New music school gets you ready to rock
What: Music School of Wilmington open house
When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday
Where: 6624 Gordon Road, suite A, in Gordon Road Station across from Eaton Elementary School
Details: 350-3170
"In the words of AC/DC: We roll
tonight... to the guitar bite... and for
those about to rock... I salute you."
- Dewey Finn from The School of Rock.
For a place that takes its cue from the 2003 Jack Black comedy, the new Music School of Wilmington has a rather demure name. Especially because its curriculum will include a whole lotta rock 'n' roll.
The film inspired the school's director, Lee Venters, to establish a school where children could learn both classical and contemporary music in the same place, in both private lessons and group ensembles. For instance, you can take a piccolo lesson one day and learn how to play the guitar like Jimi Hendrix in "The Real Guitar Heroes" class on another day.
Venters, a percussionist and national recording artist, opened the school in mid-October and will host an open house Monday.
"Wilmington is a transient town and people are coming from larger markets and are starving for the same entertainment they left behind," Venters said, adding that he plans to use his connections from 35 years in the business to bring in national musicians to teach master classes.
The school has seven soundproof studios for learning to play instruments from piano to slide guitar, world percussion and soprano sax. Two classrooms are reserved for the basics; there's also a 70-seat recital hall "with a big stage so they'll get a feel for what it's like on stage when they're performing," Venters added.
Kids and adults can learn computer recording techniques with Pro-Tools and Sequential Programming sessions. And local bands can rent one of the school's Jam Session rooms equipped with PA systems for practice nights.
"I just imagine kids getting out of a lesson," Venters said, "and being so excited they say, 'Mom, I learned how to write a song on the computer or play a Green Day song on the guitar.'"
- Dewey Finn from The School of Rock.
For a place that takes its cue from the 2003 Jack Black comedy, the new Music School of Wilmington has a rather demure name. Especially because its curriculum will include a whole lotta rock 'n' roll.
The film inspired the school's director, Lee Venters, to establish a school where children could learn both classical and contemporary music in the same place, in both private lessons and group ensembles. For instance, you can take a piccolo lesson one day and learn how to play the guitar like Jimi Hendrix in "The Real Guitar Heroes" class on another day.
Venters, a percussionist and national recording artist, opened the school in mid-October and will host an open house Monday.
"Wilmington is a transient town and people are coming from larger markets and are starving for the same entertainment they left behind," Venters said, adding that he plans to use his connections from 35 years in the business to bring in national musicians to teach master classes.
The school has seven soundproof studios for learning to play instruments from piano to slide guitar, world percussion and soprano sax. Two classrooms are reserved for the basics; there's also a 70-seat recital hall "with a big stage so they'll get a feel for what it's like on stage when they're performing," Venters added.
Kids and adults can learn computer recording techniques with Pro-Tools and Sequential Programming sessions. And local bands can rent one of the school's Jam Session rooms equipped with PA systems for practice nights.
"I just imagine kids getting out of a lesson," Venters said, "and being so excited they say, 'Mom, I learned how to write a song on the computer or play a Green Day song on the guitar.'"