RiverCity Rock Star Academy

The RiverCity Rock Star Academy is a program where people of all ages are able to come together and learn from music professionals as well as being able to play music. The program has summer camps for people between the ages of 6-17 that lasts for roughly five days where kids and teens from all levels of music skills are welcomed to learn and play music. Camp tuition is $400 per session [food and drink not included], but discounts are available that can take 5 percent off the price. Kids can start as young as 6-14 years old where they can learn more about the basic fundamentals of each rock band instrument. It is a 12-week course that costs $500 at regular price [discounts are available]. There is a group of 12-18 year olds that have intermediate and advanced musical abilities [on instruments including bass, guitar, keys, drums and vocal] that play music from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and Nirvana. This group is called The Rockers, which is also one of the more popular programs that are available for high school. The students will also be learning more about technique and theories during the 12-week period program that costs $850 at regular price [discounts are also available].
“I like that it gives me a chance to perform music that I couldn’t perform in choir,” Marlo Pereyra ‘17, who has been part of the program for roughly one year and is a part of the Royal Rockers, said. The Royal Rockers is an ongoing year long program that is audition-based and are for musically advanced individuals who get opportunities to perform in front of communities or private events. Tution does not cost if the student is also a part of another program like the Rockers or Legends of Rock and is available for people between 14-20 years old.
Another group that people are able to join during the summer camp is the Legends of Rock for ages 10 to18 that consists of beginning and intermediate foundation on instruments including bass, guitar, keys, drums and vocals. It is a 12-week (roughly a semester) program where kids and teens are able to learn about one legendary rock band‘s works and technique as well as performing in front of their friends and family. Connor Soejoto is the music coordinator and teacher for the River City Rockstar Academy as well as teaching private lessons for the piano and vocals at South. This year the first semester the program will be focusing on Nirvana and the next semester will feature The Beatles. The price will be $543 [discounts will also be available].
“We all come together for a specific cause and are motivated to learn our own music that others don’t necessarily relate to,” Spencer Hughes ‘18, has been part of the program for about a year and a half. “I highly recommend it, it’s really fun.”
The program also offers private music lessons for beginners, intermediate, and advanced musicians there are expert lessons available for guitar, drums, keys, and vocals. Private lessons apply to people from ages six and up, the regular price for each month is $125 [discounts are available].