Every sweaty summer in Denver, girls ages 8-18 gather for the love of rock and roll at Girls Rock Denver. During their week-long lady adventure, campers receive instrument instruction, form a band, write an original song, participate in workshops designed to build self-esteem and encourage self-expression and perform their songs in a public showcase. All in one week!! One such dedicated camper is Molly McGrath, 11yrs old and in 6th grade at Denver School of the Arts where she majors in Creative Writing. Molly has been playing bass for over 4 years, and I’ve seen her shred out the Pixies’ “Gigantic” at a party and really bring the house down. Molly writes about her experience over the years at camp below. Photos by Michael McGrath.
Seen AND Heard
There are a lot of things I don’t know, but I do know that Girls Rock. Especially one week in July where volunteers, rock stars, and young girls get together and play music. Girls Rock Denver is a non-profit organization dedicated to making girls music dreams come true. You can play bass, guitar, keyboard, drums and sing. Activities include screaming, head-banging, rocking out and expressing yourself through music.
Three years ago I just liked music. Then I was taught to play music by fun and creative people. It was awesome that I didn’t have to have any musical experience. I not only played music there, but I also wrote songs. And if that’s not enough we also did exercises to boost up our self-confidence and teach us about powerful women throughout music. To top it off, there’s a big musical showcase at the end of camp where you get to perform in front of hundreds of people.
Imagine, hanging out with rock stars, having workshops on how to be awesome, and being able to write and play songs all day. This isn’t a world in your imagination, this is Girls Rock Camp. My experience at Girls Rock has been phenomenal (partially because I don’t have to hang out with my annoying little brother.) When you go to camp you find people who share your love of music. One of my friends name is Karen. She is the bass instructor and the bass player for the band “Hemicuda.” Karen is a mixture between a role model and a friend.
Girls Rock isn’t your average summer camp. Have you ever heard of Punk Rock Aerobics and a scream circle? These are some of the loudest activities at Girls Rock, and by loud I mean ear-shattering! In Scream Circle you scream your guts out and in Punk Rock Aerobics you listen to the “Runaways” while doing jumping jacks. We also have workshops on songwriting, stage presence and all different types of music.
Girls Rock Denver is a flippin’ awesome part of my life. Girls Rock inspires me to continue to write songs and play music. It is important that Girls Rock continues to show girls how to rock because I would like every other girl in Denver to have the chance to pick up an instrument and feel the power. Girls Rock has truly influenced me and many other young female rockers, and as they like to say at camp, “Girls should be seen…and heard!”
