By Craig Michaels
The Coachella Valley music scene has given birth to a diverse and talented crop of up-and-coming musicians. The past few decades have produced an expansion of concert venues and local events which employ more musicians. That’s where The Academy of Musical Performance (AMP) comes in. This contemporary music education program enriches the lives of young musicians living in the Coachella Valley by giving students a chance to collaborate in a “rock band” style educational setting. AMP teaches kids how to play in a band and facilitates performances throughout the community, keeping kids engaged in positive community-based activities. AMP has brought some excitement to downtown Indio where they run a summer camp program and year-round after-school rehearsals from their studios at 82719 Miles Ave.
If you have a child or know one who is interested in music, AMP is holding an Open House this Saturday Oct. 19th starting at 6:00pm with live performances starting at 6:30pm concluding at 8:00pm. For parents who have a child already in a middle or high school band program, this is a perfect opportunity to learn how those students can take their music to the next level. AMP Summer, Spring, and Fall camps are open to students between ages 11—18 from the desert communities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Bermuda Dunes, Indio, Coachella, and Thermal.
The AMP Studio Open House is free to attend with food and refreshments available for guests. Enjoy an intimate up-close look at the rehearsal space and talk with current students and instructors about the Academy. There will be two current AMP bands playing followed by two AMP alumni bands Silver Sky and Pescaterritory. As a non-profit organization, the school relies on public and corporate donations. Guests can also support future camps buy purchasing AMP merchandise during the open house.
For more information call (760) 537-5267 or you can check them out online at https://ampcv.org
