, a lot of grieving, a lot of loss.”

The money will be given to Catholic Relief Services for them to distribute to the needy of Haiti.

Stop Practicing… Start Performing®

Thanks for checking out our lesson on how to play the first riff of “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple with your friends!

Be sure to have each instrument of your band watch the video for their instrument, then watch the final video to see how to put it all together!

1. GUITAR

2. BASS

3. DRUMS

4. KEYBOARDS

5. PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!

]]> http://www.detroitschoolofrockandpop.com/2010/01/02/lesson-play-the-first-riff-of-deep-purples-smoke-on-the-water-with-your-friends/feed/ 0 http://www.detroitschoolofrockandpop.com/2009/12/18/photos-the-hard-rock-cafe-december-2009/ http://www.detroitschoolofrockandpop.com/2009/12/18/photos-the-hard-rock-cafe-december-2009/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:32:45 +0000 jason http://www.detroitschoolofrockandpop.com/?p=1207

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Crowds greet Santa at Royal Oak Parade

BY BILL LAITNER

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Billed as Santa’s first stop in metro Detroit, downtown Royal Oak’s Holiday Magic Parade kicked off the region’s Thanksgiving-through-Christmas period this morning with a blend of yule tradition and electric guitars.

Organizers estimated the crowd at more than 20,000 that crowded sidewalks from 10 a.m. until noon on both sides of South Washington from Lincoln north to nearly 11 Mile, watching a parade whose date over the years has crept earlier and earlier on the calendar until this year it predates Detroit’s big parade on Thanksgiving Day by five days.

There were plenty of traditional sights and sounds, like the award-winning Ferndale High School Marching band and the Shriners making rapid circles in their mini-roadsters. But right behind the Ferndale marchers, with their shining brass instruments and pressed uniforms, was a float of vastly different notes — those of teen musicians from the Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music, located in a former bike shop on the same street as the parade.

There were seven electric guitarists strumming, one drummer pounding, and one generator electrifying on the platform draped with signs identifying the school whose aspiring rockers also have performed at Royal Oak’s Memphis Smoke nightclub and at the Detroit Zoo.

“We played ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ and the other tune was ‘Greatest Time of Year.’ It’s a Christmas song that was done by Aly and AJ, a Disney act of a few years back,” said Gittinger, who pulled a wagon-load of the school’s brochures behind their float, hoping to interest some newcomers in his school.

As the rockers rolled past, others waited their turn — including two performers who leaned against telephone poles, seated a full 12 feet over the pavement on unicycles. Doug Oliver, 16, of Redford Township and Bryan Alexander, 19, of Dearborn Heights towered over mounted police of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, who as they rode by said, “How’d you get up there? That’s a lot harder than climbing on a horse.”

Contact BILL LAITNER: 586-826-7264 or blaitner@freepress.com

Cedar Point is searching for talented entertainers and technicians to fill more than 100 positions in the park’s Live Entertainment Division for the 2010 summer season.

Representatives from the Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park/resort will be holding open auditions and interviews in Royal Oak from 3-5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13 at the Detroit School of Rock & Pop Music, located at 1109 South Washington in Royal Oak.

Positions that are available include:

· Performers – singers, dancers, singers/dancers and singers/musicians;

· Musicians – electric guitars, bass guitars, keyboards and drummer/percussionists;

· Technicians – stage managers, sound and light technicians, stage crews, ushers, costume shop personnel and dressers;

· PEANUTS characters – costumed characters and escorts; and

· Karaoke hosts and DJs

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by May 2010 to audition.  Each audition piece should be limited to 16-32 bars.  Applicants should select music that is upbeat and illustrates their personality and ability to interact with audience members.  A CD player and piano will be available, but other instruments and amplifiers will not be provided.  Interested applicants should bring a one-page resume with references to the audition.  Reporting dates run from late April to early September.

Those who cannot audition in person can send audio and/or videotape with a resume to:  Cedar Point Live Entertainment, One Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, OH 44870-5259.

With thrilling rides, award-winning live entertainment, special attractions and resort accommodations, Cedar Point is one of the most popular amusement parks and vacation destinations in the country.  It has been named the “Best Amusement Park in the World” for 12 consecutive years.

