Budding rock stars dig Scottsdale camp

A group of aspiring young musicians is showing its chops in Scottsdale this week at a national rock ’n’ roll summer day camp for children and teenagers.

Atlanta-based Camp Jam opened a new five-day-long program Monday — its first in Arizona — at the Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ.

During the week, the 34 campers form bands, write songs, rehearse with topquality audio equipment and receive individual instruction on their instruments. The six camp bands will perform songs of their choice at their final rock show at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the church.

“We take kids that are into rock and turn them into rock stars in a week,” said Carole Pellate, the camp’s music director and a professional guitarist for 30 years.

Jeff Carlisi, former guitarist in the rock band 38 Special, co-founded Camp Jam in 2004 with business partner Danny Lipson. In just four summers, the program has spread to 15 cities across the United States.

They decided to add a program in Scottsdale because of the Valley’s growing market.

“The Phoenix area is such a large metropolitan area, and it has a lot of young musicians that haven’t really been tapped into,” Lipson said.

When they first started planning Camp Jam in 2003, the duo expected to enroll mostly youth garage bands who wanted to improve their skills together.

However, they found the kids who signed up were primarily “bedroom players” — musicians who practice on their own.

“Nearly all of them have never been in a band,” Carlisi said. “And the only way you become a good musician is to play in a band.”

And that is what Camp Jam teaches them, Lipson said.

“We’ve got a great formula that works in terms of really teaching the kids how to be bandmates,” he said.

Matt Oswood, 14, a freshman at Scottsdale’s Chaparral High School, enrolled after seeing fliers at a local music store. A bedroom player himself, he plays bass guitar but was not in a band until Camp Jam.

“It was cool to be in a band situation, to be able to play with people,” Oswood said.

Camp parent Red Herron, a Mesa garbage collector and amateur musician, said he is proud of how committed his son Jesse, 11, is to his music. Jesse has played keyboard for nearly three years.

“He’s got a great opportunity to learn from the camp instructors, and he’s got great talent,” Herron said. “This is excellent for him.”

Jesse had never played with a band, so he is excited to perform with his camp band, Wicked Method.

“I feel like it’s better for me to play in a band because you’re not alone, and if you mess up, people will be there to help you out,” Jesse said.

The Camp Jam team plans to expand the program, adding more summer sessions and possibly an after-school program.

Pellate is impressed by the Scottsdale first-year enrollment. She said she thinks the local area has a “potentially unlimited market.”

“My theory in life is everyone wants to be a rock star,” she said.

And if the sentiments of Herron are any indication, she’s probably correct.

“I wish they would have had this when I was a kid,” he said.