“God of Rock, thank you for this chance to kick ass.” —Dewey Finn, School of Rock A s art and music programs are increasingly recognized as vital for kids to develop senses of creativity, collaboration and self- esteem, one model has emerged in recent years as an ideal way to meld all three. And rock out, while doing so. The “rock band” model—in which a small group of novice- musicians are taught to play a handful of popular songs over a short period by a professional mentor, culminating in a public performance—is utilized by both private and public music programs across the country. Popularized by the 2003 comedy School of Rock —written by Mike White, directed by Richard Linklater and starring Jack Black—the concept is often credited as dating back to the late 1990s when the Paul Green School of Rock Music launched in Philadelphia. Today, rock-band programs are everywhere—offered in schools, through private companies and beyond. The North Bay offers multiple opportunities for kids (and in many cases adults) to join a band, learn the basics of an instrument and enjoy the thrill of teamwork and performing live in front of friends and family, often in a public venue. Many students have gone on to form their own bands, joining the local music scene. Music for a lifetime “I'm a passionate musician myself, but more on a hobby basis,” says Ralf Lindner, owner of the Napa School of Music. “I've been playing music since as long as I can think—in various bands and music styles. So I made my hobby my job.” Lindner took over the school in 2017 and, although a lifelong musician, he says simply running the school keeps him plenty busy. In the past three months alone, the school has grown by A young drummer keeps the beat as part of a Napa School of Music performance.
10%. It currently has around 550 students, and Lindner expects to expand beyond that. The school welcomes low-income students, offering opportunities to help with costs. The school’s mission is to teach students the skills they need to enjoy music for a lifetime. He says that’s something they think about when they hire new teachers. “We want to make sure they will bring joy to the kids,” Lindner says. They tailor lessons based on the goals of the student and pay attention to what speed each student learns so they aren’t pushing them to learn faster than they are comfortable. The teachers at the Napa School of Music have varied backgrounds, from advanced degrees to a simple passion for music. Many play gigs, in bands or even with big tours. Some are singer-songwriters. “When we ask what kind of music you like, we definitely have a teacher that is also into that kind of music,” Lindner says. As the school grows, Lindner is continually on the look out for new teachers. Lindner sees his rock band program as a way to improve young lives. “We want to build self-esteem through music,” he says. “A lot of kids, when [they first start], are more introverted, but music can change a lot,” Lindner says. “Once we get them into one of the rock bands, as a member of these bands they start to open up and that's when we say, ‘OK, now you can see that self-esteem growing through music.’” Lindner says the rock bands are popular both for students and families. “They all end up with a big concert at the end of the season—after 12 weeks of rehearsing—where they perform on a big stage in downtown Napa,” he says. “Last time we were at The Garden [a restaurant and beer garden at 1500 First St.], and it was sold out. We had more than 250 people there.” Lindner says he can feel the excitement on a performance night. “You have the parents and the relatives and friends and The Napa program is looking for additional teachers to meet a proliferation of sign-ups. [Photo courtesy Napa School of Music]
40 NorthBaybiz
April 2025
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