In the beginning there was a band
In 2008, I embarked on a musical journey to Dubai with my cover band. We performed at hotels and clubs, sharing our love for music. In my spare moments, I discovered a newfound passion for teaching children how to play the guitar. Gradually, I gained a reputation as a dedicated and skilled instructor. Teaching music soon became my primary calling.
As the demand for music lessons grew, I made the decision to collaborate with my fellow musicians and friends who were equally passionate about teaching. Together, we brought our diverse musical backgrounds and expertise to the world of education, shaping the future of aspiring musicians.
House Of Rock
In 2011, I started an exciting new venture by experimenting with group music lessons. Gathering young, aspiring students of mine, I founded the "House Of Rock" project, a rock school aimed at nurturing budding talent.
Our journey began within the walls of Musician's Warehouse, a local music store. However, as our school continued to grow, we needed a space that could accommodate our expanding school. That's when I met Nash Planojevic, a local studio owner with a wonderful man
Nash graciously provided us with a fully-equipped rehearsal studio, tailor-made for rock bands. It was the perfect home for our project, where the magic truly happened. Here, children aged 6 to 16 played their instruments with the passion and skill of seasoned pros.
Many of our students went on to achieve remarkable success in the music industry, and for some, music became their life's calling. At House Of Rock, we tried to nurture not just talents, but dreams and aspirations.
First Concerts
What is music without live performances? Our very first House Of Rock concert was held right at the premises of a local music store. The electrifying atmosphere and the unforgettable emotions from that event made us realize that this was the kind of music education that today's youth were missing.
It was a moment of pure inspiration and motivation for our students and the entire team. For a brief moment, everyone felt like they were characters in Richard Linklater's 'School Of Rock' movie.
After that show, parents of the young talents who came to watch the concert approached us, and almost ten students immediately enrolled in our school. From that point onward, we decided to make such events a regular occurrence, happening every three months.
These concerts were more than just performances; they were a celebration of talent, creativity, and the pure joy of making music together.
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TV show and great success
One beautiful morning, I received a call from my friend Zeyad Shaltunithe producer of a prominent morning show on MBC, one of the region's leading TV channels. He said, 'We're launching a children's talent segment in our morning show. Would you and your students like to participate?' I didn't hesitate and replied, 'Absolutely, yes!'
After a week of intensive rehearsals, we made our way to the channel's studio. Excitement and nerves filled the air, as the audience was vast, and we were so afraid of making mistakes. However, our young talents, led by Jadran and his group, performed Eric Clapton's 'Tears in Heaven' flawlessly from start to finish.
Following our performance, the show's head producer approached us and exclaimed, 'You've achieved great success, and now you're genuine stars!' That moment was a turning point. Our performance garnered us hundreds of phone calls and attracted dozens of new students. From there, our project has gained immense popularity, and the rest, as they say, is history.
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Other Big Events
Among our significant performances, we can't forget the concert at Dubai Regent International School. Every year in February, Dubai schools host events dedicated to International Day, celebrating all nationalities and cultures represented by the students. We were invited to one of these events.
The school's auditorium held around five hundred people, and it was our first live performance with such a large audience. This time, with the experience of previous performances, our students not only were less nervous but also played with so much energy that the hall erupted in applause, especially when they started playing Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
Other notable events include:
1. Year Anniversary Concert - A concert celebrating the school's first anniversary on 13.04.2012.
2. Halloween 2012 - Our adult students' performance at a Halloween party.
3. JAM - 1.05.2013 - A jam session dedicated to the school's second anniversary, featuring outstanding guests and a killer cake!
4. BIG GIG 2013 - The school's major year-end concert on 21.02.2013.
5. Battle Of The Bands 2013 - A competition for children and youth rock bands in December 2013.
Lessoner and Home Learning
At some point, we started receiving more and more requests from the parents of our students who wanted our teachers to provide lessons at their homes. These requests weren't limited to just Rock and Pop music but also extended to Classical and Jazz genres.
Here's the story: As Dubai experienced significant growth, the number of vehicles on the city's streets increased. Students and their parents often got stuck in traffic while trying to reach the studio and return home after rehearsals. Attendance started to decline, and at some point, House Of Rock had to close its doors and completely pivot to home-based education.
That's when the Lessoner project was born in 2015, offering a great opportunity to continue educating our students by providing lessons at their homes and preparing each of them individually for upcoming exams and concerts.
Overall, throughout our educational journey, we have graduated over 500 students and continue to educate new talents.