By Staff
JAM SESSION At the end of Peavey Rock Week, students performed at Orlando's Hard Rock Live in what was, for many, their first live performance. The 19 students were put into bands and performed an original song provided by an instructor. The bands also recorded their songs in a professional studio as part of the camp. SUBMITTED PHOTO
special to The Star
Sept. 28, 2003
ORLANDO, Fla. Peavey Electronics Corporation teamed up earlier this month with Hard Rock Academy to create Peavey Rock Week a rock 'n' roll summer camp that teaches aspiring musicians how to play musical instruments, write and record songs and perform in front of an audience.
The 19 students, averaging 15 to 16 years old, were divided into groups and taught to rock by veteran vocal and instrument coaches, then unleashed on a packed house at Orlando's Hard Rock Live in what was, for many, their first live performance.
Steinmetz, a behind-the-scenes luminary, has been involved in developing some of pop music's biggest stars, including the omnipresent Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and N'SYNC.
Students at Peavey Rock Week were just as driven as those now-household names, and Steinmetz and his staff built on their interests and talents in the same manner not only teaching them how to play, but also introducing them to how the music industry actually works.
He and longtime artist manager Diane Reed spoke with the students about the many facets of "the business," from performing to management and record label deals, sharing their experiences with the group.
But the camp taught another, often overlooked, rock 'n' roll lesson: life on the road, where hotels become home and the daily regimen is neither peaceful nor quiet.
That meant if students slept through their alarms, they were rudely awakened by roaring Peavey amplifiers.
Peavey outfitted the bands with guitars, basses, amplifiers, drums and more, and gave away two Rage guitar amps and a Generation electric guitar customized with the Hard Rock Academy logo.
Just as enticing, though, was the prospect of jamming with other players.
Peavey Electronics Corporation, headquartered in Meridian, is one of the largest manufacturers of musical instruments and professional sound equipment in the world.
Peavey holds more than 130 patents and produces more than 2,000 products, which are distributed throughout the United States and to 136 other countries.
To find out more about Peavey Electronics and its artists, visit www.peavey.com.