‘Little Rockers’ To Hold Charity Concert

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/lifestyle/2015/10/17/little-rockers-hold-charity-concert-436428
• Sunday, October 18, 2015

By Richmond Anthony Alfonso

THE Clazzitals, a private music tutorial service provider composed of married music teachers Jopep and Charis Ramientos, will host the Little Rockers Concert, a charity concert to raise money for the orphans of Boystown in Cagayan de Oro.

The Rodelsa Hall will serve as the venue for the said concert which will be held this 14th of November, 2015.

The goal of the Little Rockers Concert is twofold.

First, the concert will serve as an avenue for the students to showcase their talents. Each year for the past two years, The Clazzitals has been putting up a recital for their students, a sort of graduation where the students get to perform for a crowd.

“This event is different because we’re not doing a recital this time, we’re doing a concert,” said Teacher Jopep.

“For us, it is very important to do this because our students could show what they have learned and it will also boosts their self-confidence and get used to managing their stage fear,” said Teacher Charis adding, “We want them to understand how it feels to be a performer, so they could appreciate their instruments more.”

Secondly, it is also their goal to give back to the community through the said event by raising funds to purchase much needed basic needs for the orphans of Boystown such as food, clothing, beddings, hygienic needs, and school supplies.

The idea to do a concert for a cause came from Teacher Jopep, “Back then, when I was still in a band, we used to do concerts and gave the proceeds to our beneficiaries,” as he added, “Sa pag teach nako sa ilaha, nakita nako na pwede pod sila mapareho sa amo sa una. Ma-enjoy nila ilang talents ug instruments through the concert and then makatabang pud sila sa mga needy.”

“We want our students to also know how blessed they are compared to others and that through their music, they could also share their blessings to those who are less fortunate,” said Teacher Charis.

The concert will feature three kid bands: the Kids Rock Band, the Pretty Girls Band, and the Power Band.

All band members are students of The Clazzitals. These precocious youngsters are very eager to perform on stage and have been practicing their pieces for quite some time already. Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro was privileged to join the kids in one of their practice sessions at the Mark’s Studio in Bayabas.

Kem Evan Pacatan, the 11-year-old guitarist for Power Band said that playing the guitar is quite difficult at first, “It’s very hard to do the chords and it’s hard to read the notes,” but he now finds it easy after learning how to play it.

Matthew Miguel Fabiala, the 8-year-old drummer for Kids Rock Band has been playing drums since he was still 4-years old. He said that he likes playing his instrument because it’s cool, “I want to be a professional drummer when I grow up.”

The Clazzitals' teachers make it a point to introduce the kids to all kinds of genres, from classic, jazz, metal, pop, to blues, “We encourage our students to be open to all genres,” said Teacher Charis.

“They have to understand each of the genres in order to become a performer.”

Mariane Christine Occo, who is 9 years-old and the lead singer for Pretty Girls Band, said their parents and teachers inspired her to sing, “They teach me how to sing. I got my talent from my dad.”

Her mother, Maricel Occo, noticed that at 8, Mariane has already shown fondness for singing, “She keeps on singing sa house, she always brings her toy microphone.”

She is very supportive of her daughter and sees the importance of enrolling her daughter to singing lessons, “It’s important so that she could learn more, learn the techniques of singing,” she added.

Ethel Montebon, the manager of Kids Rock Band and mother of the band’s lead guitarist, Kiara Therese, added, “Now a days, kids are stuck to TVs and gadgets. My parenting style is different, I bombard her with so much activities like singing, sports also, arts, dancing, so that she will be diverted from gadgets. It becomes a wholesome development for the child.”

She also said that it is very important for the parents that the kids understand that they have to give back whatever they can for the less fortunate, “The kids understand that there is that need to help. We want to let them understand the responsibility to help others.”