Girls Rock Camp – the US’s highly lauded women-only music school – is coming to the UK for the first time next month.
Promising classes in songwriting, instruments and live performance, the three and a half day course aims to work on building “self-esteem” – helping women “find their voices” through music education, social justice workshops, and leadership skill building. Once the course ends, students are also encouraged to take part in a final performance at a “live gig venue.”
“(Girls Rock Camp desires) to achieve a reality where gender and culture do not decide whether a person can play music,” reads the official course manifesto. “Until we reach that goal, girls rock camp is a way to provide a space for girls where they can identify as musicians. At girls rock camp we use methods to encourage the campers’ creativity, provide a variety of different musicians and mentors as role models, and a curriculum that is a broad introduction to the world of music.”
The £250 course is currently set to take place at Dalston’s Blue Studios between May 27 to May 30. According to the camp’s website, absolutely no musical experience is needed – but participants must be at least 18 if they want to attend. The application also stresses that a quarter of places will be strictly reserved for “black, Asian and minority ethnic, queer, LGB, trans and/or disabled women.”
If you’re interested in getting involved or learning more, visit the website here.