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This article was published 03/06/2019 (2405 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Walk the halls of Lincoln Middle School during the lunch hour and you’ll probably hear the sounds of rock ’n’ roll coming from the music room.
The guitar riffs and drum solos are the product of the school’s Rock Band program, created by teacher Dean Wasylowski 12 years ago with the goal of getting budding musicians out of their parents’ basements and into a band.
Wasylowski has been playing in the local wedding and event band, After Midnight, for the last 35 years. As a new teacher, he wanted to bring his passion for music into the school.
“There was a really humble beginning to it,” Wasylowski said. “We found some kids that knew how to play their instruments and we would get together once or twice a week and just kind of jam out.”
The program has grown since then and includes auditions every September and a series of concerts in the school and at local venues. Last month, the band played a set at the West End Cultural Centre with School of Rock Winnipeg.
“I was really nervous but it was really fun,” vocalist Bennett Brophy said.
The Grade 6 student has experience singing in divisional choirs and musicals but singing with a band has been a new experience.
“It means I’ve got to be louder for sure and I’ve gotta remember the words,” she said.
The Lincoln Rock Band ranges in size each year depending on how many students try out. This year, the band is made up of Brophy, Erich Rommel (guitar), Lake Ledrew (guitar), Adam Rintoul (bass and guitar), Ethan Narine (keyboard), Tim Franklin (drums) and Zak Skakum (bass and vocals).
For Ledrew, his place in the ensemble has been a long time coming. He auditioned to be a singer two years ago but didn’t make the cut. Instead of getting discouraged, he picked up the guitar and unlocked an unknown talent.
“This was kind of my dream as a Grade 6-er to join the school rock band so then I just practised and practised and then I made it,” Ledrew said.
His favourite part of being in the band is playing live shows and working on his stage presence — which will come in handy in achieving his future goals.
“In the long run I want to be a successful musician, playing in sold-out stadiums and stuff like that, and as a guitarist I want to be able to play every single kind of style,” he said, adding that right now he’s into classic rock and metal.
The Lincoln Rock Band’s 20-song setlist includes hits by The Beatles, AC/DC, The Tragically Hip and Twisted Sister. Wasylowski tries to choose music that his students don’t know — the song Innocence by Winnipeg’s Harlequin is a fan favourite this year.
“If I pick songs that they already know I don’t think I’m bringing anything new to their lives,” he said.
In addition to learning new songs and how to play as a unit, the students get a taste of the less glamorous side of life as a musician. That includes doing sound checks, loading in, setting up and tearing down their instruments at live gigs.
“That experience, while not necessarily the most fun, is what it’s like to be a musician,” Wasylowski said.
While not every student continues playing after graduating from the Rock Band, a handful of kids have gone on to start their own bands and work as musicians over the last 12 years.
“For a lot of them, this is their first-ever band experience and where they go from here is totally up to them,” Wasylowski said. “It’s cool to be part of their early musical experience.”
Word about the program has also spread around the St. James-Assiniboia School Division — even bringing some new students to the school.
“The Rock Band was one of the things that drew me to Lincoln because I wanted to play more music and with other people,” drummer Franklin said.
Walk the halls of Lincoln Middle School during the lunch hour and you’ll probably hear the sounds of rock ’n’ roll coming from the music room.
The guitar riffs and drum solos are the product of the school’s Rock Band program, created by teacher Dean Wasylowski 12 years ago with the goal of getting budding musicians out of their parents’ basements and into a band.
Eva Wasney
Lincoln Middle School students Erich Rommel (right) and Lake Ledrew shred during a recent noon-hour practice with the school’s rock band program.
Wasylowski has been playing in the local wedding and event band, After Midnight, for the last 35 years. As a new teacher, he wanted to bring his passion for music into the school.
“There was a really humble beginning to it,” Wasylowski said. “We found some kids that knew how to play their instruments and we would get together once or twice a week and just kind of jam out.”
The program has grown since then and includes auditions every September and a series of concerts in the school and at local venues. Last month, the band played a set at the West End Cultural Centre with School of Rock Winnipeg.
“I was really nervous but it was really fun,” vocalist Bennett Brophy said.
The Grade 6 student has experience singing in divisional choirs and musicals but singing with a band has been a new experience.
“It means I’ve got to be louder for sure and I’ve gotta remember the words,” she said.
Eva Wasney
Lincoln Rock Band members show off their best rock ’n’ roll poses. This year’s band is made up of, clockwise from left, Adam Rintoul, Bennett Brophy, Ethan Narine, Lake Ledrew, Erich Rommel, Tim Franklin and teacher Dean Wasylowski. Missing from the photo is bass player and vocalist Zak Skakum.
The Lincoln Rock Band ranges in size each year depending on how many students try out. This year, the band is made up of Brophy, Erich Rommel (guitar), Lake Ledrew (guitar), Adam Rintoul (bass and guitar), Ethan Narine (keyboard), Tim Franklin (drums) and Zak Skakum (bass and vocals).
For Ledrew, his place in the ensemble has been a long time coming. He auditioned to be a singer two years ago but didn’t make the cut. Instead of getting discouraged, he picked up the guitar and unlocked an unknown talent.
“This was kind of my dream as a Grade 6-er to join the school rock band so then I just practised and practised and then I made it,” Ledrew said.
His favourite part of being in the band is playing live shows and working on his stage presence — which will come in handy in achieving his future goals.
“In the long run I want to be a successful musician, playing in sold-out stadiums and stuff like that, and as a guitarist I want to be able to play every single kind of style,” he said, adding that right now he’s into classic rock and metal.
Eva Wasney
Lincoln Rock Band vocalist Bennett Brophy sings "Innocence" by Harlequin during a recent band practice.
The Lincoln Rock Band’s 20-song setlist includes hits by The Beatles, AC/DC, The Tragically Hip and Twisted Sister. Wasylowski tries to choose music that his students don’t know — the song Innocence by Winnipeg’s Harlequin is a fan favourite this year.
“If I pick songs that they already know I don’t think I’m bringing anything new to their lives,” he said.
In addition to learning new songs and how to play as a unit, the students get a taste of the less glamorous side of life as a musician. That includes doing sound checks, loading in, setting up and tearing down their instruments at live gigs.
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“That experience, while not necessarily the most fun, is what it’s like to be a musician,” Wasylowski said.
While not every student continues playing after graduating from the Rock Band, a handful of kids have gone on to start their own bands and work as musicians over the last 12 years.
“For a lot of them, this is their first-ever band experience and where they go from here is totally up to them,” Wasylowski said. “It’s cool to be part of their early musical experience.”
Eva Wasney
Ethan Narine plays the keyboard during a recent Lincoln Middle School Rock Band practice.
Word about the program has also spread around the St. James-Assiniboia School Division — even bringing some new students to the school.
“The Rock Band was one of the things that drew me to Lincoln because I wanted to play more music and with other people,” drummer Franklin said.
