The Hawk : The real life School of Rock

The real life School of Rock

Derrick Krom'13, Special to The Hawk
March 24, 2012
Filed under Arts & Entertainment

Sometimes it?s hard to hear what Craig Waxman is trying to say over the constant hum of instrument noise and feedback. But that?s because Waxman is the general manager of Philadelphia?s very own School of Rock.

Located off of I-95 next to the Electric Factory, the School of Rock is not just any ordinary music school. The school?s motto ? ?Inspiring kids to rock on stage and in life? ? is what sets it apart from other music schools that give boring lessons in musky stores and studio basements.

?At [our] core, we?re a music school. But that?s kind of where it ends when comparing us to some other music school,? Waxman says. ?Though we have lesson rooms and teach lessons, that?s not where our magic happens. Our magic happens playing as a group. It just increases your thirst for knowledge and these kids learn really, really fast.?

Founded in 1998 by Paul Green, the ?School of Rock teaches guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards and/or drums and combines weekly private music lessons and group band rehearsals to prepare students to take the stage in front of live audiences in an authentic concert setting,? according to the school?s mission statement.

The school has become a growing international franchise and even served as the inspiration for the 2003 ?School of Rock? movie, starring Jack Black.

With over seventy schools across the United States and Mexico, the school?s students have played thousands of concerts across the world, including shows at famous venues like The Whiskey, CBGB?s, The Trocadero, and The Roxy. The talented students have also performed at festivals like Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and Zappanale (a music festival held in Germany).

Music programs at the School of Rock were designed to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for kids of all ages and skill levels. Any kid who desires to play an instrument and experience what it?s like to play rock music can walk through the doors and immediately feel like a rock star.

Instructors at the School of Rock are also very accomplished and talented musicians who are open to implementing new methods of teaching. Ty Asoudegan and Alan Von Ens, both instructors at the school, are members of local Philadelphia bands and have been playing professionally for years. Instead of teaching straight from a book, it?s up to the students to decide what they want to learn.

Students truly respond to the school?s unique methods and seem to enjoy learning how to play new music. Ric Haas, Asoudegan?s guitar student at the School of Rock, is learning college-level music theory ? at only twelve years old. A warning for musicians: attempting to play with Haas will leave you feeling disgraced as a musician.

After trying various other music lessons, Haas decided to check out the School of Rock and has been here ever since. ?I don?t think there?s one thing I don?t like about it,? he says. ?There?s nice people here and it?s just fun, a real good experience.?

The School of Rock?s approach is like nothing ever done in music before. Its methods of teaching music are like giving the students, ?ice cream first instead of a well balanced meal,? Waxman says. ?Here?s what you have to play, you don?t even have to do all that other stuff.?

Source: http://hawkhillnews.com/arts-entertainment/2012/03/24/school-of-rock/

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