School’s out (almost) for summer, and we have the cure for the summer time blues! Join the Midcoast School Of Music and its talented staff of instructors for their second annual Rock Camp. This year, we double the rock with two separate camps at both our Bath and Portland campuses.

For those about to rock in Bath, your Rock Camp will run July 12th -16th (applications due by July 2nd). For everyone dwelling in Portland Rock City, your Rock Camp will be happening August 9th-13th (applications due by July 30th). The cost for the week is $375 with a non-refundable deposit of $187.50 due with your application. Click on the links below to download an application and medical information form, fill them out, and return them to the address below with your deposit (checks can be made payable to Midcoast School Of Music).

Midcoast School of Music
150 Congress Ave.
Bath, Me 04530

2010 Rock Camp Application

2010 Rock Camp Medical Information

For more information and details, check out the Rock Camp page.

The Midcoast School of Music is pleased to announce that we‘re able to help you meet each of these needs.  Why face the prospect of spending hundred of dollars an hour booking studio time and hiring session players?  We’ll work with you, and your budget, to ensure that your projects are completed promptly, professionally, and meet your highest expectations.  The Midcoast School of Music has quality recording equipment and engineers available on staff to assist you with every facet of recording and production.  Give us a call, and let’s bring out your best!

For more information, please e-mail us at: info@midcoastschoolofmusic.com

Or, you can reach us by phone at: 837-2955

The first session will take place at our Bath campus Jul 12th  through 16th and the second session at our Portland campus will be August 9th through 13th. Both camps will feature our fantastic staff of seasoned instructors who will be ready to pass along their experience and knowledge to eager campers both weeks. At the end of each camp, there will be a concert featuring all the bands showing off their new tricks!

Details about sign-ups will be coming soon. Don’t miss out on the best summer of your life!

Well, then an excellent place to start is by gaining a firm grasp of music theory! We are currently offering private music theory lessons with one of Maine’s best teachers and arrangers, Anthony Marro. Currently, Anthony is the director of instrumental music at Morse High School in Bath, ME along with being an accomplished saxophone, flute, and clarinet player.

This is a rare opportunity to learn music theory in a one-on-one setting! Contact Anthony Marro for more details.

Those of you already familiar with this legendary band realize what an ambitious challenge this presents, vocally in particular.  Consider the fact that “Bohemian Rhapsody” (perhaps their best known tune and one that reached #1 on the charts twice, 17 years apart, not to mention the prominent role this song played in the “Wayne’s World” movie) featured 160 vocal overdubs!

For those less familiar with the band, numerous artists past and present have credited Queen with significantly influencing their music.  That diverse list runs the gamut from Kurt Cobain to Green Day, Iron Maiden to Radiohead, and Guns N’ Roses to Lady GaGa (whose name derives from the Queen song “Radio Gaga”).

The Guinness Book of World Records reported that Queen albums/CDs have spent 1,322 weeks—or 27 years—on the U.K. charts.  The band released 18 number one albums/CDs, and 18 number one singles.  Their total sales worldwide are estimated at over 300,000,000 units (albums/CDs).

Queen was formed in 1970, and consisted of lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon, and drummer Roger Taylor.  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, the band drew their inspiration from many musical genres, including some not typically associated with rock, such as:  opera, country, ragtime, gospel, vaudeville, and folk.  Their distinct vocal harmonies, and use of multi-tracked voices to simulate the sound of a large choir remain unique characteristics of the band.  Though some have tried to emulate their sound, and some have “borrowed” to the point of plagiarism, there was only one Queen.

We’ve takin’ it to the streets, and tackled the music of the Beatles.  Now the Midcoast School of Music would like to challenge you to conquer rock royalty by taking on Queen!

Queen Ensemble Dates:
All sessions will meet on Wednesday nights from: 7:00pm-8:30pm at our Portland location.
June 9th, 2010
June 16th, 2010
June 23rd, 2010
June 30th, 2010
July 7th, 2010
July 21st, 2010
July 28th, 2010
August 4th, 2010

The cost of the ensemble will be $175.00 for the 8 week session.  The cost will include a Midcoast School of Music t-shirt and a BBQ reception following our performance.  Like all of our ensembles, we will have qualified instrument specific specialists working side by side with our students during rehearsals.  We find that this is an important element to our program, as they also facilitate sectional time with the students.  Because of the complexity of Queen’s music, this is going to play an important role in the success of this venture.

Please be in touch if this is of interest to you and your child.  We look forward to working on this new project together!

The show will be on Sunday March 7th from 5 – 9 pm – be sure to arrive early to get a good seat and enjoy a great meal at The Venue beforehand. Click here for driving directions and a map (the road isn’t that long or winding, just in case you were wondering).

Hope to see you there!

Proceeds will benefit Habitat For Humanity – a charitable organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. To accomplish these goals, they invite people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Since 1976, they have built over 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.75 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

Doors open at 6 pm with a social hour, with music starting at 7 pm. The Frontier is located at 14 Main Street Mill 3 in Brunswick, Maine (click here to see a map and get driving directions). Advanced reservations are recommended as this show will fill up fast! Call 207-725-5222 for more information and save your spot today!

We’re offering an ensemble class that will take our students on a journey to discover what put the “fab” in “Fab Four”.  Experience the music, the magic, and the mystery as you become part of our “Fab Fourteen”, performing the best of The Beatles. This ensemble will be offered this Winter – sign up soon, because these spaces will fill up fast!

In 2006 Venom returned to Portland where he has become a bass player in high demand. Averaging nearly 200 gigs a year, he performs regularly with his own reggae group East Wave Radio which released their debut album “Soulful Noise” in April 2009. He also freelances for other Portland bands and is currently in the studio working on a new project as well as a follow-up for East Wave. In addition to electric bass, Venom plays guitar, upright bass, mandolin, piano and also sings.

Beyond Johnny Venom’s formal training, his busy performance schedule and experience as a full time working bass player and guitarist add an important focus to his teaching, giving his students the training and tools to excel not only in the classroom but in the real-world playing situations as well.