Tricks of the rock trade

Local studio to offer music camp for children

By JAN HOGAN

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Three years ago, he was giving guitar lessons in his converted garage. Now Snake Rock -- yes, that's his legal name -- is about to offer a recording studio in the southwest part of town.

It's the latest phase of S & K Music Studio, which opened last fall at 4965 S. Fort Apache Road, tucked away in the corner of Crossroads Plaza.

The recording studio is being outfitted with state-of-the-art Pro-Tools equipment, and when done, will have rock 'n' roll-savvy, certified engineers running the boards. They will look out on the oversized room where the bands will be set up at the microphones.

Months before it was a reality, 15 bands pre-booked the recording studio.

"A lot of them are locals bands with CDs already out," said Rock. "But they want to tweak and remix what they've done."

He can remix his own self-titled CD if he wants to. He and his band members -- Jeff Wray, Kyle David and Dave Caro -- also perform on two other CDs which raised money for families of 9-11 heroes. The band performs regularly around town. Samples can be heard at www.snakerock.com.

The recording equipment means S & K Studios also can implement its summer children's camp program. Slated to begin July 11, the Monday-through-Friday camps will have youngsters writing their own songs, then rehearsing and recording them.

Students will then take home their own CDs, whose cover they also get to design. They will shoot a rock video. Youngsters of any skill level can sign up but class size is limited.

"We're really excited about this," Rock said. "It'll give the kids a chance to see what the music industry is all about."

His wife Karen added that all instructors at the facility are hired not just because they're capable musicians but because they work well with youngsters.

"And besides regular background checks, we also have FBI background checks done on them, just like the school district does," she said. "We want parents to know their kids will be safe here."

Safe and surrounded by rock 'n' roll reminders. Entering the studio, one encounters an island of amplifiers and sees electric guitars hanging along one wall. A life-size cardboard cutout of a KISS rocker is poised to belt out a song.

Various rooms are set up for music lessons. Rock memorabilia hangs on the walls, but only one contains a fledging Beatles collection and it's obvious that room is Rock's domain. Snake skin covers his personal items -- various guitars, a Marshall amplifier, his guitar strap, a vest, to name a few.

"I have four pairs of these," he said, gesturing to his snake-covered shoes. "These are the cheapest but I like them because they're the most comfortable."

Rock began his career at age 10 when he played drums in a band. By 14, he was rocking out on the guitar.

He formed his own band, self-named, and went on to tour, playing or recording with major groups and artists, including The Guess Who, Edgar Winter, Steppenwolf, Mountain, Humble Pie and Uriah Heep.

"One of our biggest concerts was when we played for Molly Hatchet," he said. "I was only 20 and it was scary walking out on that stage with 4,000 people watching you. After about 15 minutes, I figured out how to work a big crowd like that. I went over to one side of the stage, did a Chuck Berry kind of thing on the guitar and then pointed to the crowd in front of me. They didn't quite get it. I thought, 'That's OK, they will.' Then I went to the other side of the stage and did the same thing over there. They started cheering, whistling, jumping up and down and stuff. They got it. I thought, 'I can do this.' "

It became his signature move to get audiences into the spirit.

These days, when he's not performing around town at special events and talent showcases, Rock is teaching guitar to up-and-coming musical talent.

When it opened, S & K Music Studio brought its 22 existing students to its new 2,200-square-foot storefront on South Fort Apache Road. That enrollment number has grown to more than 100. Not all are there to learn rock guitar. Students also can take drum, piano, trombone, trumpet, viola and cello lessons.

The 19 staff teachers are area musicians regularly seen performing at gigs on the Strip. Those who teach orchestral instruments, such as the violin, are members of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

The vocal instructor is Frank DiMino. He was a member of Angel, a 1970s rock band whose biggest success was in 1978 with its Top-50 cover "Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore."

"That's him on this album cover, right here," said Rock. "They wore those really tall platform boots, so Frank had to have a microphone stand custom built for him. When I was working at a rehearsal hall in L.A., the band left it behind after a concert. He didn't come back for it, didn't call, it sat there forever. Finally, I asked my boss if I could take it. I had it for years and then let a buddy of mine have it. Soon after we opened, a guy comes into the studio and said he worked with Frank. I told him to have Frank call me, I knew where his microphone was."

One thing led to another and now DiMino teaches vocals at the studio.

Karen Rock handles the booking end of the studio. The former school district employee quit her job to devote herself to the business.

The couple sold their Beatles memorabilia collection to help finance their dream. Butch Patrick, the actor who played Eddie on "The Munsters," is a friend and bought the collection for an undisclosed amount.

Cory Johnston, 19, is the drummer for the local band Jr. Anti-Sex League. He first met Snake Rock at a battle of the bands event.

"He keeps the music real, on the table," Johnston said. "He reminds people that music is supposed to be fun."