For more information, please contact the Live Entertainment Division at 419.627.2388, by e-mail at liveshows@cedarpoint.com or online at cedarpoint.com.

The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music rocks the Royal Oak Holiday Magic Parade

Join us as the students of The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music show us what happens when you “Stop Practicing…” and “Start Performing”. The City of Royal Oak will usher in the holiday season with one of metro Detroit’s most festive holiday celebrations. The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music will showcase some of the most talented music students in the region as they light up their float in this holiday extravaganza.

Where: Downtown Royal Oak

When: Saturday November 21, 2009 – 10am

CEDAR POINT AUDITIONS:
Audition Alert
Cedar Point Auditions
Thursday, November 13, 2009

DETROIT SCHOOL OF ROCK & POP MUSIC HOSTS CEDAR POINT AUDITIONS FOR THE 2010 SEASON ON THURSDAY,
NOVEMBER 13TH IN ROYAL OAK

WHO: The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music, will host auditions on behalf of Cedar Point.

WHAT: The Detroit School of Rock & Pop Music will host auditions for Cedar Point’s 2010 season. Interested musicians, technicians or administrative personnel are welcome to audition. Please note: Auditions and interviews are closed; only the person auditioning (and an accompanist, if needed) will be permitted in the audition room. Bring resume and music selection of rock, pop or country to comply with Cedar Point music standards.

WHEN: Thursday, November 13th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music
1109 South Washington Avenue
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067

CONTACT: The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music
(888) 988-ROCK

AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION:
Cedar Point 2009 Auditions Information

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/jobs/applying/auditions/index.cfm

Celebrate fall at the zoo

SEPTEMBER 27, 2009

The weather may still be summer-like, but the calendar says fall is here. The Detroit Zoo is celebrating the change of seasons with the third annual Fall Festival Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 3-4.

The two-day festival features live entertainment, children’s activities, hayrides and seasonal food. All activities take place in the Main Picnic Grove from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., rain or shine. Entrance to the Fall Festival is free with regular Zoo admission.

Student and faculty bands from The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music will entertain visitors and a fun-filled children’s activity area will include arts and crafts, fall-themed games, a giant inflatable slide, straw maze, pumpkin painting and face painting. Admission to the children’s activity area is $5 per child in addition to regular Zoo admission.

Visitors can hop aboard a hayride for $2 per adult and $1 per child (ages 2-14) and enjoy the sights at the front of the Zoo. Fall-inspired food such as polish sausage, bratwurst, apple strudel, caramel apples, beer and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

The Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile and Woodward, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through October and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. November through March. Admission is $11 for adults 15 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 14; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org

BY STEVE KOWALSKI • ECCENTRIC STAFF WRITER • AUGUST 9, 2009

ROYAL OAK — If Woodward is reserved for the “big kids” to cruise and relive their youth, then the Downtown Development Authority has something planned for the rest of the kids not quite old enough to drive.

The first-annual Kids Cruise, along Fifth and Center streets in downtown, will be held 4-10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The Downtown Development Authority is sponsoring the event to help promote downtown business, which has historically struggled the week of the Woodward Dream Cruise presented by MotorCity Casino Hotel, according to Stephanie McIntyre, downtown manager for the DDA.

“The general feeling in town is, it would be great to get some of those people (on Woodward) over our way,” McIntyre said.

The official day for the 15th annual Dream Cruise is Saturday, Aug. 15, but organizers expect cruisers and spectators to gather all week in anticipation.

The Kids Cruise won’t actually be a cruise, unless some decide to bring a Big Wheel type ride. But it’ll definitely be a place for kids and their parents to gather for fun, according to McIntyre.

“We’re in the stretch drive (of planning),” she said.

Though the Kids Cruise will only cover two city blocks, and a parking lot at Sixth and Center, businesses from throughout the downtown are planning sidewalk sales, McIntyre said. Some restaurants will be offering two for one specials, she added.

Entertainment will included Oldies music and other tunes from the Mydols, The Candy Band and Detroit School of Rock and Pop. The latter is a music school for children aged 12-16, a few years older than the children expected for the Kids Cruise.

Jason Gittinger, who owns Detroit School of Rock and Pop with his wife, Sherry, said the Flawluss Vikteree and Collision Course are scheduled to play for the Kids Cruisers.

