Girls Rock! D.C. Rocks Out At The Black Cat
The local music education collective hosts a DJing class for local women
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That rock ’n’ roll is a boy’s club is a tired, and not altogether true, notion. Even so, there are more men in music than women, and girls are generally less likely to band together on the ever-changing circuit. That is, until Girls Rock! D.C. came along. Started by a volunteer collective of local musicians, teachers, and artists, the initiative promotes a community- and education- oriented summer camp for girls between 8 and 18 years old. The second annual event won’t take place until August, but last night the collective hosted a Ladies Only Intro To DJing at The Black Cat as an educational outreach for local women of all ages.
Before a crowd of more than 40 attendees, Kirstina Gray, Les Talusan, and Maegan Wood discussed the basics of DJing. Sharing demonstration and explanation duties, they walked the crowd through the essentials of equipment, mixing, phrasing, and library aggregation, before opening the floor to questions. (Inquiries ranged from start-up costs to the ethics of using an iPod.) After the demonstration and questions, adventurous attendees were invited to practice their newly learned skills on any of several stations. The initial hesitation wore off after the first few attempts, and the room was quickly filled with competing tracks and musical combinations.
Before a crowd of more than 40 attendees, Kirstina Gray, Les Talusan, and Maegan Wood discussed the basics of DJing. Sharing demonstration and explanation duties, they walked the crowd through the essentials of equipment, mixing, phrasing, and library aggregation, before opening the floor to questions. (Inquiries ranged from start-up costs to the ethics of using an iPod.) After the demonstration and questions, adventurous attendees were invited to practice their newly learned skills on any of several stations. The initial hesitation wore off after the first few attempts, and the room was quickly filled with competing tracks and musical combinations.
Girls Rock! DC hosts several similar programs during the year to draw adults to the cause—whether as aspiring musicians or potential volunteers—through educational opportunities for various instruments. Organizers Shauna Miller and Lisa Marie Thalhammer explained the importance of creating a safe haven for young women to express themselves creatively, highlighting the positive feedback they have received from parents and campers alike. (Full disclosure: Miller is a freelance writer for The A.V. Club.) “It’s an empowerment camp at the end of the day,” Thalhammer explained. And, from the look of things, the ol' boys-club adage will soon be on the outs.
Click here to find out more about Girls Rock! D.C. or to become a volunteer.
Click here to find out more about Girls Rock! D.C. or to become a volunteer.
