DuPage Rock Music School opens new location in Carol Stream
The DuPage Rock Music School, which has served DuPage/Kane/Cook county communities since 1990, just moved into a new location at 456 Randy Road in Carol Stream.
The school has been a part of the community of Carol Stream since 1990.
Under the name DuPage Guitar Lessons, owner Robert Simkus Jr. has taught guitar, bass guitar and drums to aspiring musicians of all ages and abilities.
"What started out as a hobby growing up turned into a lifetime of music and teaching. A few years after graduating from Western Illinois University I was out on my porch playing guitar and a neighbor stops by and asked for lessons. From that moment, more students sought me out and sort of pulled me into music and off the corporate path that I was on," Simkus said.
Esentially running a little music school out a home studio, Simkus used his garage for rehearsals for the many veteran's benefit concerts he has hosted over the last several years.
"One of the great things about running your own business is that you can find creative ways to give back to the community in a positive manner. We use our student recitals or what we call 'concerts' to benefit our veterans. Twice a year, we pair up with 501(c)3 Guitars for Veterans to give our vets free guitar lessons and a free guitar. Over the years, we've helped dozens of vets get free guitars and lessons through our student benefit concerts."
DuPage Rock Music School's next event is scheduled for Nov. 10 at DuPage Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2164 in Wheaton. (A little known fact about VFW 2164 is that it was built by World War I veterans).
DuPage Rock Music School will continue to pair with Guitars4Vets.org as part of DuPage Rock Music School's mission to have philanthropy at the core of their story.
DuPage Rock Music School has added more teachers to better serve the community. They have a impressive line up of teachers with amazing resumes.
"I sought out teachers with solid backgrounds in teaching and perfomance so our students get a first rate experience with solid mentoring," Simkus said.
The teachers are multi-instrumentalists with a variety of backgrounds including childhood education, recording, songwriting, music business and more. Full bios are available for each teacher (with current reviews) on the DuPage Rock Music School's website.
Currently, the school is offering classes Monday through Friday from 3 to 10 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Guitar, bass guitar, piano, drums, ukulele, saxophone and voice lessons are currently offered. In the near future we will be offering music workshops, celebrity appearances, recording services, exclusive rehearsal space and other services such as guitar club nights every other Friday, hosted by Aces Guitar Club.
DuPage Rock Music School is a school for all ages.
"When I tell people that half of our students are adults, they don't believe me. You are never too old or too young to play music. In fact, the other half, the kids, before they start with us they have typically begged their parents for drum/guitar/bass/piano lessons because they want to learn", says Simkus. The age of current students ranges from 5 to 70-plus.
"Music transcends all time, space and language. The 'right age' to play music is every age," Simkus said.
At 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, DuPage Rock Music School will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Carol Stream Mayor Frank Savarino and the local Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce to commemorate the opening of the school at 456 Randy Road in Carol Stream. The community is invited for the special event.
You can find out more at DuPageRockMusicSchool.com.
For information, contact Robert Simkus Jr. at (630) 687-7787 or DuPageRockMusicSchool@gmail.com.