Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Nance.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Paul. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started as a drum instructor At School of Rock Atlanta in September 2016. As my involvement with the school grew, I acted as an Assistant Show Director on multiple occasions. Upon my predecessor’s departure, I interviewed for the General Manager position and accepted the role as of July 1, 2017.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Ha! It has been a LONG road over the past couple years at School of Rock Atlanta. We’re in an aging building that has had many concerns over the past few months, many of which have stemmed from plumbing issues from the businesses above us.
The property management company has been very attentive to the needs of the physical plant, but water will definitely follow gravity and find the lowest point!
With that said, I’m very pleased to announce that our company and the property management company have come to an agreement and we will be moving School of Rock Atlanta into a new facility (on the same block-across the parking lot from where we are now) in late summer/early fall 2018!
The staff, students, and parents at School of Rock Atlanta are all very excited about moving into this new location!
Please tell us about School of Rock Atlanta.
School of Rock is a performance-based music school. The bulk of our student body is children, ages 8-18 years old. We also have an adult student program. We put on full-fledged rock shows rather than doing recitals. We follow the seasons of the year, rather than having semesters. It is our belief that students learn best when immersed in an ensemble (band) setting.
By having our students participate in weekly band rehearsals, playing the very songs they work on during their private, weekly lessons, we see positive results in not only their learning and comprehension of music education but also the songs they’re selected to perform, and the socialization of the students within the context of a band setting.
They have a responsibility to their bandmates to learn their parts on songs in order to be able to play the songs at our end-of-season shows.
Speaking of shows, we put on rock shows at local Atlanta area venues, every 3-4 months featuring our Performance Program and Rock 101 students. These are “theme” based shows. Some of our most recent shows have included “A Tribute To Chris Cornell,” “Women Who Rock,” “Led Zeppelin,” “New Wave Music,” and this summer we’ll be performing a Jack White (“The Many Colors of Jack White”) themed show featuring music from his many bands (The White Stripes/The Raconteurs/The Dead Weather) and solo career.
Our House Band plays gigs throughout the city on a regular basis including festival dates and at locations like Smith’s Olde Bar, and The Masquerade. Additionally, we have an on-going monthly residency at The Tin Roof Cantina. Come out and see us the 3rd Sunday of any given month at the Tin Roof!
School of Rock’s practice of having students perform in a band setting is what we’re most proud of and what sets us apart from traditional music schools or other retail locations that conduct music lessons.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
From a business standpoint, nothing. The business model works! From a playing standpoint, I wish I had had access to School of Rock when I was a young drummer learning the instrument.
I’m certain it would’ve made me an even better player than I am now.
Contact Info:
- Address: 321 Pharr Rd. NE Atlanta, GA 30305
- Website: locations.schoolofrock.com/atlanta
- Phone: 404 218 3105
- Email: atlanta@schoolofrock.com
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