Today, the School of Rock in Gahanna officially opened at 5225 N. Hamilton Road. Owner and general manager, Michael King, said they celebrated with live music, on-the-spot lessons, food, tours, door prizes and a ceremonial guitar smashing.
After his daughter graduated in 2018, King said he felt it was right opening his own business to help other musicians follow their dreams.
King said they focus of teaching guitar, bass, drums, vocals and keyboard. He said he wants to help students learn how to play high energy rock songs that are fun and fast.
Students are able to take one on one weekly lessons as well as have time for rehearsal on a real stage.
"There's no shortage of places to get one on one lessons, but there's no place to actually do performance based music education and that's what we focus on," King said.
Any musician that signs up for the School of Rock will automatically be qualified to perform on December 1st at Alrosa Villa.
King said, for many of the artists, music is much more than just playing an instrument.
"There's live skills that can be built right here, self discipline for your one on one lessons, you need good team work skills and be a good teammate when you come prepared for your rehearsal," King said.
Student and instructor, Andrew Decord, is a familiar face to a School of Rock franchise. He said he was part of one in New Jersey and when he moved here to the area, he immediately jumped at the opportunity to join this one in Gahanna.
He has been playing instruments since he was about 9 years old and after being a student for three years, he's now able to teach others and share his passion of music.
"You can express yourself through different genres of music and it's something positive that young people can get into," Decord said.
The owner said for a thirty minute one on one weekly lesson and ninety minutes of weekly rehearsal time, it is $275 a month.