All through my school years, I was in band. I started off playing concert drums, and when I hit junior high, switched to "the bells" because the music teacher always gave the snare drum parts to the boys. By my sophomore year in high school, I had given up instrumental music entirely - and while I don't regret giving up playing the glockenspiel, I do regret never returning to the drums, and letting myself be pushed away from music.
Granted, I don't think I was ever destined to be an amazing drummer - but I look back at my 12-year-old self, holding a mallet and seething with resentment, and I hate that I didn't try harder.
I had heard of the Girls Rock! camps, but hadn't really investigated them until I stumbled across this trailer for the new movie by Arne Johnson and Shane King - Girls Rock! The Movie.
I sat there and watched the trailer with tears streaming down my cheeks and a big smile on my face.
I. Must. See. This. Movie. And I'm taking all my friends and family with me.
Over at Vinary, I found that my reaction is not unique:
Seriously, if you think that doesn’t look good you have no soul and should probably be stoned to death.
Maybe not stoned to death. Maybe just encouraged to play "the bells."
Birdfeed breaks it down for us:
At Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp, girls ranging in age from eight to 18 are taught that it’s OK to sweat like a pig, scream like a banshee, wail on their instruments with complete and utter abandon, and that “it is 100% okay to be exactly who you are.” They are taught by indie rock chicks such as Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney various lessons of empowerment from self-defense to anger management. At the end of just one week, all the bands perform songs they’ve written with their new bandmates for over 700 people. “Girls Rock!” follows several campers: Laura, a Korean adoptee obsessed by death metal; Misty, who is emerging from a life of meth addiction and gang activity; Palace, whose heavy metal sneer belies her seven years, and Amelia, an eight-year-old who writes experimental rock songs about her dog Pipi. What happens to the girls as they are given a temporary reprieve from being sexualized, analyzed and pressured to conform is truly revolutionary.
Janie Chu also was moved to tears by the trailer:
I checked out the film premise and trailer, and literally felt tears well up in my eyes as I saw young girls empowered by music. They even had several clips of an Asian-American girl who was very forthcoming about her struggles. I wrote them to say how much it means to have a program like that. I desperately needed it as a child but am hopeful at how it will help in this generation. Be the first to see it when it opens in theaters March 7th.
That's right - it opens March 7th.
I'm hoping to be at the San Francisco screening Friday evening with my family in tow. Check the listings, and request a showing in your neck of the woods on the official Girls Rock! The Movie site.
Curious how my daughter would react to the trailer, I hauled her over for a little desk-side viewing. She watched intently, and said she'd love to see the movie. A hour later, she had printed out registration forms for this summer's camp in the Bay Area and had filled them in by herself. It appears she's ready to rock.
Watch the trailer. Tell your friends. Then head to the theaters. You won't want to miss this film!

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Jenny Lauck is so signing up for Ladies' Rock Camp.
Comments
On Empowering Girls
Not sure about the movie but I bookmarked the camp’s homepage. I have 2 school-age girls and it looks great. Thank you.
By the way, there are more programs out there focusing on empowering girls – Girls on the Run (http://www.girlsontherun.org/) and Kidpower (www.kidpower.org) to name two. I don’t work for those and this is not advertisement but rather a suggestion. I came across both recently when researching programs for my daughters and liked what I saw.
Vered DeLeeuw
www.momgrind.com