Hinchinbrooke School of Rock hopefully will rock on

Jun 21, 2012

Photo: Hinchinbrooke School of Rock(ers) played at the IOOF hall in Parham on June 15

This year’s Hinchinbrooke School of Rock(ers) performed what might be the school’s final show on June 15 at the IOOF hall in Parham - though if it is left up to their fearless leader, teacher Julia Schall, that will hopefully not be the case.

Schall, who will be taking a year off teaching next year, founded the program at the school five years ago with the help of grants from the Limestone Learning Foundation. It has been a huge hit with students ever since it began. The program invites students in grades seven and eight to take up a variety of classic rock band instruments as well as vocals if they choose, and is big on ear training and developing a sense of timing.

Schall teaches the students how to play a number of classic rock/pop tunes, which she says is a great way to get youngsters interested in music. “It's a great opportunity, especially for students who might be a bit shy or hesitant to get up and perform on their own volition. The program is really all about communication and listening to one another, developing a feel for the music and the getting the satisfaction of creating music in a group,” she said at the concert.

HD Supply, a rock band that came together while the students were at Hinchinbrooke Public School, proves that some kids can become very motivated and will indeed go to pursue further music learning.

This year’s group of Hinchinbrooke rockers, a band called District 9, performed a number of rock classics including “I love Rock and Roll”, “Summer of 69”, “Skater Boy”, “My Generation” and many more. HD Supply closed the show with a number of classics and their own originals to the delight of the crowd. Special guest Craig Bakay opened the show with Schall, and they along with Brittany Campbell on drums, played a couple of their own old time favorites to get the show started.

Schall hopes to see the School of Rock continue but admits that things right now are up in the air. With her taking a one-year leave and Hinchinbrooke slated to close in 2013, the student rockers might see their beloved program fold. Schall said, “At this point we just have to wait to see how things unfold.” Schall said that she'd be more than willing to run the program if she finds herself at the new school in Sharbot Lake. And if that ends up being the case, the only thing that would need to change for the School of Rock would be its Hinchinbrooke designation.