Teamwork, fun and rock-n-roll at Van Cortlandt library’s contest

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In a corner of the Van Cortlandt branch library, six teenagers strummed their guitar-shaped controllers and sang to the lyrics of Blondie’s song “One Way or Another” that scrolled across the flat-screen monitor.

“One way or another I’m gonna find ya. I’m gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha,” one young man intoned, singing lead, while the others joined him in singing along or playing along. “One way or another I’m gonna win ya. I’m gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha.”

The performance was part of the library’s Rock Band tournament on Dec. 22.

John Sattaur, one of the librarians at the branch, said the Van Cortlandt Library has recently received a copy of Rock Band 3, a music video game that uses instrument controllers to allow players to simulate rock-music performances. This was the library’s first tournament for guitar, he said.

“To get the kids engaged in the library, we decided to put on this tournament game that teaches hand-eye coordination and a good taste of rock music,” Sattaur said.

For Jefferson Osei-Owusu, 13, it was “the best tournament I’ve ever been to, next to Smash Bros,” a Nintendo game. Jefferson, who sang lead on “One Way or Another” during the tournament, said he first heard the song on the radio years ago, during a trip to Walt Disney World with his grandparents.

A fellow band member in the contest, Christopher Averos, 15, said that he was at the library when he learned about the tournament. Although singing may not be his favorite thing to do, he enjoyed playing the guitar, Christopher said.

For Michael Castellanos, 16, one of the favorite parts of the tournament was seeing players of all ages come together and enjoy the music.

In “this tournament in particular, a lot of the younger kids are playing. In other tournaments, it’s usually the older kids, because they were more experienced in the game,” he said. “So, it’s good to see a lot of younger kids play. It makes it a better environment, considering we are just seeing the kids have fun.”

Sattaur, the librarian who helped organize the tournament, said the fun that participants enjoy also “teaches them good hand to eye coordination, rhythm, appreciation for music.”

The video game allows participants to hit the notes on the guitar as they appear on the screen and sing along. Participants can select the level of difficulty for each song.

Songs performed during the contest included Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Fun’s “We Are Young” and The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.”

But it was Jefferson’s, Christopher’s and Michael’s performance of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” that earned them 70,000 points and a listing on the music game’s system as one of its top performances.

“That was pretty cool,” Michael said.

Everyone who participated received a small prize, and there was also the grand prize of a goody bag, which included a Spiderman key chain and Ninja Turtle shoelaces. Sattaur, who observed the performances, selected the tournament’s winner—Bruce Guallpo. He received the grand prize.

“I feel great. This feels awesome. I feel really special. I love getting free stuff,” a smiling Bruce said.

But participating in the tournament was the biggest prize of all, according to performers.

“You get to spend time with some friends and sing for everybody else, it’s really fun and I suggest everybody try it,” Jefferson said.

Van Cortlandt Library, John Sattaur, Bruce Guallpo, Michael Castellanos, Jefferson Osei-Owusu, Rock Band 3, Lisa Herndon

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