BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A local ‘girls only’ week-long rock music camp has tapped into the latest trends to get kids interested in music.

Stockdale Music’s “Rock Camp for Girls” was created by Bakersfield High graduate Sarah Roach.

She said her goal was to empower young girls with music and steer them away from the typical pop starlets they've seen in recent years on television and in the news.

Girl attendees said the camp allowed them to meet new friends and have fun while learning to play music.

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“It’s actually really fun for the first year,” said Sophia Brier-Heimbach who played the bongos and sang in one bands formed during the camp.

Local musician Shantell Waldo said she spoke to girls about being a female in a do-it-yourself band. She said they spoke about instruments, songwriting, singing and that kids at the camp learned how to promote bands, make zines, form bands and make fliers. “They were really, really sweet,” said Waldo. “I told them to never get discouraged.”

Waldo said rock music still has a male focus, so girls shouldn’t be discouraged by underhanded comments. “Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about yourself and what you do,” Waldo said to the girls.

Waldo added that she told the girls that duct tape is a musician’s best friend. “Never leave home without it.”

The girls performed a concert last Friday night at Stockdale Music in southwest Bakersfield after having formed bands with names like Dead Dollies and Identity Crisis.