Rock stars-in-training took to the stage in an effort to raise tuition scholarships for local students to participate in the Albany School of Rock.
The Albany School of Rock house band played at Glennpeter Jewelers’ 1544 Central Ave. location in Colonie Thursday, July 9, to help raise money for the Rock School Scholarship Fund. Besides the band, people took part in a silent auction and enjoyed refreshments, with the night’s proceeds going entirely toward the scholarship fund.
The Rock School Scholarship Fund, a 501c3 charity, helps prospective students with either the partial or full School of Rock tuition based on financial need. Glennpeter hosted the Thursday night event and provided refreshments and a cash bar, money from all of which goes entirely to the scholarship.
The first hour of the night consisted of School of Rock’s house band playing, then a performance from guitar instructor Andrew Mirabile. Artist Rich Conley was there to draw caricatures “in classic rock style.”
“We’ve been working with the School of Rock and we’re very excited,” said Paula Pierro, Glennpeter Jewelers events coordinator.
While Glennpeter often hosts charity events, Pierro said School of Rock put a different spin on the usual fundraising events. The store and school worked together to find specific pieces of jewelry that reflected the school’s rock and roll nature. School of Rock then asked local businesses to sponsor the jewelry and donate it to the silent auction.
“(Glennpeter) helped pick out pieces a little funky, a little edgy, so it kind of met with our feel of what we do,” said Albany School of Rock General Manager Emily Trotter-Bodie. “We’re trying to do a more fancy, mingly fundraiser, but still try to keep it with some rock and roll feel.”
School of Rock is a nationwide franchise that provides performance-based musical education for kids as young as 3 years old, to adults 18 years old and up. The local location, found in Latham, began in September 2013 and has been teaching rock-centric education ever since.
Students can learn to do the guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals. Although the school does offer individual lessons, instructors concentrate on bringing students together as a band, teaching future rock stars musicianship and teamwork, said Trotter-Bodie.
Not only do the students learn how to be a band, but they also learn how to perform. The school gives free performances, a majority at The Hollow on North Pearl Street in Albany, on a regular basis.
Trotter-Bodie said the performances give younger students a chance to gain confidence. “The kids are up on stage, so they learn confidence, are better in front of groups and better public speakers,” she said.
The School of Rock franchise was established about 13 years ago, and it soon found that it had people wanting to donate money to musical education, who were drawn to the school’s mission.
“It became this weird, ‘I want to donate, so I’m going to pay for the tuition of X number of children,” said Trotter-Bodie.
As a result, the franchise established the Rock School Scholarship Fund, giving both an avenue for people to donate and for students who want to join School of Rock but are not financially able.
Through an application process open three times a year, prospective student can apply for different levels of support. Trotter-Bodie said some families are just barely able to afford the tuition, so amount of tuition provided can be 25, 50, 75 or 100 percent from the scholarship fund.
Trotter-Bodie said that since this was the first time Albany School of Rock was doing this type of fundraiser, she wasn’t sure what to expect, but hoped to raise around $5,000.
“That’s my first initial goal,” she said. “Even if we just made $1,000, I’d be happy with whatever we have. Anything that we get helps us, because every little bit goes to being able to help a student get into the school.”
For more information on Albany School of Rock, its services and tuition, go to albany.schoolofrock.com or call 783-7625.
