Ready for a new experience
December 8, 2008
By Staff
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Skyline High School sophomore Brennan Bartel, one of 15 musicians chosen to participate in the Experience: The Band project, practices on his guitar . Contributed
Jimi Hendrix gave us one of rock’s most classic albums, “The Jimi Hendrix Experience.” Later, the city of Seattle built one of the most unique museums, The Experience Music Project, in tribute to its native son.Now, the EMP has teamed with the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame to create Experience: The Band.
And with just four years of musical experience, Skyline High School sophomore Brennan Bartel finds himself center stage as one of the 15 Experience: The Band members.
Bartel tried out for the band for validation of his burgeoning abilities.
“I want to be recognized for my musical talents,” said Bartel, a vocalist and guitarist. “And I eventually want to produce music and to also recognize and showcase other people’s talents.”
Experience: The Band is a yearlong, full-scholarship program that integrates individual training and ensemble performance classes with innovative, online learning materials. The program, a partnership between EMP/SFM and Berklee College of Music’s City Music program, places special focus on rock and jazz, but covers everything from R&B to punk.
In its second year, Experience: The Band continues to expand and provide talented, local youth with valuable music-related resources and opportunities. The 2008-09 class was chosen from a group of more than 50 band hopefuls — triple that of last year’s audition pool.
Bartel was one of those hopefuls.
At just 16, he has built a musical résumé that includes playing percussion in the school band in sixth and seventh grade and experience playing in three bands — two minor “jam bands” and one major “gig band.” Having both solo and band stage experience has broadened Bartel’s musical development.
“The challenges of playing in a band are personality management, band relationships and playing publicly for strangers,” he said. “The opportunities include recognition of your music and getting your music produced.”
Students who participate in Experience: The Band are eligible for scholarship consideration to Berklee College of Music’s five-week summer performance program, as well as full-tuition scholarships to the college.
10 questions with Brennan Bartel
Q. What was the last song you listened to on your mp3 player/iPod?
A. “Where’d You Go?” by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Q. What music genre do you play/sing?
A. Punk, psychobilly, rockabilly.
Q. Which artist has most influenced your style of music; who is your favorite artist?
A. The Klingonz and Operation Ivy; Rancid is my favorite.
Q. What is your favorite song of all time?
A. “Knowledge,” by Operation Ivy, and “Werewolf Boogie,” by The Klingonz.
Q. Why did you audition for Experience: The Band?
A. For the EXPERIENCE!
Q. What do you hope to get out of Experience: The Band?
A. A broader perspective on the music industry and playing different genres of music.
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. “SLC Punk” and Gus Van Sant’s “Last Days.”
Q. What is your favorite color?
A. Lime green and orange.
Q. What’s the one item you can’t live without?
A. My guitar and iPod.
Q. Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I like graffiti and somewhat abstract art.
My favorite graffiti artists are Neckface and Ed Templeton.
I skateboard A LOT.
I sometimes like to refer to myself in third person.
And, I especially love wearing old, ripped-up clothes and sneakers because that’s sooooo punk rock!
If you go
Experience: The Band
First live performance together 1 p.m. Dec. 13
JBL Theater (Experience Music Project)
325 Fifth Ave. N., Seattle Center
Admission is free.
4206-770-2702
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Correction. The name of the album by Hendrix was _Are You Experienced?_. The name of the *band* was “The Jimi Hendrix Experience”. …Just how far from Seattle is Issaquah, exactly?