Yellowknife (Feb 06/04) - Tuesday night at the SideDoor Youth Centre all the talk was about clear versus coated drum heads, plys, rims, sticks and cymbals.

If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and you've often wondered about things like how to tune your drum, or what's the best way to balance your band's instruments during a sound check, these workshops are for you.

The Recording Artists Association of the NWT is sponsoring a series of Tuesday workshops geared to young musicians.

Pat Braden led the first workshop on Jan. 20, on the bass. Last Tuesday night John Telgen shared his knowledge of drums -- tuning, playing and maintenance.

"I grew up in this town and a lot of people spent time with me and showed me tricks that saved me a lot of time," said Braden, who is organizing the workshops.

"It's a need on my own part to give something back."

It began with a workshop last year just before the Rock the Folks battle of the bands, on how to prepare for a festival performance.

"They're not lessons," said Braden. "They're talking about gear. We're filling out their knowledge of their instruments. It's something you're not going to get out of a magazine."

The other aim of the workshops is to bridge the gap between older musicians and the younger set.

"It's about the nurturing of the musical community," said Braden.

"The younger players in town already have that going on. When you go to Forty Below (on Sundays) all the bands are in the front row, supporting each other."

Upcoming workshops will include a session about guitars with Vince Gauthier on Feb. 17, and one on vocals with Leela Gilday on March 2.

Braden said future workshops would be guided by the needs of the younger musicians. At every workshop, Braden asks for feedback.

"We're not telling them what to play or how to play it," he said. "We're not going to teach them a blues tune. They're playing their own music."

Braden is an acknowledged fan of Yellowknife's younger bands.

"When you see a band up on stage of young people, there's no fear. It's just turn it up, pedal to the floor and just go. It always blows me away."