Teen drummer Bryn Kepler’s love of ‘indie rock’ fires the Zeitgeist music series.

Her friends studied Mozart and Beethoven, but Bryn Kepler wanted her music to rock.

Her instrument of choice: drums.

“You can hear it all the way down the street,” said the 14-year-old Bainbridge Island High School freshman, who has been rocking the kit in her bedroom since she began taking lessons in 2002.

She tries to end her practice sessions by 7 p.m. out of consideration for the neighbors.

“It was hitting things hard,” Kepler said of the appeal of drums. “My friends played piano or violin, something classical, but I wasn’t really interested in that. I respect classical music, but it’s not really my preference.”

Kepler favors “indie rock,” a subgenre of “alternative” that primarily exists in the underground scene. Artists release their music on independent record labels, relying on performances, word of mouth, and airplay on non-commcercial radio stations for promotion.

“I really like bands that are passionate about what they’re doing, and musicians who are really intense when they play,” she said.

Kepler’s love of indie music prompted her to take on the role of youth coordinator for this year’s Zeitgeist Concert Series, which kicks off its first show on Oct. 14 (see box).

A program of the Island Music Guild, Zeitgeist brings local and regional rock acts to play all-ages concerts throughout the school year.

The events are run by teenagers under the supervision of Korum Bischoff, vice president of the guild’s board and a music teacher to many of the young musicians who are involved in the series.

After Kepler volunteered for last year’s Zeitgeist series, Bischoff suggested she take the reins from the previous coordinators, who now attend college.

She was happy to accept the position.

“I’m somewhat of a ‘type A’ personality,” she admits, “I’m a natural planner and I like to be in control, so it’s a good thing. I think it’s really fun to do.”

So far, Kepler’s efforts have included booking the bands, creating a promotional page on the MySpace internet site, and handling the marketing. She gets it all done after soccer practice, homework and drum lessons.

“She is pretty much the main person running the whole thing,” Bischoff said.

Kepler’s peers will assist in stage management and running the lights and sound on the day of the show, all of which Bischoff assures will be professional quality.

“I trust that the kids will make it happen,” said Bischoff, who likes to just sit back and watch the progress. “It’s rewarding for me to see.”

Kepler’s own music experiences have paved the way for her involvement in this year’s series.

Over the summer, she fostered her love for rock at the “Rock & Roll Camp for girls in Portland. Kepler learned about the music business from professional female musicians.

“I had a band there, and that was really exciting,” she said. “It was called Too Hot For Enthusiasm because it was during that week where it was over 100 degrees and we were just dying, playing in a warehouse.”

At the end of the program, Kepler performed with the band in front of an audience of 600 at a sold-out Portland show. The event helped her overcome her reluctance to perform in public.

“I still don’t love to play in front of people, but I don’t mind it anymore,” she said. “I’ve gotten to the point where I feel confident.”

She has also learned from her mother, Sheila Hughes, former producer of Seattle’s annual Bumbershoot festival, who still works on making the music and arts event happen.

Kepler always attends the ‘Shoot, and finds the fresh music inspiring.

After seeing Speaker Speaker, a Seattle-based band that played at the festival over Labor Day weekend, Bryn booked the group for the first Zeitgeist concert.

She also enjoyed performances by several bands that have a permanent place in her iPod, including Nouvelle Vague, Metric, and Deerhoof.

Deerhoof?

Yes. Kepler realizes that some of her favorites are relatively unknown to Bainbridge residents, and that is what excites her about taking charge of Zeitgeist. Her indie sensibilities motivate her to help local bands “get their music out there.”

“I think it’s really important that kids on the island are exposed to music because being from the island you don’t always have the opportunity to go to Seattle for stuff like this,” she said, “It’s really nice to be involved in this kind of musical community.”

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Tunes for teens

Speaker Speaker, Sound­proof Highway and Uncus open the Zeitgeist music series with an all-ages show at Island Music Guild Hall on Valley Road tonight.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and admission is $5. See www.myspace.com/zeitgeistconcertseries for information.