Sociology graduate student Rocky Clay Eagon is spending his summer starting up a nonprofit organization to help children learn music and teamwork.
The first project of the Musical Institute for Children will be Eagon's rock and roll camp for kids between 8 and 18. Sandia High School volunteered to host the camp July 14 through 25.
Eagon, who is in a local band and has taught guitar before, said the camp will be different from ordinary music lessons.
"Kids can get instrumentˇlessons anywhere, but this will give them the unique experience of what it's like to be in a band with your peers and create musical fusion as a team," he said.
Teamwork is the main focus of the Musical Institute's mission, Eagon said.
"Our goal is to empower kids through music and give every child the opportunity to feel special, talented and important in a safe, encouraging and acceptingˇenvironment," he said.
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Eagon has taught at several similar camps before. Emma Zaretsky was one of his students in Connecticut six years ago.
She said she still remembers how the experience changed her life.
"I asked for a guitar for my birthday the next year, and I've been playing ever since," she said.
But more importantly, Zaretsky said, Eagon always emphasized getting everyone involved in working together.
"And that's important, because kids are going to use that for the rest of their lives; we all have to work together," Zaretsky said. "And music is the best way to learn that, because you also get to express yourself, enjoy yourself and make something beautiful."
Eagon will work with five other counselors during the two-week camp, which should have 40 youths participating.
One of the counselors is Casey Echternacht, bass player in the band Mediocrates, which Eagon sings for.
"We hope to not only teach the kids an instrument but get them the full rock band experience - let them cooperate with other kids," Echternacht said.
Echternacht will be teaching bass and guitar, while Eagon teaches vocals, during the first few days of the camp.
After that, the students will be allowed to form their own bands based on what they have in common musically.
Echternacht said there will be about five or six kids in each band - one drummer, two guitarists, one bassist and one or two vocalists.
"Each counselor will be personally responsible for one band in particular, but we'll also help out with everybody," he said.
Echternacht said it is important for children to learn to cooperate because they can use that skill in the future, especially in the workplace.
He said there are other benefits to playing in a band.
Growing up in the Midwest, Eagon said, he found that sports were everything, and unathletic children were not encouraged as much as others.
"Working with kids, I see that if they're not a really good athlete, the kids don't feel worthy," he said. "Every kid is great for who they are - some are really good artists, some really like animals, some are into reading, but they don't get that same kind of reinforcement as kids who are good at sports."
Eagon said having a chance to play in a band and perform on stage can help kids build confidence.
"I've seen kids who have never picked up an instrument before and have never gotten on stage before, and they got up there, and I think that led to them being more confident about themselves," he said. "There's kind of this unconditional thing that music can bring. Self-esteem is really what we're going to be working on, along with music."
