Do You Have What It Takes to be a Band Coach?
We interviewed two of our Band Coach volunteers to shine a light on this special camp counselor-like volunteer role!
A Band Coach is assigned to mentor each band at camp (10 per session). Band Coaches lead campers with positive support through songwriting, the creative process, band practice, workshops, and more!
Band Coaches are at camp *all day* each day of camp and stipends are available for your time! Fill out the volunteer application or email volunteer@girlsrockmke.org to learn more.
Q&A with Band Coach: Betty Allen
Girls Rock: How did you hear about Girls Rock MKE or how did you first become involved?
Betty Allen: "I was interning at Milwaukee Film at the time and my mentor said she was volunteering for a new camp, Girls Rock, and suggested I sign up too."
GR: What made you want to get involved?
BA: "I had seen the documentary Girls Rock! In a class in college about the Portland camp and thought it looked awesome. When I heard about there being one in Milwaukee, I wanted to be a part of it."
GR: Do you have a favorite moment from volunteering?
BA: "This is the hardest question! Every camp there is something special that I’ll always remember. From the most recent summer one of my favorite moments is screaming “'SPACE GOATS, SPACE GOATS!' with my campers during our many elevator rides."
GR: What advice would you give to other Band Coaches?
BA: "That you don’t need to have any musical experience, you just need energy and positivity! Being a band coach is all about encouraging your campers to make whatever they want to make, not how to make the “best sounding” song. Whether you are 8 or 80, it can be scary to put yourself out there creatively. As a band coach, your main goal should be cultivating an environment that allows kids to feel comfortable sharing and growing their voice and creativity."
GR: What is a take-away from volunteering? How has Girls Rock impacted your life?
BA: "It has made me realize that trying is cool. Sometimes we think not trying is what cool people do, they are effortless and just do everything great naturally. This is not true! Even as an adult, I’ve struggled with this. At camp, putting yourself out there is what makes the song and performance so amazing. Doesn’t matter if that chord is perfectly timed, just that we can see you strumming away. It has definitely caused me to put myself out there more fearlessly.
"And in a bigger way, I have gained such a beautiful community from camp. I’ve met amazing people and great friends, and each year and am so lucky to spend time with unbelievably cool kids. It energizes me and gives me a huge amount of hope for our future."
Q&A with Band Coach: Robyn Ehrlich
Girls Rock: How did you hear about Girls Rock MKE or how did you first become involved?
Robyn Ehrlich: "I had been vaguely aware of Girls Rock and Ladies Rock MKE for a few years because of my time working at the UWM Student Union Cinema, as we had partnered with the organization on a few screenings. Years later, my former boss at the Union Cinema reached out to me on behalf of her daughter who was connected with Girls Rock, and asked if I would be interested in working with them."
GR: What made you want to get involved?
RE: "I love working with kids and watching them be creative. I was initially interested in working with Girls Rock because I was excited by their mission of empowering and inspiring young girls through music."
Do you have a favorite moment from volunteering?
RE: "The girls in group from session 1 last summer all became obsessed with bringing their stuffed animals and having them be "part of the band." Even during their final performance, they had meticulously placed stuffed animals all around the stage and on some of the instruments as props during the show. "
GR: What advice would you give to other Band Coaches?
RE: "Don't worry about being perfect! It's not going to be perfect, and that's okay. Your main priority should be making sure the campers are feeling comfortable with trying new things and collaborating. In the end, if you can get them up on stage feeling confident and excited to share their work, that's all that matters."
GR: What is a take-away from volunteering? How has Girls Rock impacted your life?
RE: "Girls Rock really helped me realize that I have a passion for working with children! Since working with them over the summer, I started teaching elementary school art classes, and I don't think I would've felt confident enough to pursue that without my experience as a Band Coach."