Music performers, connoisseurs unite

Those who pass by the Ackerman conference rooms every Thursday
night might be wondering why people are walking around with guitars
and from where the sound of amps and rock tunes are coming. The
noisy melodies are from the UCLA Music Club, a group where the
students and professors who make up its membership unite weekly to
hold jam sessions, form bands, or just hang out and talk about
their favorite tunes.

The Music Club is unlike any other because of its relaxed
atmosphere ““ there is no set agenda, and the meetings usually
consist of members freely going off to form different groups in all
corners of the room, jamming to their own songs.

The membership roster boasts over 100 people, who usually come
and go as the quarter goes on.

Chemistry Professor Eric Scerri has been part of the music club
for about five years and is planning to start a set of master
classes in blues and rock for fellow members within the next couple
weeks. These classes will help both beginners and intermediates
learn to master the art of playing these music styles.

“I’ve been playing blues and rock since I was a kid,
and I like to share my knowledge of the music,” Scerri
said.

Members are encouraged to bring an instrument with them if they
want to play, although people who do not have an instrument and
prefer to listen are welcome. Most members bring their guitars and
a small amp because it is the easiest to carry. But they have had
members who bring in full drum sets.

Many bands have formed because of the Music Club and have gone
on to perform at local venues such as The Whiskey, Coconut Teasers
and even UCLA’s annual Spring Sing. In 2000, a Music Club
band named the B-Team won the Rose Bowl Bruins Award for the best
duet entry.

The club’s founder, Helen Parish, a research associate in
the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, started the
club in 1997 because she wanted to bring together those in the
community who shared her passion for music.

“The Music Club was founded for those who wanted to play
music and meet other musicians,” Parish said. “It is an
opportunity for people interested in music to meet other musicians,
form bands, look for band members, or just talk about
music.”

Mark Harrison, a fourth-year physics student, has been a member
of the Music Club on and off for about three years. He attends the
meetings to meet new people and jam on his guitar with others.

“The meetings are basically a free-for-all where everybody
is off on their own doing their musical thing,” Harrison
said.

At the end of each quarter, the Music Club organizes a Band
Night where members perform either with their bands or by
themselves in the Cooperage.

“Band Night encourages people who have never been on stage
before the chance to perform in front of their peers,” Parish
said.

Newcomer Melissa Hoang, a first-year undeclared student, plays
the piano and came to the meeting to expand her musical horizons
.

“The open atmosphere looked interesting, and I am going to
become a regular and even bring my keyboard to future
meetings,” Hoang said.