Author Archives Greg Matses

January 23, 2015

Greetings Everyone – After 12 years, it is time for me to move on from Vermont Rock Music Camp. There are new opportunities in music and music education that I wish to pursue and I no longer have the time or energy needed to operate the camp. Several attempts at continuing the camp under new ownership proved unsuccessful.

From 2003 – 2014, the camp saw 1132 students between the ages of 11-17 form 254 bands during the 27 sessions offered in Burlington VT, Morrisville VT and Lebanon NH. Seventy-six guest artists performed for the kids during this time and included such notables as NEULORE, And Then There Were None, Jon Fishman, Gang of Thieves, Leroy Justice, Jon Finn, Township, Dirty Names, Dave Gutter, Lions Lions, Loverless, The Static Age, Rough Francis, Vorcza, Seth Yacovone, Five Seconds Expired, Tammy Fletcher, Wards, and Swale. Sixty-one staff instructors and interns weathered the heat, volume and general mayhem to impart their wisdom on the budding rockers.

Many people and organizations made this camp possible over the years .. Thank you Ted Pappadopoulos, Gabe Jarrett, Stacy Starkweather, Jeff Sackman, Megan Sackman, Bobby Hackney, Kevin Boyea, Richard Bailey, Daryl Rabidoux, Mikey Wierzbicki, Jen Cotton, Tyler Daniel Bean, 242 Main, Advance Music, Channel Two Sound, Tiffany Pfeiffer, Caleb Bronz, Gary Williams, Aram Bedrosian, Maggie Leugers, City of Burlington Parks & Rec, D’Addario strings, Planet Waves, Sam Averbuck, Marie Claire, Julian Chobot, Speeder & Earl’s Coffee, Ira Friedman, Franky Andreas, Barbara Blaisdell, Synchronicity Web Designs, Andrew Moroz, San Gordon, Topher Horner, Russ Lawton, Clint Bierman, Harry Schenawolf, and anyone I may have missed. Special thanks go out to the parents and students who supported us all these years ..

Greg Matses
Owner/Director
Vermont Rock Music Camp LLC

Rock Camp provided a forum for students between the ages of 11 – 17 to work closely with area professionals on the fundamentals of rock music performance and recording. For five days, students and faculty worked together rehearsing, writing and arranging a short set of material for each band to perform in concert on the final day of each session. Bands were formed on the first day of camp in the following possible styles: Classic Rock/Blues, Punk/Hardcore, Metal, Reggae/Jamband, Alternative/Contemporary Rock, Electronic, Singer/Songwriter and Funk/Hip-Hop. Student placement was dependent on personal preference, level and necessity. The only requirements were that the student have 1) some facility on an instrument or voice and 2) the ability and willingness to work constructively with others.

Rock Camp’s mission was to offer a structured music program for students interested in contemporary styles that fall outside the scope of traditional jazz and classical camps. The camp offered daily music theory classes and instrument clinics as well as workshops on topics ranging from digital audio recording to live sound reinforcement. In addition, each band recorded one original song for the annual Rock Camp CD. There were concerts by guest artists throughout each week. Past artists included Jon Fishman (Phish), The Static Age, And Then There Were None, 5 Seconds Expired, IsWhat?!, Loverless, Vorcza, Tammy Fletcher, My Revenge and Seth Yacovone. Rock Camp operated on a community-based model, bringing together local musicians, bands, educators, arts organizations and businesses to provide a creative and educational outlet for students.

The camp’s beginnings date back to 2001, where it operated as part of the Vermont School of Popular & Classical Arts founded by Harry Schenawolf in Jericho VT. By 2002, the camp was under the direction of Greg Matses and in 2003 he founded Vermont Rock Music Camp. The camp ran sessions in Morrisville VT, Burlington VT and Lebanon NH between 2003 and 2014.