BETHESDA, Maryland — Bach to Rock calls itself "America's Music School." That's an ambitious claim, since its six locations right now are in the Washington, DC area. But with schools opening soon in New York and Connecticut, it's getting closer to that title.
The rooms at Bach to Rock summer day camp in Bethesda, Maryland are filled with sound. Although the school offers music lessons here for adults as well, summer day camp is geared to kids 4 to 12.
"The majority of the students here have never played an instrument before, and in their one week stay with us, they will have learned, recorded, and performed two songs by week's end," explained Brian Gross, president and CEO of Bach to Rock.
In a little while the kids will have their first gig, perhaps at a local pub. One of the gig-ready kids Grant Glazier,12, has been studying piano since he was four at a more traditional music school. However, along with having fun, his mom, Carly, says, Grant is learning something at Bach to Rock that his piano teacher can't teach him.
"The biggest thing he is learning is how to work together as a team, which I think is an important value you can't get in a regular one-on-one lesson," she noted.
Playing their kind of music with peers is the year-round philosophy at Bach to Rock. Students are encouraged to take part in jam sessions, even if they aren't in a band.
That may be why Bach to Rock has been successful. This year, the music school sold six franchises near New York City. Brian Gross says that's only the beginning.
"Eventually I see this as an international concept. The thing about music is it is not language restricted, so we can teach it in China just as easily as we can teach it here in Bethesda," Gross explained.
For now, Gross is focused on making Bach to Rock America's music school.
The rooms at Bach to Rock summer day camp in Bethesda, Maryland are filled with sound. Although the school offers music lessons here for adults as well, summer day camp is geared to kids 4 to 12.
"The majority of the students here have never played an instrument before, and in their one week stay with us, they will have learned, recorded, and performed two songs by week's end," explained Brian Gross, president and CEO of Bach to Rock.
In a little while the kids will have their first gig, perhaps at a local pub. One of the gig-ready kids Grant Glazier,12, has been studying piano since he was four at a more traditional music school. However, along with having fun, his mom, Carly, says, Grant is learning something at Bach to Rock that his piano teacher can't teach him.
"The biggest thing he is learning is how to work together as a team, which I think is an important value you can't get in a regular one-on-one lesson," she noted.
Playing their kind of music with peers is the year-round philosophy at Bach to Rock. Students are encouraged to take part in jam sessions, even if they aren't in a band.
That may be why Bach to Rock has been successful. This year, the music school sold six franchises near New York City. Brian Gross says that's only the beginning.
"Eventually I see this as an international concept. The thing about music is it is not language restricted, so we can teach it in China just as easily as we can teach it here in Bethesda," Gross explained.
For now, Gross is focused on making Bach to Rock America's music school.
