Mr. Hetfield’s Rock and Roll Summer Camp to start July 26

Now entering its 21st year, Mr. Hetfield’s Rock and Roll Summer Camp will begin Monday, July 26, and will continue through Friday, Aug. 6, at Rehoboth Elementary School.

Each day’s schedule varies depending on the agenda.

Performances will take place in Lewes and on the Rusty Rudder deck in Dewey Beach Thursday, Aug. 5.

Director Walt Hetfield runs Mr. Hetfield’s Rock and Roll Summer Camp. He has been the music teacher at Rehoboth Elementary School for the past 28 years. The camp is open to aspiring rock and roll musicians ages 9 to 16. The cost is $550.

The camp is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists, and its primary goal is to enable students who have been taking private or school band instrument lessons to perform in an ensemble playing situation. This is ideal for youngsters who have been studying guitar, drums and piano. Brass and woodwind players are also welcome.

Mr. Hetfield’s Rock and Roll Summer Camp participants meet and play with other young musicians who share similar interests. Many groups have subsequently formed as a result of coming together at the camp.

There is no formal audition, but campers need to have a rudimentary knowledge of their instruments.

All interested guitarists should know basic chords including C, A, G, E, D major and some minors, along with a scale pattern or two.

Drummers should have some familiarity with a drum set.

Keyboard players should have advanced at least to level two in piano lessons.

Saxophones, trumpets and other instruments are always welcome. Students who just want to sing are also encouraged to sign up.

Many former campers have moved on to professional careers in the music business. For many, Mr. Hetfield’s Rock and Roll Summer Camp was their first experience playing in front of an audience.

For more information, contact Walt Hetfield at 302-245-1670. For a full schedule and to register, go to misterhetfield.com or rockandrollsummercamp.com.