Ever since black artists of the 1950s taught us all that it was OK to take a bit of the blues, and add some R&B rhythm to it all, rock ‘n’ roll has become one of our most democratic art forms. Putting aside the expansive perfectionism of bands like Pink Floyd or Rush, rock music has been about a low barrier to entry. Figure out a couple of chords, a paradiddle, and a couple of the most basic notes on bass, and you’re off. Punk showed us that it was even better if you made mistakes along the way — they added character to the songs. Being in tune or on time was secondary to the music’s message. And that’s why rock music is a fantastic medium for kids who want to do an afterschool activity that doesn’t require sporting equipment.
Supported by Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), the Rock and Roll Society’s Centre for Arts and Music brings music instruction to city schools, but there are no oboes or recorders. It’s about guitars, drums, bass, vocals and keyboards. It’s about teaching the kids some basic notes and having them bash out some songs in pretty quick order. “We will take anybody and we will turn them into a fully functioning, performing band,” says Program Manager and instructor Curtis Ross, whose voice comes across like a morning radio host.
“Even though rock ‘n’ roll is decades old, at this point, kids are still pretty excited about electric guitars and amps and hitting drums.” – Curtis Ross
The program serves about 150 kids across Edmonton. So, when the kids get the instruments, what are the first songs they learn? Ross says most parents will immediately think of the Ramones or AC/DC, bands that keep things simple. But he said the Ramones songs are too fast for most kids, and AC/DC, despite the riffand-repeat style, are more complicated than the nonmusician may think. The Cranberries’ political anthem “Zombie” and Fleetwood Mac’s break-up tearjerker “Dreams” are two of the songs the kids first learn. They’re not fast songs, and they’re not packed with chord changes. “They may not know a chord at first, but they’ll quickly pick up a couple notes,” says Ross, “Once they start playing together, all of a sudden you’re performing a whole song.”“We know what songs are approachable for a group of new musicians. Thankfully, the rock catalogue is full of songs that have very low barriers to entry.” Amanda Sokol, the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Rock and Roll Society, recalls a discussion she had with one of the kids in the program — the student told her “they promised me rock music, who doesn’t want to be a rock star?” And Sokol was told that, yes, the program had delivered on that promise.
Why is this program so important? It’s because exposure to the arts at a young age helps a student in every facet of his, her or their school life. A study by the Children’s Music Workshop indicated the graduation rate for schools with music programs is 18 per cent higher than schools without them. This is just one of the reasons ECF provided the Rock and Roll Society of Edmonton with a $34,700 Community Grant in 2023 and a $60,500 grant in 2024. The funding supported staff positions, enabling the Society to expand its Centre for Arts and Music Program to more schools.
“We know that after-school programs are essential for many parents and children,” says Joanne Currie, ECF’s Director of Grants and Community Engagement. “Beyond improving grades and graduation rates, these programs create safe, supportive environments where kids can engage with positive role models, while also helping parents balance their work and home lives.” Those hours after 3 p.m. can be risky times; the parents aren’t yet home from work, so the kids often fend for themselves. And that’s when they can get themselves into trouble. So, why not bash away at the guitar, instead? “For a lot of kids, there’s not something else for them to do after school,” says Sokol. “If you ask some of them, I just go home, or I’d play video games or whatever. So, it’s something to do after class. The parents like that. It’s a safe space for their children to be.
“They also have a huge choice in the songs that are played, you know, within limits, of course. So I think that’s something that maybe they don’t get in other music programs … I hear a lot from the students who I’ve spoken with that they’re just happy to be with their friends as well, doing something that’s different and something that they really like.”
And, it’s a free program. Let’s face it, guitars are expensive. Drum kits require a lot of effort to lug around. So, having them set up and ready to go at the local school is a big deal. After the kids get familiar with the instruments, they’re challenged to write their own songs. And they’ll play them live, too. Ross says he’s regularly blown away by the quality of music being produced by the kids. “That’s my favourite part of the program,” he says. “I’m so proud of them. In this program, they go from learning basic covers to writing and recording their own music. Some of them come in with experience. Some of them have no experience at all. But, over the course of the school year, they do everything that a modern band would do. We do a recording session, we write songs, we do performances, we’ll even do a photo shoot. Once the songs are finished, we publish them on Bandcamp and Spotify. “As instructors, we’re there to help and guide. And if we hear a really cool idea, we’ll push for it and help them along with it.”
In a world where all music is available because of streaming services, Sokol and Ross are amazed by the kids’ out-of-time tastes. To them, everything is new, everything is interesting. A girl who loves Metallica goes down a guitar-player’s rabbit hole and begins to learn all about the Delta Blues. A kid asks to play a deep cut from David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane. Kids find songs from bands none of the instructors have even heard of. As Bon Scott once sang, “It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll.” But, thanks to this program, the kids are getting a boost to get them on their way.
