July 15th – July 26th 2024
Monday – Friday, 9am-12pm
Somerville High School
Our Approach
Every day, we play fun dance tunes and parade around the neighborhood. We never know where we might end up — a park, a bookstore, an escalator or a frozen food aisle? — but wherever we go, friendly fans are sure to follow.
We’ll play improvisational games and try our hand at group composition, watch videos of other street bands in performance, design our band’s look and style, and have break out sectional rehearsals to hone ear training and instrumental technique.
Learn
- to have fun the street band way, playing loud, lively music that gets people smiling and moving
- to be playful and spontaneous when playing your instrument, and how to listen for, and stay in, the groove while parading
- some basic street band musical forms like dance beats, blues progressions, call and response, etc.
- the history and culture of street bands around the world, their music and their model of shared leadership, improvisation and musical spectacle
Sample songs
- Dynamite! by BTS
- Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson
- Havana by Camila Cabello
- Ghostbusters Theme by Ray Parker, Jr.
Our Staff
- Rosalie Norris is a School of HONK mentor who has served on the performing arts faculty in Boston Public Schools and The Fenn School, and is currently teaching in Melrose Public Schools.
- Shaunalynn Duffy is a founding mentor and program developer at School of HONK, and co-founder of Powderhouse Studios.
- Kevin Leppmann is executive director of the School of HONK, a lifelong musician and educator, and a founding member of Somerville’s annual HONK! Festival.
- Several School of HONK mentors and other musician volunteers will also participate in our summer school, with extensive experience both in music education and street performance.
Registration
Summer HONK is open to anyone, 10 years and older, with at least one year’s experience playing their instrument (woodwind, brass, or percussion). Those with less experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Families are encouraged to apply.
Cost is $125/wk; family discounts and scholarships are available for students who need them. Bring checks — made payable to School of HONK — to the first session, on Monday, July 15.
Click here to complete registration form.
Please note: Our program often includes an optional family excursion to George’s Island with our larger band community on a Sunday in late July or August. We’ll keep you updated on if/when that free event is happening!
If you have any questions, please drop us a line at schoolofhonk@gmail.com.
(Photos by Leonardo March and Maggie McClellan)
Summer HONK is supported in part by the Somerville Arts Council.