Rock the Summer With Jensen Guitar Camp

Longtime music emporium Jensen Guitar & Music Co. will be holding a summer Rock ‘n’ Roll guitar camp for aspiring musicians ages 10-14 beginning June 25.

The camp, which will be held at the Jensen Main Stage at 2905 De La Vina, will be broken down into four full-day, week-long sessions. The first three sessions are for kids who are new to the guitar the final is an advanced program that requires at least one year of guitar playing experience. Kids who sign up for the beginner session will receive an EMD-brand guitar to keep and those who attend the advanced program will receive a mixture of guitar accessories. Jensen has held similar camps in the past but this will be the first featuring full day immersion.

“We have a lot of young people interested in playing music and the school programs seem to be fading,” said store owner Chris Jensen says of his decision to start this camp. “Parents are looking for ways to get their kids involved in music.”

At the end of the week-long camps kids will take part in a live performance in which their families can attend. Kids will also record a song of their choice and be given a copy on CD. The kids will be given a choice of making up their own song or learning a cover-likely one with simple chord progressions like “Smoke on the Water” or “Wild Thing.” “The main goal is to foster a love of music and love of learning and to help kids feel comfortable with themselves as musicians,” said camp instructor Alan Viscarra.

Kids will also be taught the different aspects performing, recording and jamming with a heavy focus on how to be in a band. They will learn to play basic chord progressions alone, with a partner and with a group. There will be an in-house drummer to play with the kids. “We want to make it accessible to any kid who wants to be a professional musician,” Viscarra said. The camp will also teach attendees how book shows, what it’s like to tour and how to form a band.

Viscarra, once a student at Jensen himself, has toured with the hardcore punk band Gather and has been playing the guitar since 1994. He also has a Masters in education and a teaching credential from UCSB and currently substitute teaches at local schools.

Each session will hold 15 kids. All sessions cost $350. To sign up or for more information, email Jensen.