The Rockit Live Foundation believes that every young artist should have the opportunity to experience the impact of music education, despite financial restrictions. For 20 years the foundation has emphasized the importance of community charity efforts to its young musicians, and for the first time post Covid, Rockit’s elite music program is back in Red Bank Middle School offering free after school music enrichment to RBMS students.
Rockit Founder and Executive Director, Bruce Gallipani, reached out to RBMS principal, JT Pierson, to relaunch this program that was wildly successful pre-Covid. Principal JT was extremely enthusiastic and within a month the program was in place and fully approved by the Red Bank Board of Education.
The program is taught by at least two Rockit Academy instructors plus Gallipani one day a week after school from March until the end of the school year. Initially nervous, and some with no music experience, every student successfully auditioned to participate in the class. “We have students audition to build a sense of pride and ownership for what they are doing and to build confidence,” explains Gallipani. Auditions are on a rolling basis and any student who wishes to participate should contact Principal JT.
In the first session, Rockit Academy instructors, Brittany Iafelice and Rob Grande (both Rockit Academy alumni), introduced the group to major music genres, went over vocal warmups/techniques and sang songs. Future weeks will introduce various instruments, music history, and hopefully lead to a performance.
The music enrichment program is completely funded by the Rockit Live Foundation.
