Category Archives: Learning
KRF Bands Rock the Organ like Santana!
Getting ready for the move has meant a discovery of buried treasure in the KRF warehouse.
This past month, a Hammond Organ was discovered. Ruben Guaderrama, our guitar instructor, and Skylar Allingham, our student intern, muscled it up to the Band Room to get it cleaned up and working.
At first there was a bit of a problem. The warehouse contained a Leslie speaker cabinet to project the organ’s sound, and the Leslie is usually standard technology for this model. But our particular Hammond was not compatible.
Ruben says “The Hammond is a staple of older rock & pop records, we really want the kids to be able to experience the full spectrum of music. While a keyboard has settings to simulate an organ’s sound, it’s a very different experience to learn on the real thing and KRF strives to be authentic.”
Eventually, a new speaker cabinet was found in the warehouse, that only needed a few small repairs.
Vicki Woods, our piano instructor, is also excited to introduce the organ to her students. Vicki originally learned to play on the organ and organ music is one of her passions. When we spoke to Ruben he told us-There’s a second organ that needs some repairs. Soon we’ll have a Hammond in the keyboard room and one in the band room–that way everyone who wants access will have it right at their fingertips!
Do you love the organ? Ask Mr. Ruben, Ms. Vicki or student, Drew Karsanow, for a demonstration of the unique sound.
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors
From everyone here at Kids Rock Free® at Fender® Center for the Performing Arts, thank you for showing your support: the D’Addario Foundation, Riverside County EDA, Union Pacific Foundation, and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation for our 1st quarter of 2014.
You have kept music in the hands of our kids! We are so grateful to you for not only showing how much you value our organization, but showing how you value music and the arts in our community. Thank you for helping us continue to imbue others with the joy and dedication that true music appreciation brings.
Looking for a Blues Getaway…………in the Bahamas?
Blues Kids Foundation Cruise in a Roundtrip from Port Canaveral, Florida!
We will set sail with Royal Caribbean International. Join us for a 4 night sailing with two sea days experience on the “Vision of the Seas” that’ll champion your inner star.
Sessions and workshops for children and adults will be directed by Chicago Bluesman and educator Fernando Jones, himself. This package is ideal for parents who want to bring their Blues playing child-musician ages 12 to 17 along on vacation to play with like-minded others . . . and the weekend warrior who simply wants to take center stage, while on vacation. On the last day the participants will perform in concert. All Blues instruments welcome.
Won’t you be my Valentine?
The Kids Rock Free® (KRF) School of Music Fender® Benders, Cutting Edge, and No Surrender (student bands) always say yes. This year they continue their friendship for a repeat performance for some very special youth. This holiday weekend they will be performing for survivors of fire at the Fire & Burn Foundation’s Winter Camp. This is a unique camp that serves as the hallmark of a burn survivor program and takes places in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Beyond the Scars Camp provides a relaxed social setting offering burn-injured children the support and counseling needed to re-establish and enhance their self-esteem. Campers discover that they are not alone—that there are other children out there learning to live with burn injury. They also get a chance to just have fun in this great natural setting. Burn Camp is a unique, positive experience for these children where they can be themselves, share common ground with others and make new friends in a nurturing environment (FireandBurn.org).
KRF believes that sharing music is vital and what better way than for kids to engage with kids. Empathy is a learned response, and making friends around music is a beautiful way to grow our compassion. Whatever our differences, we can all agree that everyone loves music. Music doesn’t just excite us, it touches our hearts. Without even using words, music can let us know we are not alone. You can be sure that all will be rockin’ to the tunes played by KRF’s student bands on Feb. 15, 2014 at 6 p.m. Lee Zimmer, guitar and band instructor, will direct all members. The parents of these high school performers will play the role of the roadies.
The nonprofit Kids Rock Free School of Music in Corona, CA provides free and low-cost music lessons to kids ages 7 – 17. Advanced students perform in bands in the community and at the school’s two concert venues. KRF has taught over 15,000 kids in over 15 years in guitar, keyboard, drums, bass and voice. Generous supporters that keep the kids rockin’ include Lucas Oil Corp., Riverside County EDA, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation and many, many more music fans.