Time 2 Rock

We will plug in, crank up, hit hard, and jam down on some of the finest selections of rock and roll known to the human race," Dr. Andy Eaton described his "Time 2 Rock" class, a Winter Week of Wisdom and Wonder (WWOWW) '24 course, in no uncertain terms. The course was going to deliver an electrifying experience, and students were encouraged to come prepared for an unforgettable week. During the WWOWW showcase on Tuesday morning, both Dr. Eaton and his students delivered a performance that gets to the heart of WWOWW.

Dr. Eaton and his students spent three days debating classic tunes, improvising on chord progressions, and digging into "the pocket." Students collaborated and chose to work on one seminal classic rock song, "White Room" by Cream. While vamping and grooving and jamming together, students dove into many aspects of the rock star persona. Beyond studying music, the students made themselves projects of style. In the end, the nuanced decision to wear sunglasses in a basketball gym highlighted the poise and humor these students wove together. Dr. Eaton explained: “We used our knowledge of chord progressions, drum beats, melodies, stage presence, and fashion design to give Miller School's opening of the calendar year a good time. Rock and roll is just one of those things, one of those genres of music that weaves the mind and the heart together -- thinking and feeling are united -- and in our case, our hands helped us out quite a bit as well.”

A staple Miller School tradition, WWOWW week this year consisted of three two-hour sessions for the Time 2 Rock band, who named themselves Kustard, at the last moment. Working tirelessly for three afternoons, they made the most of every minute and practiced new habits necessary for efficient rock and roll, in tune and on time. Their performance in front of the entire school awoke a sense of seasoned professionals, sparking members of the audience to say, "It really felt like a rock show, I mean it really did!". Dr. Eaton called everyone up to the gym floor, and as the band plugged in and played on, they Kustard 24 delivered a performance that brought everyone together, dancing and singing along. Alumni Gym turned into a bona fide daytime rock 'n' roll venue.

This course exemplifies the essence of WWOWW, to ignite new passions and amplify existing ones. And who knows, maybe we'll see a new line up next year. So, until then: Rock on!