“God of Rock, thank you for this chance to kick ass.”—Dewey Finn, School of Rock
As art and music programs are increasingly recognized as vital for kids to develop senses of creativity, collaboration and self-esteem, one model has emerged in recent years as an ideal way to meld all three. And rock out, while doing so.
The “rock band” model—in which a small group of novice-musicians are taught to play a handful of popular songs over a short period by a professional mentor, culminating in a public performance—is utilized by both private and public music programs across the country. Popularized by the 2003 comedy School of Rock—written by Mike White, directed by Richard Linklater and starring Jack Black—the concept is often credited as dating back to the late 1990s when the Paul Green School of Rock Music launched in Philadelphia…