Class had begun, and Kat Hamilton needed to restore order for proper learning.
‘This is the part of the class where you get up!’ the lead singer for the Brooklyn-based alt-rock band Manic Pixi shouted, pointing at one seated State College Area High School student after another. ‘And you! And you!’
Everyone complied. Hamilton jumped about. Suddenly, the rehearsal room looked more like an underground club as the lights dimmed, students crowded the small stage and the quartet roared into its first tune, amplifiers at full tilt.
Message received loud and clear: You can’t learn about rock sitting down.
State High teacher Jim Robinson invited Manic Pixi to play and critique a student band performance as a special Rock Ensemble workshop. In its 11th year under the school’s music department, Rock Ensemble is an activity devoted to the music education and promotion of student musicians who participate in rock bands. Students with bands can participate in the Musicians Guild, which presents lunchtime concerts at school during the year, raises proceeds for equipment and supplies to produce shows and teaches students about producing live music.
This year’s program consists of about 60 students divided into one regular section and two advanced — a far cry from the handful of students the first year. That growth motivates Robinson to keep thinking of new ideas.
‘That’s basically how I came up with the (workshop),’ Robinson said, explaining that having advanced sections inspires creative activities like Manic Pixi’s visit.
It didn’t hurt that Robinson has been friends with Manic Pixi guitarist and State High graduate Marshall Biever since Biever’s Rock Ensemble days. Biever had worked with Robinson’s classes before his latest homecoming, but never with a whole band. After playing three songs, including a Nirvana cover, Manic Pixi relinquished the stage, listening to advanced students perform ‘Nightrain’ by Guns N’ Roses, then conducting a master class with tips for the band.
‘First of all, awesome!’ Biever said after the performance, leading to his initial advice about ‘rhythmic cohesion as a unit.’
‘Because everybody knows their parts. Clearly, everybody knows the notes they’re playing and what you’re supposed to do … But the difference between playing something correctly and playing something really, really well is putting the vast majority of your mental focus, like 80, 90 percent, on the people you’re playing with and not what you’re doing.’
Student Dylan Goss said he hopes more bands can visit Rock Ensemble.
‘I really enjoyed listening to Manic Pixi play and got a much better understanding of what it’s like to be in an actual band,’ Goss said. ‘The members were very knowledgeable and experienced at what they do and I was happy I got to not only see them play but receive feedback on my performance as well. Their coaching really helped us stay together rhythmically.’
Sam Schneider and Charlotte Hatch also gave the workshop rave reviews.
‘I loved how the band was so willing to connect with us one on one, and how they made it a goal to pump us up for our performance,’ Schneider said.
‘Manic Pixi coming in was very beneficial to everyone, I think, because they are doing music as their lives and have a lot of experience,’ Hatch said.
Singer Kristina Hughes said Hamilton advised her that she was stretching her neck on high notes, making it harder to hit them. She said all four Manic Pixi musicians were ‘so kind and so helpful’ with their coaching.
‘They taught us how to recognize our mistakes and how to fix them all while remaining positive and encouraging,’ Hughes said.
The afternoon was another memorable Rock Ensemble experience for Hughes, who joined her freshman year because she always loved singing but lacked self-confidence. Now, she said, ‘every fear I have of people hating me disappears when I stand behind that microphone.’
Not for doctor appointments, not for anything, will she miss a class.
‘Rock ensemble is and always has been a safe haven for me,’ she said. ‘I can just be me and not worry about the stress of impressing other people. And plus, I’m performing music I love with people I love with a teacher I love; what’s better than that?’
Watch the State High Rock Ensemble perform Guns N’ Roses ‘Nightrain’ (video by SCASD Website and Social Media Coordinator Nabil Mark)
