The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Rock Camp teaches kids rock ‘n roll basics
Jim O’Mahony: Local musician leading Rock Camps for teens
ONEIDA >> Many young budding musicians will soon experience the thrill of performing a rock concert live before an audience thanks to Jim O’Mahony and his brand-new Rock Camp.
Their concert will be Aug. 5 in the Oneida High School auditorium, featuring two separate Rock Camp bands of students from 8 to 16 years old playing songs like “Day Tripper” by the Beatles, “Kryptonite” by Three Doors Down, “The Logical Song” by Supertramp, and “Just What I Needed” by the Cars.
“This gives them an opportunity they might not otherwise have,” O’Mahony said. “They have the chance not only to play with others in an organized format, but to play in a live concert together.”
“I finally have the chance to sing to an audience,” said Rock Camp lead vocalist Bianka Gebhardt, 12, after rehearsals at Oneida High School on Thursday. “It’s just awesome.”
O’Mahony -- a well-known area musician and teacher of guitar, piano, bass, and drums himself -- recalled his idea for a Rock Camp dates back several years and is designed to offer a place for young people from all over the area to rehearse and perform a rock concert. His two-week Rock Camp, meeting two hours a day over 10 days prior to the show date, gives the students a taste of the work that goes into preparing for a live show, ultimately leading to the excitement of actually bringing that concert to the stage.
He is leading a group that features Bianka, his stepdaughter; and Kaylyn Jones, 14, on guitar; Owen Paz, 8, on keyboards; Jack Towns, 10, on keyboards; Hunter Allen, 13, on drums; and Wilson Allen, 16, on bass. Dave Snediker is in charge of their other group, including Hunter Wittner, 11, on drums; Adam Clemens, 16, on drums; Peter Tolmei, 12, guitar; Logan Cuda, 11, on guitar; Keerthi Martyn, 15, on keyboards; Noah DaleyBruni, 11, on keyboards; and Elli Noti, 15, on guitar.
Each of the students is doing great, O’Mahony reported, and really developing a “team player” attitude. His Rock Camp actually helps fill a void where some students don’t usually find outlets for their musical creativ--
“This gives theman opportunity they might not otherwise have. They have the chance not only to play with others in an organized format, but to play in a live concert together.”
— Jim O’Mahony, creator of Rock Camp
ity, O’Mahony said.
“The camp is aimed towards teens who play instruments already but haven’t had the opportunity to get together and play with their peers,” O‘ Mahony said. “This is largely for students who don’t play band or orchestra instruments and therefore don’t get a chance to do this in school.”
“It’s great to be able to play in a band with other people,” young Jack agreed after he finished rehearsing his keyboard parts with the band on the song “Knights of Cydonia“on Thursday. “Usually I am just practicing at home alone, so it’s nice to be able to play with the other musicians like this.”
His dad Todd Towns said Jack seemed initially a bit unsure of what would happen in a full band setting, but quickly got over his apprehensions as he found each of his bandmates relied on each other and helped each other. Jack discovered he wouldn’t have to be out there alone -- as part of the band he would only have to play his own parts and the rest of the band would augment his perfor- mance, Towns said.
Rock Camp has been a great way for Jack to expand his own talents, Towns added.
“This has been great for him,” he said. “He’s been able to learn about playing with others, and also learn a little more about different kinds of music, too.”
“One of the best ways to improve yourself is to play with others,” O’Mahony noted.
Since it’s the first year for Rock Camp, O’Mahony said they have had a few technological issues to deal with, but that’s something that in itself is also a good learning experience for the youngsters, as it shows what they might expect as a touring band playing their own gigs.
O’Mahony said he would love to be able to do a Rock Camp again next summer, and maybe be able to do a similar program within a local school.
The best part for him is watching as their efforts in rehearsing a song start to produce a reasonable facsimile of the original.
“I love when a song starts to come together,” he said. “Everything is very tentative at first, but soon it all starts to gel. Then, I get to see the smiles on the kids’ faces, because they know it too.”
The Rock Camp students will bring their talents to the Oneida High School auditorium stage on Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.
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