A FINE KETTLE OF GOLDFISH; TEEN MUSICIANS WIN FANS ALL OVER.Byline: Karen Thacker Community Columnist The family room in the Estrada home is not your typical set-up, but then the Estradas are not a typical family. Drums, guitars, microphones, and speakers have replaced the couch and TV in the den where four teen-age boys and their girl cousin practice as the musical group Goldfish. ``We kind of gave up our family room. We've torn everything out,'' said Myrna Estrada, mother of the four. ``You have to dodge the microphone if you want to use the stereo.'' The five - ages 13 to 17 - are regulars at Universal CityWalk Universal CityWalk is a part of Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan originating from Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood. , but also frequent local festivals and fund-raisers, and have even played for young inmates at Sylmar Juvenile Hall. Band members are Mario Estrada, 17, lead vocalist and keyboards; Tizoc Estrada, 15, guitarist; Shuru Estrada, 14, bass; Gabriel Estrada, 13, drummer; and Vanessa Guzman, 15, vocalist and keyboards. The family has been on a two-year roller coaster of musical activity since the boys played for a talent show in 1996 at Hillview Middle School Hillview Middle School is a public middle school in Menlo Park, California, part of the Menlo Park City School District. It is notable as having been named a California Distinguished School seven times. . They knew two songs and were working on a third at the time. ``One of the teachers was so thrilled, they asked them to do the graduation,'' Myrna said. The boys began regarding their band a little more seriously, their cousin Vanessa joined them, and they began playing fund-raising events. In May 1997 took first place in a Battle of the Bands contest in Pacoima. Their repertoire includes classic rock and top 40, Latin music, oldies Oldies is a generic term commonly used to describe a radio format that usually concentrates on Top 40 music from the '50s, '60s and '70s. Oldies are typically from R&B, pop and rock music genres. , and rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. in Spanish - not an ordinary combination. Teen-age success hasn't been all as easy as it sounds. Years of private music lessons preceded playing as a band, and they put in 15 hours a week of practice together when they started. ``When we started it was really hard because we each had our own beat,'' said Tizoc. ``It got easier as we went along.'' Tizoc is probably the most focused of the group, planning to make a career out of music even if Goldfish fizzles Samuel Beckett used the word "fizzles" to describe eight short prose pieces: For to end yet again, Still, He is barehead, Horn came always, Afar a Bird, I gave up before birth, Closed place, and Old earth. out. He knew since about age 6 that he wanted to play guitar. ``My dad, he would play the guitar and I would watch him sometimes. I told him I wanted to play the guitar and they didn't believe me,'' Tizoc said. Dad, a Los Angeles schools The Los Angeles School of Urbanism is an academic movement emerged during the mid-1980s, loosely based at the University of Southern California and UCLA, that poses a challenge to the dominant Chicago School of Urbanism. air conditioning air conditioning, mechanical process for controlling the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, and circulation of air in buildings and rooms. Indoor air is conditioned and regulated to maintain the temperature-humidity ratio that is most comfortable and healthful. and heating technician, played guitar as a teen-ager, sometimes filling in a spot in his older brother's band. Mom played flute for 15 years. Tizoc's lessons started at about age 8. He has even written a few songs and loves play classical music on guitar, as well as the variety the group plays now. Gabriel started playing a snare drum in the Cottonwood Elementary School elementary school: see school. band at age 9 but quickly decided he wanted a set of drums instead. Shuru has been playing bass about four years. Vanessa started learning keyboards when she joined the group. All are taking music classes at Antelope Valley College Antelope Valley College is a comprehensive community college located in Lancaster, California, USA. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. in the evenings. When Goldfish started, the five practiced together about 15 hours a week but now they are down to five or less - especially since the oldest, Mario, is away at Loyola Marymount University Marymount University is a coeducational, four-year Catholic university whose main campus is located in Arlington, Virginia. History Marymount was founded in 1950 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) as Marymount College, a two-year women's school. during the week. The other boys attend Quartz Hill High School Quartz Hill High School is a public, co-educational high school located in Lancaster, California. Founded in 1964, it is the third oldest comprehensive high school in the Antelope Valley High School District (AVHSD). and Vanessa lives in Sylmar and attends Granada Hills High School Granada Hills Charter High School (Granada Hills High School) is a public, charter, co-educational, secondary school consisting of students in grades 9-12. The school colors are green, black, and white. . The experience has been rewarding in more ways than one. The youth not only get a great musical experience but they get to see people from different walks of life, and help encourage them. Next month they will play at juvenile hall again for Hispanic Heritage Month. Visiting the youth detention has been quite an eye-opener, giving the kids a chance to see where you can end up when making bad choices. Playing at fund-raising events for free has a reward of its own and they get to find out how tiring five-hour shifts at CityWalk can be and what road trips are all about. They don't get paid at CityWalk, but they collect tips from listeners - tossed into an aquarium decorated with paper fish. Goldfish - named because the boys used to spend two or three hours a day six days a week at Lancaster's Eastside Pool, though now they have enough time to swim only during swim team season - has even had an offer for a five-year recording contract. They turned it down on the advice of their parents. ``We didn't want to commit,'' said Myrna. ``We wanted the boys to mature a little more. And as time goes by if the band works into a career for the kids that's fine. They are enjoying it and if it happens, it happens. If not it's OK.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) Vanessa Guzman, left, and her cousins Mario, Gabriel, Tizoc and Shuru Estrada play a musical mix as members of the band Goldfish. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
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