GIFF JOHNSON
The well-known local group AIM Band organized a music camp for a month starting in July.
The camp was for children generally in the elementary and middle school age group, with most of the kids in the 8-12 age range.
The band members led the music camp three days each week much to the delight of the youthful participants who learned how to play ukuleles and electronic instruments including guitar, bass and keyboard, and drums.
Last Saturday, the AIM Band sponsored a a special event so the camp group could perform three songs they’d learned and practiced during the month-long program. The Saturday show, held at the MIHS gym, also featured lively songs from the AIM Band and the Wotje Band, which took second place in the recent RRE 75th anniversary battle of the bands competition.
The group of over 20 children struggled a bit to find their footing with their first song of the evening, but got themselves revved up with the second and third songs, performing enjoyably well — with their parents and grandparents on hand videoing and photographing the performance and cheering on their young family members.
Credit to the AIM Band team for taking on the challenge of putting the program together for children, some of whom had little prior music experience, integrating singing with the play by the children of both acoustic and electric instruments — no small task, which they delivered on admirably well.