Session I Showcase 2009

I'm the parent of a camper and board member for Girls Rock Camp Austin. I don't do any of the fun stuff (like work with the girls) or any of the really skilled stuff (like work with the girls). But when showcase day rolls around, I am always so proud of what the kids have achieved. In just five days the girls form a band, and here's the thing:

They write and perform an original song. No learning covers or so-called "classic rock" chestnuts. And we are a rock camp, not a Camp Rock.

We know that a single-sex environment for girls enhances and improves their learning. This, combined with the camp's dedication to helping girls explore an authentic expression of themselves, is what makes us different.

That's not to say you won't hear the kids' influences in their performances. The tiny, firecracker vocalist for camp band Supernova may have been channeling the voices she hears in today's radio pop, but her sincerity, confidence, and ability to hold the crowd is what we'll remember. And the band Akward (coached by board member/musician Melissa Bryan) added a little surprise coda to their performance: eight or so bars of "I Wanna Be Sedated"!