Rock music camp offers students real world gig.

The Village Door at the Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort doesn't normally play host to the stroller set. However on June 6 the local night club was doing just that as more than 50 enthusiastic rock fans of all ages gathered for an afternoon concert.

Four bands comprised of three to seven members took the stage for 30-50 minute sets, culminating in an all-star set in combination with the professional house band, the Dream Band.

The musicians were students of Playground Music of Fort Walton Beach. The audience was comprised of siblings, parents, grandparents and a few surprised shoppers who walked into the gloomy but booming venue to find several 8-year-old guitarists onstage.

Playground Music Center supplies many South Walton school band students with instruments, tutors and support. In business since 1961, Playground has conducted the "Summer Rocks Boot Camps" for aspiring rockers ages 8-18 for the past three years.

Parents see the unique six-week experience as a way for students to hone a skill, increase confidence onstage and off, make new friends and just have fun over the summer.

Music camp director Michael Walker said the four bands kicking off the summer's first camp are only the tip of the iceberg. He expects to welcome more than a 30 more students before the summer's out.

"He's so excited; he just loves the guitar" said Dylan Rusnak's dad, adding "It surprised me how good they sound." The 11 year old guitarist (lead and rhythm) was warming up offstage, picking and grinning widely.

At the next table sat Altethea Wankowski, the mother of an aspiring bass guitarist. Her daughter Marla, a senior, has been playing in the school band for four years.

Presently girls are in a distinct minority in the rock school, making up less than a quarter of the student body. According to her mom, Marla's looking forward to forming an all-girl band during the next iteration of her rock career. In addition to a keyboard player, a vocalist, a drummer and the guitarist, her new band expects to include an electric violinist.

Previous venues for the Playground Music Center's rock students have included the park at Uptown Station and the Fort Walton fairgrounds. The Saturday afternoon event at the Village Door represented their first gig on a professional stage.

"This is the most incredible stage our students ever had the opportunity to play on," said Walker.