The Rock and Roll Academy is quite more than it appears to be to most parents. As with many things, outside appearances can mask the truth.

My son participated in the R&R Academy when it first began. He was young and his schoolwork was not demanding. The Academy introduced him to music in a creative way that impacted his life tremendously. Never before had he been able to express himself musically with such freedom. Two years later I enrolled him again, as music has never left the forefront of his mind. Being older his schoolwork was more demanding and unfortunately his grades began to slip with less time to study.

I discussed this with Mark Galbo. I was ready to pull my son from the band. To my surprise, Mark gave me incredible insight on the dynamics that occur when the band is together. They foster teamwork and togetherness. They depend on each other for guidance and honesty. There is a trust that is formed among them that they won’t be laughed at or criticized. They really form a bond. He suggested that I wait 1 week and allow the band to handle to problem - that if my son saw the impact his leaving would have on the band, perhaps his grades would improve.

Long story short, it worked! Short story long, I did not have to ‘punish’ my son to get the results I wanted. The band encouraged him to find alternative time to study. They let him know how much they valued him and needed him to be a part of their team. How could anyone turn down that kind of support? My son was hooked - hooked on the honest team spirit fostered at the Academy, hooked on the open environment of trust, hooked on having a safe place to express himself, and hooked on keeping his grades up in order to be a part of it all.

The Rock & Roll Academy teaches much more than music. Students learn to work together, to take the lead, to make mistakes, to let go of embarrassment, to express themselves freely. The music and Mark’s environment is simply the vehicle to take them there.

Sincerely,

Angela Pashayan
Rock and Roll Academy Parent

:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

I have been a teacher, and so, have been around places of learning for a very long time. The first thing I do when I go to a new school is stand in one spot, the playground, or front hall are good places, and feel the energy. Many important questions can be answered in a short amount of time by this simple method, providing one has decent observation skills: Are the kids happy?

Are the teachers happy? Is there good communication kid-to-kid and kid to teacher? Is the school too quiet or too loud? What’s the overall vibe? Relaxed, frantic, busy, engaged, open, repressed?

When I entered the Rock and Roll Academy in Telluride Colorado for the first time, I hung out in the corner of the office for a while and watched and listened. I saw and heard happy kids and teachers and heard open respectful communication between everyone. The school was busy but didn’t feel frantic. There was an easy but focused feel to the room.

Several high school aged kids were starting a rehearsal. They each picked up an instrument, guitar, keyboards, bass and drums, and started to work out a Green Day tune. Mistakes were made but I heard no self-deprecating remarks from the erring one nor did I hear unkind comments directed toward them. There was an unmistakable culture of fearless experimentation that had been long established and was being practiced and modeled at this remarkable school.

The band started working another tune, from Nirvana, if I remember correctly, and everyone changed instruments, including the drummer. A new singer was chosen by everyone agreeing who sang this song the best. They hit a collective snag on this one and Mark Galbo, being the master teacher that he is, eased into the room without being called, to help sort things out. He showed the band how to solve the problem rather than solving it for them, gracefully removed himself from the group, and off they went, learning and making music together.

Each young musician demonstrated an ability to listen, to the music and the thoughts of his fellow band members. They also showed a refreshing selflessness. I heard no one trying to run the show. Every idea was treated as a good idea and was well delivered and received. The band is the teacher. This is part of the mission statement of The Rock and Roll Academy in Telluride, Colorado. It is not a theory. It is a working concept, every day, with every band. Check it out for yourself. If you know how to listen, you’ll hear it loud and clear.

Grant Dermody
Professional Musician and Teacher
Seattle, Washington