“There’s no messing around, we’re getting stuff done but we have fun while doing it,” Gastambide said. “Really if there’s no fun, it’s not going to be as great.”

Rock Camp coach Lisa Kacos said the camp’s main emphasis is on rehearsal, but they also aid the campers in several other areas to help them become better musicians.

“One of the things we work with after they start getting comfortable with their parts and their songs is not just how to sound good, but how to look good because the audience sees you before they hear you,” Kacos said.

“We kind of work with their personalities and the songs that they’re preforming and we work with how they can look like they’re having fun and kind of relax a little bit.”

First-year Rock Camp vocalist Emily Sleight, 15, of Okemos, said the coaches work closely with the campers and help them come into their own.

“In the morning, once you get here … you usually will go to sectionals, which is when each part of the band goes into a different room and is talked to by the a different member of the band (Outer Vibe),” Sleight said.

Kacos said the performers really learn from performing for each other and listening to feedback from the other campers.

“It’s kind of a master class … where the bands play for each other.” Kacos said. “The other campers can offer critique or compliments, it’s the best way to improve.”

Gastambide said since he’s been at the camp, he and the rest of the rock campers have formed a musical bond through practicing and getting to know one another prior to the performance.

“It’s really great here, everyone just kind of connects in a musical way from kids that are 12 to kids that are 17,” said Gastambide.

“We found our strengths and our weaknesses and that’s really how everything works and it’s really going to work out at Common Ground.”