It’s the first snowstorm of the season, but the weather doesn’t seem to stop 150 people from coming out to cheer on their friends and family at Toronto’s legendary Silver Dollar Room. Music by the Eagles, Peter Frampton and Bob Seger roars through the crowd. The vibe is electric, the musicians are playing their hearts out, and clearly this isn’t any ordinary gig. The musicians are actually regular folk – marketing executives, lawyers, scientists, architects and bankers – enrolled in a10 week course with The League of Rock (LOR), an adult rock music program. Participants have been gearing up and rehearsing for this big night- the final showcase- since they first joined.
Founded and conceived in 2006, by entrepreneur, Terry Moshenberg, the LOR has catered to over 650 participants who play an instrument or sing, and offers members a place in a band, a series of workshops and music coaching. Moshenberg started the LOR because he felt that adults, in general, often overlook their own passions and creativity. “ We, as parents, foster our kids’ interests, by signing them up for hockey, ballet, or soccer, and tend to put our needs in a box. Everyone deserves the ability to continually explore and enrich their lives ”, Moshenberg explains. In addition to the Toronto location, LOR has chapters in Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, New York and Chicago. The LOR provides the microphones, drums kits and PA systems at all locations, and members also get to record their very own CD in a professional recording studio.
Many LOR participants are return customers. Kenny was hooked when he joined the LOR two years ago, so much so, that he now works with Moshenberg running the jam sessions in Toronto. He interviews participants before their first day in order to determine the different strengths and talents of the new band members, and then places 4-5 people in each band. For Kenny, the LOR is all about the supportive people he’s met, their mutual love of music and the thrill of the live performance.
Sue, 45, a marketing manager, has been singing in her basement since she was a kid. She didn’t know what to expect when she first joined the LOR. “ It’s a bit scary for everybody at the beginning, but we quickly became friends. Making music has everything to do with working together, and a big part of the LOR is the whole collaborative effort. In the end, we became a community, and that’s a very powerful thing.” Sue was very proud of her band, Harmony Road, and the progress they made over the weeks. At the showcase, they played “Seven Bridges Home”, a classic Eagles’ song, featuring a challenging five part harmony.
Ernie Cavallin, 61, has been playing drums for 41 years, and to date has attended seven LOR sessions. He fondly describes each of them as a “giant love fest” and firmly supports the whole LOR process; rehearsing 20-30 songs, being coached by professional musicians, and as a group, deciding which numbers to play for the final showcase. Ernie (pictured above) admits that there are some struggles that members encounter, but part of the learning process is being able to work together as a team. In fact, team building for corporations and organizations is another focus of the LOR, landing them an honourable fifth spot in the Globe and Mail’s top 10 list of 2011 Business Junkets. Companies like Rogers, Blackberry, Fido, Dell and Scotia Band have sent their people to the LOR for music-based team building and corporate retreat events.
After the final showcase, many LOR participants find themselves asking, ‘ what’s next?’. LOR alumni often stay in touch with their bandmates, some become good friends, others start new bands together, and there’s always a good turn out of alumni at the final showcase.
One thing is apparent, the LOR is a feel good endeavour, where participants not only have the opportunity to challenge themselves musically but also hone their teamwork skills, all the while having a rockin’ good time with their new friends.
For more information visit www.leagueofrock.com.
> This article by Rena Godfrey appeared in The Canadian Jewish News, February 2011.