The excitement is palpable as the Horace Green Preparatory School’s elementary school rock band prepares to take the stage at a local Battle of The Bands, as told in the cult classic 2007 film School of Rock. Long practices and confidence built by an enthusiastic educator is what leads this band of young, unlikely rock stars to prevail in their final performance.
Although fictional, the spirit of this lighthearted, joyful tale of musical passion has played out in real life for nearly 14 years in Morgantown, WV, thanks to the after-school program PopShopWV. The musical masterclass, started in 2010, promotes individuality and motivates students through their own personal musical interests to excel at singing, playing and performing on a stage. Through periodic sessions, executive director and local musician Brian Spragg is helping pave the way for kids and young adults wanting to play instruments, learn about music technology and collaborate in a contemporary band setting.
PopShopWV provides a twist on traditional music education outside of the public school band room. Instead of a choice between brass or woodwinds, participants get to wield bass guitars, drumsticks and loud microphones, with their enthusiasm reverberating off the soundproofed walls of the old schoolhouse where practices are held. During each six week session, students are placed in bands among their peers and practice toward a final performance at the staple Morgantown concert venue 123 Pleasant Street.
“Having heard all of the individual pieces of instrumentation while teaching it, but then hearing the complete song, is an amazing experience.” Brian said. “Seeing the students perform at the end of the session is the most rewarding part.”
Fluent in learning about instruments himself, Brian has been playing guitar and bass for over 26 years and drums for around 10. Music is intrinsic to Brian’s life. Beyond avidly consuming it, the musician has participated in at least nine bands across the Morgantown region and is the owner of effect pedal business Bookworm Effects. In 2013, the musician lent PopShopWV a hand, and quickly, he was taking on eight to 10 bands per session. This gave Brian the opportunity to quit his part time job and focus on music entirely. “I’m mostly self taught, and I’m constantly learning new things,” he said. “Those same things also end up helping me teach.”
Much like any other show at the rowdy music hall, the crowd at a PopShopWV concert is filled with music enthusiasts and supporting family members, and merchandise showing off students’ quirky band names is available for purchase. According to Brian, PopShopWV works with local artists and graphic designers to create stickers for each band playing in a showcase. Names like Intergalactic Cowsand Nerdvana are illustrated stylishly, establishing the legitimacy of each ensemble’s hard work while providing funds for the program itself to keep holding sessions. At Woodstonk, the summer performance, students get unique t-shirts.
Brian emphasized how PopShopWV takes a village to keep a safe and enriching space for all students. “We happily accept and support the kids as they are, and we’re also lucky to know such amazing and supportive parents within the PopShop community.” he said. “Anything less can make a dangerous and terrifying place for kids, forcing them to try and hide their true selves.” The class model allows another outlet for children and young adults to make friends they can relate to.
The aspiring musicians are welcomed to join no matter their orientation, learning style or musical experience, and the efforts to support the widely diverse group of students have only grown through the years. One addition to PopShopWV’s classes includes its array of summer camps, all catering to a different and unique niche for students to engage with and grow in. Girls Rock Camp is catered to female and nonbinary individuals wanting to work and learn in a familiar and empowering setting. Likewise, Proud Sounds is a camp that serves LGBTQIA+ students who performed at Morgantown’s Pride Block Party this year. Not only are students building their musical talents, but they are also getting a headstart building communities for themselves where they feel accepted. PopShopWV offers selections for students beyond the stage and band practice, such as audio engineering classes where students learn to build guitar and bass pedals, and Sketch & Release Camp, where students write songs, skits and produce their own comedy sketches with their peers. Students are open to being creative no matter their niche.
Another pillar of PopShopWV is enjoyment, according to Brian. This can come as its own challenge, however, when learning to play an instrument. “If they don’t get something right after a little while, we’ll see some frustration, sometimes anger.” he said. “At the end of the day, we’d rather they have fun with their bandmates!”
Excitement and fun is engaged in a multitude of ways, like when groups workshop their names for a session or choose songs to learn as a team. Brian said that students eight through 12 years old usually gravitate towards pop hits like Taylor Swift or Imagine Dragons, and as they get older, their musical tastes typically expand. “For the 13 through 18 age range, we’ve seen a resurgence of 90’s alternative, including artists like Mazzy Star and My Bloody Valentine,” Brian said.
When interests are met, motivation soars with these young stars. Brian bragged about his students for their gumption and ability to step outside of their comfort zones, saying that for him, some of the most memorable moments he experiences is when a student goes out of their way to try something new and ends up blowing expectations out of the water.
“I’ve been teaching a student guitar lessons for a little over six months, and she did a PopShop session a couple weeks ago,” he said. “The band didn’t have a dedicated singer, and she was willing to step up and sing for a song, and she did great!”
Brian went on to explain how although the student was scared, she took the leap anyway. This created a ripple effect of confidence, and her friend was inspired to volunteer and perform vocals on the next song. These are the strides PopShopWV is assisting students in making so that they can continue to pursue their dreams.
PopShopWV is helping shape the future of music in Appalachia by encouraging kids and young adults to be themselves, have autonomy over their interests and have fun learning. According to Spragg, students frequently go on to graduate PopShopWV classes and continue on in bands with their peers, or even become instructors themselves. Older students are asked to help out on a volunteer basis, and once acclimated, are offered a position. “The last four to five years, most of the instructors have been former students,” Brian said. Likewise, Brian has gone on to play in bands alongside his graduated students outside of the program. As the program continues to expand, so do opportunities for the creative young people of the region.
Photos courtesy of Jenny Corona
