GREENFIELD — It seems you’re never too young to be a rock star.
Musicians as young as 9 years old will take the stage at the Ricks Center for the Arts this weekend, when the Greenfield Rock Academy presents its first concert at the culmination of its inaugural eight-week session.
Eighteen musicians of varying ages signed up for the premier course, which pairs musicians of all abilities to form rock bands within a two-month window.
One band consists of two 9-year-olds and an 11-year-old, one features adults in their 30s and 40s, and three bands are made up of musicians ages 14 to 16, plus one 22-year-old guitar player.
The academy’s founder, Brad Turnbow of Greenfield, was partly inspired by the comedic film “School of Rock” starring Jack Black, but he’d dreamed of launching such a rock school long before the film premiered in 2003.
The main goal was not only to teach newcomers how to play an instrument, but to teach musicians of all abilities the unforgettable experience of playing in a band.
“There is definitely something magical about the interaction with other musicians, whether it’s just two people getting together to sing and play together. There’s no other feeling like it in the world when you have that interaction,” said Turnbow, 52, who plays in a local rock band called Further from Zero.
“When someone plays a solo instrument it’s one thing, but it takes it to a whole different level to play with another musician or musicians. To play in front of an audience and have the energy to flow between yourself and the audience, it’s much the same thing. Magical is the only way I can use to describe it,” he said.
Turnbow first fell in love with music as a young boy watching his grandfather perform with a bluegrass band.
“When I first saw him play guitar is when I knew I wanted to play music,” said the self-taught musician, who taught himself to play guitar around the age of 12.
Knowing not all budding musicians have the ability to teach themselves, Turnbow talked to his friend and fellow musician Tony Seiler — who owns Greenfield Music Center — about hosting a rock academy at Seiler’s music store.
The two men have been impressed with just how well the first eight-week session has gone.
“It’s working out great. Brad’s doing an amazing job with it,” said Seiler, who has played with a number of bands over the years, including regional favorites Stella Luna and Duke Tumatoe.
Seiler agrees that there’s nothing quite like the shared experience of playing in a band.
“That’s the goal of learning an instrument — to play with other people and perform as a band so people can hear you. That’s why 90% of people learn to play,” he said.
Greenfield Rock Academy musicians will get their chance to shine this Sunday, May 28, when each band performs on stage at the Ricks Center. Turnbow is hoping the public will show up to support the musicians at the concert, which costs $5 to attend.
Rick Kopernak, whose 9-year-old grandson Ryder will perform with the band known as Cammostarr, knows he’ll be a nervous wreck watching the young musician take the stage.
“He’s Mr. Nonchalant but I get stressed out for him,” said Kopernak, a longtime musician who now plays with his band, Rick’s RV.
He said Ryder — a third grader at Brandywine Elementary School in New Palestine — has been having a blast taking guitar lessons at Greenfield Music Center for the past 18 months, and is looking forward to taking the stage with his bandmates this weekend.
The trio of boys had never met before they were matched up through the Greenfield Rock Academy just under eight weeks ago.
When each participant signed up, Turnbow had them submit information about themselves to determine the best way to group them into bands.
“I asked them what instrument they play or are interested in playing and what music they love, in addition to their age. I got as much information I could and started pairing them up, which was pretty challenging,” he said.
While many who signed up had been taking private lessons, musical experience was not required.
“You just had to have an interest in playing. If I gave someone a spoon to beat on a pan that would have been good enough,” said Turnbow, who was pleasantly surprised to learn all the participants had at least some experience playing an instrument, even if it was only a few lessons.
“I didn’t have anyone who showed up who had just never played an instrument before, but I had some definite beginners,” he said. “We’ve made it work, and everyone works together to fill out the sound very nicely.”
Turnbow has been blown away by how far the rock academy members have come since the first practice session April 8.
“It’s gone very well beyond my expectations, and it will continue to get better,” said the musician, who is already dreaming of hosting another eight-week session.
“The band members for the most part did not know each other. We’ve only got a couple of instances where the people were friends or had even met before the bands started, but now I’ve noticed that a lot of them are friends now. That’s how it works with musicians,” he said.
Participants paid $250 each to take part in the rock academy — including individual and group instruction, a customized band T-shirt and this Sunday’s concert — which Turnbow said works out to less money than paying for half-hour private lessons.
In addition to helping them learn their instruments, Turnbow helped each band come up with a name and design their own T-shirts.
Each band meets for one hour-long practice session each week at the Greenfield Music Center.
“I feel like I’m walking on clouds on a natural high after each pratice,” said Turnbow. “I’m in the best mood with a huge smile on my face.”
That’s not to say the process doesn’t come with challenges.
“We very much have five real bands with real band problems,” said Turnbow, who said that’s all part of the process.
“It’s not all about the music. These musicians are preparing to be in a real band, putting up with other band members. There’s etiquette involved, like not playing when someone else is tuning up their instrument. You’ve got to learn to be considerate of other bandmates by being on time, giving it your all and working on your individual parts at home.”
Kopernak has been impressed at the instruction his grandson is getting through the rock academy.
“They’re teaching them real-life experience. Being in a band is like being in a family or working on a team. You have to respect everyone and treat everyone fairly, and they’re teaching them that, which is what I find the most interesting when watching them rehearse,” said the musician.
“Brad and Tony and the whole Greenfield Music Center are doing the community a big service in keeping our kids busy and exposing them to music,” he said.
Turnbow is already dreaming of how to make a second session of the Greenfield Rock Academy even better, although no definitive plans have been made yet.
“We’re going to get this concert out of the way then look at the calendar and see what makes sense,” he said.
