Immersion Rock Montreal, or the strength of the band

If you stroll down Wellington Street in Verdun on a Friday afternoon this summer, you will see the young musicians from the Immersion Rock Montreal summer day camp unleashing themselves on stage.

During two intensive weeks of almost uninterrupted music and creation, these rock stars from 7 to 17 years old learn to play in a group and, thanks to “the strength of the band” – true maxim of the organism – to develop their interpersonal relationships.

They are accompanied by a committed and passionate team of coaches working in the local music scene. “We all say to ourselves that if we had had this experience when we were young, it would have changed our lives,” says in an interview the director of operations, Annie-Claude Nadon, also a singer-songwriter under the name AnnieClaude.

“If I had had this at 9, 10, 11, 14 years old…” says the guitarist, making a sound like her head is exploding with excitement.

“I understood the profession of musician when I was confronted with the profession of musician,” adds his colleague, program manager, Stéphane Héroux, seated at a table opposite his working wife (their nickname) at the Mutoïde microbrewery, in Hochelaga.

Two intensive weeks of rock

During the camp, the young people take over the professional studios of Musicopratik, located on rue de l’Église in Verdun.

“They do what a professional musician dreams of doing: release a song, make a music video, do a professional photo shoot and put on shows,” explains the multi-instrumentalist.

In addition, the budding musicians, whom Annie-Claude pairs according to their age and dexterity, choose their group name, create their logo (which will adorn their own band t-shirt!), explore musical styles, rehearse assiduously, in addition to skimming over the major trends in the history of rock.

All punctuated by a host of simple and useful advice given to them by the coaches: how to present your group on stage or how to hold your instrument for hours without injuring yourself, for example.

“At the end of the two weeks, everyone is on the verge of delirium, it’s crazy!” exclaims Stéphane happily. “But everyone has happiness in their stomach. It’s stupid!”

“The strength of the band”

A free outdoor show on the “Well” crowns each week of camp. “It’s very important to teach young people to get on stage, to live with this stress, to not give up, to accomplish what they have learned, and to do it with their band, their coach,” says Annie-Claude. Because a show is a gang affair.

Hence the importance for Immersion Rock Montréal, which also offers after-school programs and a day camp during spring break, to shine the spotlight on the strength of the band. “We say it over and over again!” laughs Stéphane. “But we are so much more powerful as a group. We say that we do human development using music.”

“Music is the tool; but the experience is the human behind it,” the accomplices say almost in unison. An experience that they hope will be “impactful” for young people, most of whom live with forms of neurodivergence, such as generalized anxiety or autism.

An intense experience – like the art and profession of musician – full of achievements, even in the challenges of putting on a show, which the young people are called upon to take on together.

Because it is possible that a song is not ready when you go on stage, “it could be that you messed up a little before,” Annie-Claude points out. “That can happen in life,” Stéphane reminds her.

Ultimately, “when you find the right people, when everyone is working in the same direction, has the same vision, that also becomes the strength of the band.” ” he said.

A collective experience that enriches each young person, regardless of their initial level of play. “It doesn’t change much, because in the end, the human experience is the same,” assures Annie-Claude.

The highlight of the show

In Stéphane Héroux’s eyes, the concerts are the apotheosis of the camp. “Parents remember it, friends see it,” his colleague emphasizes. In addition to pedestrians and other loiterers.

“When the weather is nice, there can be 300 people in front of us,” rejoices Stéphane, overwhelmed with pride when he sees the young people giving the best of themselves on stage, euphoric. “They can’t believe that the sound is coming out of them.”

“We have fun, we are appreciated in the neighborhood. The mayor comes, people who are homeless can watch. These shows are beneficial for everyone,” he concludes.

The free Rock la Well concerts by the youth of the Immersion Rock Montréal summer camp take place every Friday at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs church, at 4155 Wellington Street.

Visit the Immersion Rock Montreal website