Imagination and creativity bring Fender Center for Music Education to life

By: ERIKA SOROCCO - For The Californian | Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:37 AM PST ∞

When establishing a non-profit organization, there are two very important things needed to make the difference between it becoming an ordinary organization, and an organization that sparkles like a rare canary diamond. Those two elements are a little imagination, and a lot of creativity. That is exactly what Corona's Fender Center for Music Education possesses.

Founded in July of 1997, the Fender Center for Music Education was created to instill a love of music in children between the ages of 7 and 17-years-old. With the amount of music education programs being cut in public schools, and the high price of music lessons, the Center offers a venue where children can experience music first-hand, even if they come from underprivileged families, and do not have the means for expensive music and/or vocal lessons.

After a year of planning and construction, the Fender Center opened its doors to the public on July 6, 1998. Titled the Fender Museum for Music and the Arts, the Center began as an education and preview center. On that day, free lessons in guitar, piano, and drums were offered to those interested in starting the music education process. The first session was merely an eight-week course, but two hundred and nine children attended that session, setting the pace for the future.

Back to present day, over 600 children and teenagers pass through the doors of the Fender Center each week, in an attempt to benefit from the free and low-cost music education opportunities, now aptly titled Kids Rock Free. Since opening day, the Kids Rock Free Educational Program has expanded their classes, offering lessons not only in the standard drums, guitar, and piano, but throwing in a mix of combo band, bass guitar, and even vocal performance.

With the help of donations from the public, the Fender Center plans to add even more performance education into the roster. It is hoped that someday lessons in Mariachi, violin, theater, orchestra, and dance can be offered. Also, instruction classes for adults, and an on-line service, where people from all over the world ---- both young and old ---- can learn to play an instrument via satellite and video conferencing.

With the amount of students flocking to be a part of the Kids Rock Free Educational Program, it may seem like a challenge to keep everything in order, and ensure that each participant gets the proper lesson they have come for. But the Fender Center, who pride themselves on following seven extremely important rules, appear to have no difficulty keeping the program running smoothly. In fact, it is by using these seven beliefs that the Fender Center has kept Kids Rock Free up and running, and children and teenagers grasping for a chance to land a spot in the prestigious program, which boasts a two-year waiting list.

The Fender Center's seven beliefs are: Continuity, A Different Approach, Opportunity, Set Apart, Growth, Variety, and Performance.

Here's how the seven beliefs come into play. Because class sessions are offered quarterly, students have the ability to "continue" their music education, even after the eight-week session is complete. The weekly classes that run for one-hour each, hold 10-16 students per teaching environment, so that students get enough one-on-one attention. By incorporating entertaining activities into the learning experience, the Kids Rock Free Educational Program offers "a different approach" to the normal classroom environment.

By using Studio FM (the Fender Center's 48-Track Digital Recording Studio) each and every student has the "opportunity" to try their hand at professional recording sessions. As opposed to teaching students songs from another era, the Program is "set apart" by their willingness to give students the chance to have fun by playing current pop songs, along with classic rock. Students are placed in either beginner, intermediate, or advanced classes, which helps their ability to "grow" and progress at their own pace.

Participants can choose from a "variety" of instruments, to figure out which one they are interested in pursuing, and then receive instruction from professional performing artists. Students get the chance to "perform" at the Center's TLC Amphitheater and Visual Art's Gallery as part of recitals, and sometimes even share the stage with professionals, like the band LIT or Merle Haggard.

Of course, the Kids Rock Free Educational Program isn't all that the Fender Center offers. On July 13, 2002, the Center cut the red ribbon, and opened the doors to a 33,000 square foot building which houses the Kids Rock Free Educational Program classrooms, a Visual Arts Gallery, the outdoor TLC Amphitheater, Studio FM, and a "Celebrate the Legacy Ö the Fender Story" museum exhibit. This exhibit traces the history of the Fender Statocaster electric guitar through its fifty-year history, which includes the impact it has had on the music industry.

Now, as the year 2007 is well underway, the Fender Center sees nothing but good things in its horizon, including expansion, and, perhaps, a chance to impact even more young music lovers throughout Southwest Riverside County, as well as, hopefully, the world.

For more information regarding the Fender Center for Music Education, the Kids Rock Free Educational Program, upcoming events, or how you can make a tax-deductible donation visit fendermuseum.com or call (951) 735-2440.

Sound Bytes

Menifee-based band, Seenless, released their debut demo on February 14. For more info about upcoming shows, or how you can purchase a copy, visit myspace.com/seenless.

Erika Sorocco writes a monthly local music column for The Californian. She can be reached by e-mail at calpreview@californian.com