Music is all about style and creativity, from instruments to music genres to clothing. Punk rock. Heavy metal. Classic rock. Blues. Each has its own beat, sound and look. And each person who performs brings their individuality to the table. The School of Rock, a music school, encourages that style and creativity in the students.
Instruments and Vocals
Instruments and vocals are one form of musical expression. Each outlet represents a different style, from the physical pounding on drums to the smooth strumming of a guitar.
The School of Rock helps kids and adults learn to play musical instruments and perform together. Kids have the opportunity to play multiple instruments. “People learn about other instruments that might not be as popular, like the bass, by seeing others play them. You’ll see the kids bopping around on instruments during a concert—it makes you a better musician when you switch roles.”
According to Jennifer, “Everyone has their own style. If you play the same song with two different drummers, you’ll hear two different versions of a song.”
Musical Style
“In Broomfield, there are a lot of metal heads,” said Jennifer. “This style requires people with a lot of energy and passion, as metal is quite powerful. It’s a huge sound, an angry sound. We do a lot of heavy metal shows.”
On the flip side, R&B/soul/blues is another genre. “It’s a softer sound, more elevated in style.” The School of Rock puts on a variety of music styles each season (about every four months). This fall, they’re doing an Aretha Franklin and the Music of Memphis, a skatepunk show, drumaggedon, modern metal and more.
Funny story from another School of Rock location—one kid got super excited when learning that the group would perform Pink Floyd, because pink was the kid’s favorite color! It’s a musical education.
Clothing Pulls It All Together
Of course, clothing is a fun way to represent a type of music and enables kids to have another outlet for expression. Kids tend to have a certain look for a heavy metal show—ripped jeans, boots, and t-shirts. For the Music of Memphis show, “We encourage kids to wear dresses, fedoras, button-up shirts—that type of thing,” said Jennifer. “And for a classic rock show, kids wear jeans, white t-shirts and headbands.”
The School of Rock Philosophy
“We’re a non-traditional music company,” explains Jennifer. “Parents typically had a music experience when they were growing up where you learn one instrument and then you give a solo or group recital. And parents are looking for something different for their kids.”
At School of Rock, kids usually have a preferred instrument. They’re grouped together to learn a set of songs pertaining to a genre, and they give a rock concert (instead of a traditional recital).
Kids receive a music education at the school and not just how to play an instrument. “While kids come to learn an instrument, they get so much more—they learn about instruments, music that they may not know and how to perform as a group.”
A Sense of Community: Inside and Out
School of Rock strives for a sense of community inside and outside the school. If you walk into the school on any given day, you’ll find music blasting from a room or two, kids hanging out in the front room playing Jenga, and parents talking to teachers or the front office staff—it’s a social scene!
“We really strive to foster a music community here,” said Jennifer. “The kid years can be hard, especially for tweens and teens, and we want to give the kids a safe and fun place to be.”
To foster even more support for kids, the School of Rock at a national and local level supports The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide.
Teachers are an important part of the community. “Our teachers, who are working musicians in the local music scene, are great role models for kids. They not only teach the kids how to play or sing, but they also teach them how to work together and help them be confident on stage.”
In addition to a sense of community inside the school, the School of Rock seeks partnerships locally through the venues the bands play at, from local bars and theaters to parks and farmers’ markets. “We want to perform locally and give people a variety of experiences performing, including the venue, audience and sound systems.”
Are you ready to jam yet?