This article from JamBase covers just a little more ground. The basic idea is that there is a non-profit organization for the arts/artists that is trying to get every kid to join a rock band. Music education for kids has always tried to emulate the popular music of the previous generation. For instance, in the early 1900s youth bands and orchestras were playing marches and symphonic pieces. In the 60s and 70s, there arose “stage bands” which were basically big band jazz groups. In the 80s and 90s (my era), small group jazz begin to crop up in schools. This guy is promoting small rock groups as a vehicle for encouraging kids to expand their creative output. This is similar to what Jorma is doing but is specifically directed at kids. I can definitely see some potential here, but there should also be expansion into hip hop and electronica because of how accessible that music is for creators. Beautiful stuff. Oh, and Ween is involved. Anything that Ween is into has to be good for you - right?
Since 1998, a mad genius named Paul Green has been on a quest to educate the world’s youth in the ways of rock & roll. Originally teaching just a handful of students out of his Philadelphia apartment, the school now has 31 branches nationwide, together boasting over 2,500 students, and is planning for international expansion. In Green’s view, any kid, age 5-18, regardless of musical proficiency or experience, should be playing in a band with other students of varying skill levels, and onstage in front of an audience in a real rock club within months of first holding an instrument. And it’s hard to deny he gets results: two of his original students now comprise King Crimson guitar legend Adrian Belew’s backing band, and the School of Rock All-Stars - the very best players from his schools nationwide - have shared the stage with everyone from Alice Cooper to Eddie Vedder.
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Tags: Outside of the Box, Tunes
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