School of Rock has gone from a comfort movie to a global enterprise, but you won’t find Jack Black at their schools – instead you’ll find world-renowned music instructors, offering music lessons in over 15 different countries, which keeps expanding year after year.
2003 saw hoards of adults and children alike flocking to cinemas to see the one and only Jack Black take the helm in School of Rock, where a not-up-to-standards teacher substitutes at a private school, only to forego lessons of science for lessons of rock instead. From antics such as assigning each student an instrument, soundproofing the room so that the kids could practice, convincing the principal to let the kids audition for the Battle of the Bands, the movie is every kids dream – forgetting school work and becoming a rock star instead.
But, this dream is already somewhat a reality, with the actual School of Rock existing as a franchise of its own since the late ’90s. Starting as a single location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, School of Rock has forged a path in the franchise world and has developed into a global music brand, with after-school music instruction in over 15 countries with 300 schools in place across North America, South America, Australia, Taiwan, Spain, and Ireland.
With throngs of students keen to learn music, the after-school program’s success can be tied to innovation, with patented instructions dubbed The School of Rock Method – seeing students build musical knowledge, skills, and proficiency through their in-house Method App, Method Book collection, SongFirst approach, Method Engine, and performance-based music curriculum.
Not only do students get to learn and play songs that they’re most keen on, but they’re introduced to classic songs that fuel the rock scene like ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin, and a smattering of tunes by The Beatles, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, and whatever local rock legends that are in the area of their school.
Check out School of Rock’s students:
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By fostering a connection with students around the world, and driving them to develop their creativity, skills, and utilise numerous tools, the program has grown with serious expanse, even continuing throughout the global pandemic, which knocked most of the music industry flat on their backs.
“School of Rock defied the constraints of the pandemic to unlock breakthroughs that have strengthened our concept, competitive advantage, and our culture,” stated CEO Rob Price. “Our community has sustained momentum through innovation and an unyielding commitment to enriching lives.”
By adapting their schools to the web with virtual one-on-one music lessons, the after-school program was able to bring students new curriculum, virtual concerts, and even connect the students with world-famous musicians. That, put together with the fact that they expanded to four more countries and grew by 23 schools, they certainly showed the pandemic who is boss.
With continuous expansion one of the key goals, the program has global franchise opportunities, with many schools being ran by former musicians or music industry gurus who are looking towards the next generation of rock stars, or even by parents whose children have had their lives transformed by learning rock ‘n’ roll.
The after-school program has brought an opportunity to students around the globe to not only dig into their studies, but to dive into a passion rooted in music, as well, and to gain a true appreciation for rock. With four schools already providing music lessons across Australia (three being in Sydney, and one being in Perth), the franchise is keen to grow, and to see more schools pop up across the country, and lead more children towards embracing their passion for the world of music.
With Australia always embracing the local music scene, it’s time to invest in the children who will be the next generation of musicians, and bring even more School of Rocks to Australia. So if you think one would fit your community, School of Rock is here, and ready to bring the knowledge of music.
Check out School of Rock!
