School of Rock (Not The One With Jack Black) Coming to Gowanus

School of Rock isn’t just a movie from that time Jack Black was popular. For a generation of Brooklyn kids, it COULD be the place they learned to rock “from real New York City musicians that are gigging and performing.”

Or at least that’s what Mike Addesso hopes. Mr. Addesso, 29, is a drummer, former music teacher and franchise owner of the new School of Rock opening in Gowanus next month. “What is unique about us is that we are performance-based,” he told the NY Daily News. Students, age 7 to 18, “will form a group, they will rehearse once a week, and at the end of the show season they will perform at a local club.” Addesso is reaching for the stars, hoping to get the Bell House or even the Barclays Center for one of those final performances.

According to their franchising FAQ, School of Rock “is a performance-based after school music education program that provides individual music lessons taught by working musicians, group rehearsals, performance experience.” In addition to this core program, School of Rock offers workshops and private one-on-one lessons. No word on whether Tenacious D will be teaching any classes, which could be good or a bad depending on your taste.

Obviously catering to his audience (parents want their children in school as early as possible), Mr. Addesso’s School of Rock will even offer programs for 3 to 7 year olds. “They get a lot of social interaction,” he said. “It’s a great way to meet a lot of different kids and form bands--it’s really cool.”

School of Rock will join several other kids’ music schools including Park Slope Rock School, Brooklyn Music Factory and (Grammy winner) “Dan Zanes House Party” at the Brooklyn Conservatory. So, apparently, this is a crowded marketplace, like kids’ karate schools in the 80’s.