School of Rock was a (really good) movie. But it was loosely based on a true story, basically about a musician who started a school that taught music to kids but used rock music.
My son has been attending for three years now. I remember very well how it went down: he didn't make the 9 year old, baseball all-star team (so much wrong with that idea) and was very, very sad. In talking about it, he said "Dad, I just want to be good at something." Heartbreaking for his dad. He's a serviceable athlete, but not a good one. And in my area, where kids are training at whatever sport beginning at age 4 or 5, if you don't start early and aren't a great athlete, it's tough to catch up.
When I asked him what he wanted to be good in, he said "drawing and drums." His friend had played drums at our block party one year and received applause; he wanted that. So I took him down to our local School of Rock that I had heard about. They offer drums, vocals, keyboards, guitar, and bass guitar. They have a huge musician/teacher staff, who have tried or are trying to make it as professional musicians. They will take kids as young as 5 through high school (some adults do lessons, too). The system is fantastic (and expensive!): each semester when you sign up and after you've demonstrated a basic level of proficiency, you are placed in a band of about 15 kids who get a themed set list. You practice once a week individually, and once a week as a band for 2 hours. At the end, you perform you set (about 15-20 songs) at a bar or event location. Parents come, and pre-Covid, anyone else you wanted to invite.
My son just finished his 4th show. It is just so awesome. Some of the kids involved are just good at everything--they are probably popular, attractive, athletic, whatever. But most of these kids are not. And a disproportionate number, I've noticed, are the kids that most of us would recognize as those who got picked on in school--socially awkward, or gender confused, some clearly on the autism spectrum, etc.
The shows are uneven. Some of the songs are terrible--terribly arranged, terribly played, off-key vocals. But at least half are not. A group of about 10-17 year olds play at least 5 songs that are great--fun, well played, moving.
Tonight, one of the singers was clearly very shy, she had no stage presence and wore a baggy red sweatshirt. Her hair was long enough to be a girls or a rocker boys. She sang a song from Hamilton and it made me weep. Her voice was absolutely beautifiul.
Another boy, maybe a freshman or sophomore, who was very effeminate and dramatic--I stereotyped him as gay--performed a song from the Rocky Horror Picture show dressed as a woman, and Teenager by Chemical Romance. He was amazing, charismatic, and perfectly hit all the right notes. The other kids clearly admired him (rightlfully so!).
A few observations:
1. This is how kids should be taught music in school. We need more music teachers, teaching music kids like, in a way in which makes kids love music and gives them an opportunity to perform and be seen for the talented people they are. Hire part-timers, allow it to be done after school, be creative.
2. It is very moving to see kids show their talents like this. I mean, I actually cried during a 12 year old's performance of the Hamilton song. Every 12 year old--no matter their race, gender, neural typicality, etc.-- should know what it is like to show off their talents in that way. Maybe those talents are in music, maybe sports, or--here's where the political stuff comes in--in math or writing or coding. I think of that as equity. We should be celebrating and encouraging the development of talents of all stripes and not holding anyone back. Kids have different levels of abilities across a nearly infinite spectrum of skills. I know, I know, this is incredibly idealistic.
3. It is much more emotionally satisfying to see an underdog succeed. When you watch a kid who you can just tell probably has a tough time of it in other areas of life, it is emotionally satisfying. I think that is one of the primary drivers of educational buy-in of DEI. And it's not wrong.
But I think if you widen your perspective, you'll see that most kids are underdogs in some way, even if its not based on being a minority racial classification or sexuality. Maybe they aren't physically attractive, maybe they aren't too smart, maybe they have mental illness or emotional issues because of a stressed home life (divorce, money problems, etc.).
I think if most people saw DEI initiatives as focusing on all of the many ways in which someone could feel like an outcast or underdog, they'd be much more supportive of those efforts. But when those efforts are seemingly focused only on a certain group of kids, it seems unfair--inequitable, if you will.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts after seeing my kid's show. He rocked, had fun, and hopefully is feeling better about himself.