“It’ll be exciting and sort of inspirational for the younger kids seeing someone slightly older than them doing something they might enjoy themselves,” Gittinger said.

Gittinger is a professional musician who said he has always been out of town performing during past Dream Cruise events. From all he’s heard, he thinks the Kids Cruise will be a complementary event.

“Anything that gets people together as a community is good in my book,” he said. “It’s kid friendly and helping downtown in challenging times.”

By AMY KURAS
Special to The Oakland Press

Published: Saturday, August 1, 2009

Some kids are doing science experiments at camp this summer, or sharpening their math skills, or making lanyards.

But kids at the Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music’s summer camp are honing their abilities to rock out and listening to a guitarist for an all-female metal band tell stories from the road.

Jan Kuehnemund, founding guitarist of all-female metal band Vixen, visited the campers at the school in Royal Oak this week. Led by school founder and director Jason Gittinger, Kuehnemund answered questions about the life of a real rock musician.

“It’s an exciting life with lots of travel and interesting people, but there’s also some less than glamorous moments,” she said.

One was when the band was playing in Guam in extreme heat and humidity. The band was playing four sets and in between “we had to go into this creepy little dressing room,” she said. There were enormous cockroaches which they would spray with hairspray to keep them stuck to the wall. Then the power went out. Their drummer tripped and broke her ankle and had to play their last set with a swollen and painful ankle.

Kuehnemund formed the band in 1980 while still in high school with her best friends from school. Eventually, they gained a large following in the Midwest, which spurred them to move to Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, after several lineup changes.

“Someone had told us to check out the Marriott to look for a day job,” she said. “We told them we’d either be their house band or waitress for them.”

Three of the four got jobs as waitresses on the spot, and paid their rent that way until being signed a few years later. The band ended up touring with the Scorpions, Bad Company, Eddie Money and Ozzy Osbourne, to name a few. They disbanded in the mid-1990s and reformed in 2001, with Kuehnemund as the only original member left. They continue to tour and record.

Campers at the Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music are formed into bands by Gittinger, and learn to perform. The focus is on getting them to perform as a group, not so much practicing on their individual instruments. Most of the kids are teens and have a decent bit of experience on their instruments.

Gittinger arranges opportunities for the band to play publicly during their session, including at the Rock Stars, Cars and Guitars exhibit at the Henry Ford. Kuehnemund has a coat and a guitar from one of the band’s videos on display at the exhibit. One of the bands played for her during her visit.

“We definitely know what to watch out for now, like the drama,” said Alie Miller, a camper from Bloomfield Hills who plays drums with singer and guitarist Destiny Douglas of Novi and bassist Diana Otero of Troy in the all-female band Stuck in Zero.

Most of the Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music’s work is with adults who finally want to take their basement noodling on an instrument to the next level, but the summer camps are about giving young musicians the chance to play with a band and really live their passion for music.

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The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music’s students got the opportunity to meet the guitar player from the famous all-female metal band Vixen, Jan Kuehnemund on July 28th. They asked tons of questions about making records and touring in the “big time.” The “Summer Rocks! 2009″ July campers got a special privilege of being able to perform one of Vixen’s songs for her!

Thanks Jan for stopping by!

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The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music was proud to be able to present a clinic for the Live Entertainment Department at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio on July 16, 2009. Presented by Executive Producer Jason Gittinger, the clinic was entitled “How to stay in the music business for the long haul.”

Topics of discussion during the clinic included; motivation, passion, training and skill, personal relationships, and persistence. The clinic was well received, and Cedar Point has expressed interest in making it a regular occurrence.

The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music’s “Summer Rocks! 2009″ June campers got the unique opportunity to meet commercial music composer John Nixon from Coda Music. He showed them clips of commercials and projects that he has worked on. He gave them a bit more insight into the possibilities for creating music as a living in the commercial market.

Thanks John for stopping by!

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Come join the students of The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music as they ROCK the Royal Oak Clay, Glass & Metal show on Saturday June 13th.

As a member of the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music is happy to be a part of this year’s Clay, Glass & Metal Show. All of the school’s groups will be performing on Saturday June 13th. We’re excited to bring an awesome show to the festival attendees!