MIDVALE — A new school in Midvale won't be teaching reading, writing and arithmetic.
Instead, the learning curriculum will center around the heart of rock 'n' roll.
"We teach every genre of rock music so that our students become sublime musicians by the time they are done," said Steve Auerbach, director of the new after-school learning center. "The goal here is to get them to the point where they can go out and get a gig anywhere with anyone."
On Oct. 14, Auerbach opened a second Utah extension of the Paul Green School of Rock Music at 7648 S. Main in Midvale.
"I am really privileged to do this," Auerbach said. "I am really fortunate and grateful."
In January, Auerbach was hired by Green to open a Salt Lake rock school branch at 503 N. 400 West.
"I said make me an offer I can't refuse, and he did," Auerbach said.
Green taught guitar lessons to pay for college and in 1998 opened the first School of Rock in Philadelphia. Now there are 12 affiliate schools nationwide. About 70 students are registered in the two Utah programs.
"People accuse us of making rock stars out of kids," Auerbach said. "They walk in the door as rock stars. They are amazing."
Both Utah schools have open enrollment and are designed for students ages 8-18. Auerbach said the school accepts musicians from every experience level, and the youngest Utah student is 7.
The school, Auerbach said, gives students a taste of what a real rock career would be like.
"They have a rock 'n' roll fantasy," Auerbach said. "They don't understand all what goes into being a rock 'n' roll musician."
Student Christy Matthews, 15, of Riverton is testing out the rock 'n' roll waters. In August 2004, she went to a Paul Green School of Rock concert while they were on tour in Salt Lake City.
"I thought it was awesome at first," Matthews said. "Then I thought it was a bummer. I was thinking they should have one here, and now they do."
Matthews took guitar lessons for five years before joining the School of Rock in February. She has since moved her lessons to the Midvale location.
She said rock school has strengthened her stage presence.
"It's really helped," Matthews said. "I can go out on stage now and not think anything of it."
All of the school's musicians are required to perform. The performances allow the students to have a real rock 'n' roll experience, Auerbach said.
"Many people want to be a rock star and have their first gig when they are 21," Auerbach said. "Our kids are playing their first gig when they are 11."
Generally the school has three 12-week seasons throughout the year when students are rehearsing for a specific show.
Fifteen-year-old Ally Van Roosendaal of Herriman was singing up a storm during the Salt Lake school's most recent performance at The Circuit in Midvale. She joined the rock school about six months ago because a bunch of her friends were enrolled.
"(I like) the adrenaline rush that there are so many people there saying your name and that are enjoying the show," Van Roosendaal said in between sets at the school's 'Da Funk and Reggae Show Oct. 8.
Van Roosendaal also plays bass guitar for the school.
"I used to not ever consider having a musical career," she said. "Now I would consider it. Being on stage, it's amazing."
Jesse McKeil of Herriman also hopes the school will jump-start his rock music career. He said students gain more experience by being in a band.
"If you want to become a musician when you are older, you have to learn how to interact with others," the 15-year-old said.
McKeil played guitar for one year before joining the School of Rock. His mom, Beth, also likes the interaction he gets through the school.
"Before he would go for a half an hour, once a week, and he didn't get to do anything except practice on his own," Beth McKeil said.
Since he joined the School of Rock in February, Jesse McKeil has performed about 10 times, she added.
"It's really good for his confidence," Beth McKeil said.
McKeil and Van Roosendaal have also moved their lessons to the new Midvale School of Rock location. Eventually the school will move to the next-door building which is being transformed into a custom rock school. By January, the top two floors will be converted into a school and the bottom floor will feature a coffee shop.
Nikki King, 15, hopes to join the Midvale school in the next couple of months.
"I want to learn how to play guitar," the Riverton teen said.
King is cleaning her grandpa's house every week and mowing her parents lawn in order to save up for the school's tuition, which is $180 a month. Tuition covers a weekly individual lesson with one of the school's 12 instructors, and a weekly three-hour group rehearsal or workshop.
If students also want to take voice lessons, tuition is an additional $90 a month. The school offers a discount to families with more than one student.
Jesse McKeil said the money is worth every penny.
"When you add up the hours you're at rock school, it's not that expensive," he said, noting that all the school's teachers are experienced musicians.
The instructors at the Salt Lake City and Midvale branches of the School of Rock are all award-winning musicians and perform on a regular basis, Auerbach said. He said the Jack Black movie "School of Rock" creates a misconception about what rock schools and their teachers are like.
"It is a farce that some hungover musician who can't stay in a band, much less hold a job, could teach students rock 'n' roll music," Auerbach said. "The real School of Rock is nothing like that."
Auerbach, a local musician, booking agent and record producer, also worked in Salt Lake City for 10 years as a social worker. He said the biggest lesson instructors teach at the School of Rock is discipline.
"Students come into our program who don't know how to study for school," Auerbach said. "We teach them how to study and how to practice, and how practice is really part of a larger discipline in life that is used in every aspect of our lives."
Students who have proven themselves to Auerbach with their diligence and dedication are selected to perform in extra shows around the valley. Auerbach also can nominate students to join Paul Green's School of Rock All Stars. If chosen by Green, the Utah students would go to Philadelphia to practice with the All Stars and then tour around the world.
Auerbach said his involvement with the School of Rock and its talented young musicians is a great experience.
"These are people who are trusting their children's hearts and minds to me," Auerbach said. "That is a privilege, and I never discount that. Every day that I do go to work with these kids, I honor their parents for choosing to let their children come to a rock 'n' roll school."
E-mail: nclemens@desnews.com