Navigating the halls of Lakewood High School by day and lighting up local venues by night, ‘The Little Ditties‘ have transformed their passion for music into a vibrant community presence in Lakewood. Most recently, on Oct. 22, The Little Ditties, along with the band Girl Cologne, opened for GRLwood at Mahall’s.
The band formed in December 2022, when bass guitarist Lana Collins posted a recruitment message on Snapchat for musicians interested in joining a girl band. Vocalist Elizabeth Schuldt reached out to guitarist Anna Maurer, hoping that Maurer would share her love of music in the form of a band that would resonate with her peers. Schuldt and Maurer, members of The Lakewood Project (Lakewood High School’s rock orchestra), naturally invited fellow member Emily Jarecke to join as drummer.
It wasn’t until their first rehearsal that Elizabeth Schuldt joined the band. “I used to sing, I haven’t in a while, but I could try it,” Schuldt told the others. She had participated in musical theater and choir in elementary and middle school, giving her experience and a musical background.
“I’ve been wanting to be in a band since my freshman year of high school,” Anna Maurer said. “I love rock music and I wanted to find a way to play on my own time.”
The band members juggle individual responsibilities, participating in various activities such as the National Honor Society, The Lakewood Project, and local jobs. Their packed schedules mean limited time for rehearsals. “We do our best to fit in rehearsals,” Schuldt said. “We’ll just have a practice for two hours if we can.”
Although the rehearsals are crammed and time is limited, the musicians thrive on the joy of performing and creating music. Hours of dedication are all channeled into one moment, a connection between a stage and the audience.
With nine original songs, the group has performed at multiple venues, each piece carefully crafted and performed wholeheartedly.
When asked about her favorite songs to perform, Maurer said, “It’s a three-way tie between our song “Moving On,” our song “Demo,” and our song “Interlude.”‘
Maurer enjoys the energy of the stage and playing good songs while having a great time. She also appreciates reflecting on the memories made during the performance.
“My favorite song to perform is probably “Moving On” because it’s really cool and it’s my hardest song vocally. But for a while, I hated performing it because I would always be scared I was going to mess up,” Elizabeth Schuldt said. “But now I’ve got it down really well and it makes me happy that I can sing it well, plus it’s just a really cool song.”
The iconic group is constantly making new memories and enjoying the present moment on stage. They have played at local venues, such as The Grog Shop and Mahall’s, and even at other Lakewood residents’ birthday parties. The Ditties also played in a High School Rock-Off in February 2024 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame is awesome!” Lana Collins said.
Along with a plethora of venues performed, the Ditties have also worked with numerous bands such as The Props, GRLwood, and Girl Cologne.
As for the most memorable bands The Ditties have worked with, “Absolutely GUICHE” Collins said. Cellar Dwellar was also a very memorable band to work with.
Since forming the band, the artists have had many valuable experiences. They appreciate each opportunity and look forward to more.
“I’ll always remember our first show we played because it was such a new experience, and I had never done anything like that before,” said Maurer, “That was at the Grog Shop back in June of 2023.”
Many fellow students, faculty, and parents attend the Ditties shows. High school senior Margot King has attended most concerts and looks forward to them.
“I really like dancing to their music, and also it’s really cool to see my friends and people I know on stage making wonderful music,” King says. “It brings people together because everyone there knows each other and it’s cool to be with your friends and support your other friends while dancing to awesome music.”
When drummer Emily Jarecke graduated in June 2024, the band was supportive but devastated. They would need to find a replacement for their shows during the school year. Senior Owen Ritchie, also part of The Lakewood Project, stepped in and took place.
“When a good band that already has [everything] together hits me up, I’m not going to say no,” Ritchie said.
The band’s unique members give them a special glow. Each member celebrates their similarities and differences. Specifically, music tastes are very diverse.
“We have three bands in total that we all agree on, and [they’re] Heart, Fleetwood Mac, and Rage Against the Machine,” Maurer said.
Even with differences, the band finds ways to connect and create beautiful music. Collaboration is critical; luckily, for this band, it is one of their favorite aspects.
“I love writing music. It’s one of my favorite things to do, and they’re just really great people and they’re very awesome to hang out with and super funny and talented,” Maurer said.
“I love writing music, and I love the people in my band,” Collins added.
The Little Ditties are not just a band; they’re an inspiration to their peers and community. Their dedication to music and commitment to each other promises a bright future. This is only the beginning for the artists, and we can’t wait to see where their talent takes them next.
If you want to see The Little Ditties in person, they will perform next on Dec. 7, 2024, at The Roxy At Mahall’s for ‘Rock The Halls,’ a female-fronted fundraiser to end human trafficking.
