School of Rock plugs in

There’s a new type of sound emerging from the school’s hallways, but it isn’t one that you’ll hear from the band or choir room, but rather a biology room.

Around the beginning of the second semester, a brand new club called “School of Rock” which was started by, surprisingly not Jack Black, but science teacher Jeff Hartman.“It’s been something that I’ve been wanting to do for several years,” Hartman said. “I’ve talked to a couple of students this year, and they seemed really interested in it, so we went ahead tried to get it going.”

What the club essentially does is that they meet together once a week with each student practicing music, whether it’s individually, having the students divide into groups or having everybody work on a song, despite the student’s skill level.

“We’ve been teaching some students how to play new instruments that they don’t know how to play already,” Hartman said.

One member of School of Rock is junior David Schroeder, who joined when his counselor recommended it to him. Schroeder is no stranger to music since he’s been playing guitar for 12 years, but what is unique for him is how anybody can participate. “Even if you don’t have a lot of experience, you can still go down there and let them know your situation,” Schroeder said. “Nobody judges you. You just play what you’ve got.”

The instruments that the students play range from guitars, basses, keyboards and horns. The variety gives students the opportunity to experiment with their talents. “[Sophomore Matthew Kremer] and his piano really brings that in. He likes playing for people and getting other people to join in,” Schroeder said. “[Sophomore Wesley Gitta] picks up the bass and likes fooling around with it. He likes getting in there, and I think everybody is having a good time.”

Even though the club has been around for only a short period of time, it seems to be receiving very positive feedback from it’s members. “The ones that have been coming seem to be having a really good time,” Hartman said. “They have the freedom to play whatever music they want to play. They just hang out and have fun in a relaxed atmosphere.”

However, all of the practice that goes on doesn’t happen for nothing. The group plays in the Tigers Den every week. Students are highly encouraged to stop by and see them perform. Schroeder especially urges students to visit. “It’s a different thing. It’s not the usual norm. You get up in the morning, and you get to hear some live music,” Schroeder said. “Maybe you don’t know some kid too well, but you see him in the Tiger’s Den playing, and it gets him out there. That’s what it did for me.”