(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gigi Snelling performs in a rock concert put on by MusicGarage, an organization that gives youth the chance to perform, Saturday November 17, 2012 in Salt Lake City.

After-school program helps hone kids’ musical talents

Music program » Steve Auerbach’s MusicGarage.org provides a resource for parents whose children want to hit the stage.

By stephen speckman

| Special to The Tribune

First Published Dec 22 2012 01:01 am • Last Updated Apr 08 2013 11:33 pm

Inside this west-side Salt Lake City cinderblock building on a school night, a bunch of children begin plugging in and tuning bass and electric guitars, then adjusting volume on amplifiers and monitors. One kid plays a note, and the whole place vibrates for a moment.

It’s a typical Thursday evening at Steve Auerbach’s MusicGarage.org, 389 W. 1700 South, where his so-called MusicGarage Kids are learning how to be in a rock band.

This rock-music training school is one of a handful of after-school programs in the Salt Lake valley designed to teach a variety of skills. About 9 percent of Utah students— or about 45,286 kids in grades K-12 — take part in such programs, according to a 2009 (the most recently released) report by the national nonprofit Afterschool Alliance. Some 15 million school-age children are left to their own devices after school in lieu of taking part in any organized activities, according to nonprofit officials.

"There is absolutely a need for after-school programs," said Ed Spitzberg, vice president of development for the Washington, D.C.-based alliance. The challenge has been a sagging economy, which has decreased budgets, while households with working parents have caused the need to increase.

Music classes can attract kids who might otherwise steer away from organized after-school activities. Music can help kids learn in a variety of skills, ranging from math to self-expression, from social skills to self-discipline, according to Spitzberg, who used to run an after-school program focusing on music and the arts.

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Teaching the world to play » In Utah, youth programs offer classes in rock music, art or filmmaking. There’s even a local franchise of Bricks 4 Kidz, which reinforces math, science, engineering and architecture concepts by employing Lego toy bricks.

Auerbach himself began music lessons as a high-school student in New York, inspired by a mentor who gave him keys to a practice room. "Every day that I go to work with these kids here, I’m reminded of my high-school experience. It only took one man to make that difference," he said.

By age 17, he was leading a band. At 19, he moved to Los Angeles to play and produce. Eventually, he enrolled at the University of Utah, where he studied with electronic composer Vladimir Ussachevsky and worked in the school’s Electronic Music Laboratory. He went on to play in local bands and manage musical careers.

In 2005, he helped launch a School of Rock franchise in Utah, but his job was eliminated in 2008. He went on to launch MusicGarage in Park City in 2009; it later moved to the Salt Lake City warehouse, where it now houses after-school classes and serves as a musicians resource center.

MusicGarage belongs to the nonprofit Utah Arts Alliance, which recently launched a student scholarship program. Utah Arts Alliance executive director Derek Dyer said Auerbach has done a good job of getting a variety of gig opportunities that put kids in front of audiences, such as at the State Fair and smaller music festivals. "I think that’s probably their greatest achievement," Dyer said.

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"Weapons of mass distraction" » On a Thursday night in late November, Auerbach’s MusicGarage Kids were rehearsing one last time before giving a concert in two days for family and friends on the garage’s stage.

The mood is serious but relaxed, punctuated at times by a howl or hoot from Auerbach, who dubs musical instruments in the hands of kids as "weapons of mass distraction." "Steve works so well with the kids — he’s like a big kid himself," said Lisa Maddux, whose son, TJ, plays multiple instruments.

If he didn’t play music, TJ Maddux, 17, admits he’d probably be playing video games. MusicGarage lends purpose and structure to the musical waters, which Auerbach helps students navigate. "He organizes this place incredibly well," TJ said. "He’s really good at making speeches and motivating everyone."

As part of the program, TJ and his peers learn how to set up the equipment, how to use a microphone and interact with an audience. They learn how to conduct sound checks. They’re taught about humility and how they fit in as a team. They learn about stage presence and how to transition between songs, and then, when the concert is over, how to break down the equipment. "The point is that kids can do this on their own," Auerbach said. "It’s rock ’n’ roll, not brain surgery. We train them how to be good bandmates. We are a band incubator."

Kyle Pollock’s son, Riley, 15, started out playing the drums using a video game. "In two weeks he could beat every song in expert mode," Pollock said. "It was unbelievable watching him play it."

Based on Riley’s interest, Pollock bought a drum kit for him, who had no prior musical experience. "He literally practiced every single day for hours," Pollock said. "That’s when I started shopping around for something to do."

Pollock, who plays the guitar, didn’t want his son to go the neighborhood band route like his old man, whose musical experiences as a youth led to "a bunch of mishap and trouble."

"If you have someone who is [musically] inclined and they want to be in a band, you have to get them into something like this," he said. He added that Riley used to seem more introverted, quiet and cautious. "I’ve seen his personality turn around in a lot of outgoing ways," Pollock said.

Riley Pollock likes what he considers the professional feel of MusicGarage programming. And he’s a fan of Auerbach. "He’s really dedicated to us," Riley said. "He’s putting a lot of time into us."

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