Of Garage Bands and Song-getting: The Musical Development of Young Rock Musicians

Abstract

This paper explores systems of music transmission, teaching and learning in evidence within the rehearsals of rock bands. Informants were nine musicians in two Seattle rock bands, all white males, ranging in age from fourteen to sixteen. Through interviews and observations of practice sessions, 'song-getting' and' skill-building' processes were noted. Attention was given to the young musicians' analytical listening behaviours, their evaluative remarks, and the social interactions of the groups' leaders as 'expert' musical models with other members of the group. Early home and school musical musical influences were examined, and ways in which the school music curriculum might be made more relevant to the needs and interests of young rock musicians are discussed.