Dallas School of Rock pays tribute to KISS

by Sarah Crisman

It's not just a Jack Black movie -- The School of Rock is an established franchise in Dallas/Frisco learning kids in the ways of working musicianship. Sunday afternoon, the band will be showing off their KISS chops in Frisco in what could possibly be the least boring recital of all time.

FRISCO — Each week, kids between the ages of 7-18 mill about the halls of the Paul Green School of Rock, a performance based, interactive music school franchise founded in 1998. The school is built on the principles that the best way to learn to do almost anything is by doing it. That is certainly true of music. The teachers, all passionate musicians (some of them staples of our local scene), help shape young musicians into working musicians -- or at the very least, killer performers.

You can catch a glimpse of their handiwork Sunday afternoon at Frisco's Rock City Hall -- an all-ages venue that plays host to School of Rock shows and family-oriented parties and events like family karaoke nights held the first Friday of each month. Next weekend will bring a Southern rock tribute to legends like Lynryd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, and ZZ Top.

The rockers on stage Sunday may be slightly shorter and younger than the real KISS but they have been forged in the fires to scorch that stage none the less. Expect classics like "Deuce," "Black Diamond," and "She" to be covered by the students. Having kids perform in front of a crowd, in a rock-show setting, helps them realize their artistic potential and layer confidence over the fundamental music training. Instead of being carelessly shaped by the fantasies of superstardom, the students are trained by passionate professional musicians who know the ins, outs, ups, and downs of the music business. It is a well-rounded musical education for any kid possessed with talent, grit, and determination necessary to become a sustainable musician. The trending of this sort of education could do very well for this upcoming generation of musicians. It will be interesting to see how it effects the industry in the next 5-10 years as these kids take off to melt faces around the world.