School of Rock opening in Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON — It’s only rock `n’ roll ... but they like it.
In fact, they like it so much they’ve decided to pass their love along via Central Illinois’ very first full-time school devoted to the music.
The Bloomington Rock School plugs in the amps in October in a downtown storefront at 411 N. Main St. (former site of La Chiquita Grocery).
Heading up the faculty is one of B-N’s most venerated rock musicians, Ed Anderson, founding father of Backyard Tire Fire.
Joining him on the teaching roster are two more alumni of the local rock scene, Jay Larson and Tony SanFilippo, both of the band Ghosttown Gramophone.
SanFilippo also owns and operates Bloomington’s Oxide Lounge Recording. Kim Anderson, Ed’s wife, will serve as the school’s operations director.
The school’s enrollment is open to both adults and kids for both individual lessons and a songwriting seminar.
But it’s the kids — especially those budding Jaggers from 10 to 17 — who are being courted, via classes with tell-all titles like “Introduction to Rock” and “Rock Performance.”
To the best of the Andersons’ knowledge, it’s the first and only full-time school of its kind between Chicago and St. Louis.
The concept has been in the discussion stage with the couple for some time, said Kim Anderson.
“The band isn’t touring at the moment, and we were kind of talking about the future. This was an idea I had brought up, but it came to fruition between the two of us.”
The curriculum will center on teaching those kids how to make music in what the Andersons call “an open-minded environment.”
Among the highlights of the eight-week fall session will be field trips to local rock sites, including Bloomington’s Castle Theatre and the Oxide Lounge studio, and an end-of-session live public performance at local venue.
The Bloomington Rock School will operate under the assumption that “the only `right’ way to learn an instrument is whatever works for each individual,” said Kim Anderson, with lessons to be tailored to each student’s learning style and musical interests.
The school’s storefront space has been completely made over, she said, with walls and floors stripped down to the original brick and wood. The décor is be dominated by appropriate art and instruments of rock.
A sneak preview of the space and its coming offerings will be on display from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, with applications available, as well as musical interludes from Ed and others, refreshments and more.
“I’ve learned a lot through touring and making records and playing rock `n’ roll music,” added Ed Anderson.
Moreover, “I’ve met and played with some of my musical heroes. Now it’s time for me to give back — to take what I’ve learned over the last couple decades and pass it on to kids to keep this kind of music I love so much alive and kicking.”
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Information from: The Pantagraph,