The Observation Deck

Looking at the Plain Dealer's coverage of the Tri C High School Rock Off, I'm curious about Lakewood's apparently complete absence from the show. What do parents of musically-inclined school age children think? Why does this happen? Does anybody care?

There are kids from all around the region: Willoughby, Aurora, Normandy, Brecksville, Westlake, Field, Tallmadge, Shaker Heights, a couple from Cleveland Heights. There's a bunch from Ignatius. An entire band from University School. One band with kids from St. Edward.

There are lots of schools and school systems not represented, including Cleveland and Rocky River. But Lakewood is the region's third largest city, and has such a strong musical presence, including serious programs featuring rock instruments, on multiple fronts. There's the Lakewood Project. There are solid jazz bands even down to both middle schools. Vance Music Studios has a serious and active rock band program, booking student bands all over town, including gigs at the Winchester several times a year. Parents are supportive. The Root's Open Mic and other programming are very welcoming to high school kids.

Is this an off year? (I don't remember Lakewood bands in this competition in previous years either, but it's not like I've done any research.) Are Lakewood kids not interested? Do our kids already have enough musical opportunity that they just don't feel the need? Are they wary of jumping into the larger musical pond?

This certainly isn't a "problem." But I really wonder why this is. Parents? Any kids reading this? Music teachers? What do you think?

http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index ... fin_1.html

Lakewood did have one band represented this year: Outburst Jr. consisting of 3 seniors, one of them is my son. They did a great job and this is the second time my son has been in the rock-off. I asked my son why more Lakewood kids weren't competing and he didn't really know.

Their band is also playing at the Symposium tonight if you want to check them out: 8:00ish and I believe it is $5. They have some really great songs and are worth checking out. I'm not just saying this because it is my son....I've seen a lot of bad bands in my day and these kids really rock. His friend Peter has an amazing voice and their music is a little reminiscent of the Pixies, slightly punk rock with lots of energy but without the harshness or contrived-ness you might see with some amateur bands. Good stuff!

Also, the article you refer to is about the final exam. These are all the bands that were chosen from the other nights of competition. It helps to sell as many tickets as possible to get to the final exam. All the bands are given a number of tickets to sell and I think they get points for selling the most. In retrospect maybe they should have posted a shout-out on the Observer to generate some interest in the community. This is my son's last year of high school so he won't be in it again.

Hello Ellen!

That's great to hear. Obviously I'm just looking at today's coverage, with the remaining 18 bands.

I can't go to the Symposium tonight because I'll be at the Winchester, where my son's band and maybe 8 others organized by Vance Music Studios are playing.

Incidentally, that's a spectacular scene, with a whole bunch of parents from Lakewood and nearby, listening to a whole bunch of middle school and early high school age kids play.

Maybe there were other Lakewood bands that entered the Tri C thing, but just aren't in the running anymore?

But how is it that the third largest city in the region, a city with so much musical strength in the schools and local businesses, and with so many resident bands, some of whose members have children who attend the local schools, how is it that Lakewood doesn't completely rock the rock off?