LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville’s youngest rockstars took the stage this weekend at Zanzabar to showcase their skills.
Over a dozen students from School of Rock Louisville and St. Matthews performed songs from bands like My Morning Jacket, Metallica, and Paramore. A number of songs this weekend were from Kentucky artists and bands.
Sunday’s show was the fourth performance ’On Tour,’ in total, they will put on eight main-stage shows.
“Sometimes there is a little nerves at first right, because anybody would feel that way but they get through it right away and they support each other which is the really cool part,” Doug Scofield, co-owner of the School of Rock Louisville and St. Matthews, said.
The school opened its second location in November. Students attending the St. Matthews’ location got their first chance to perform in front of a crowd this weekend.
Those students got to play alongside their more seasoned classmates like Alex Colburn. Colburn plays guitar, bass and sings. He says their first string of shows has gone great.
“It’s just, like, it’s so fun, you feel like a different person and it kind of shows your true colors, like you, can just be yourself up there, it’s so amazing,” Colburn said.
Alex’s dad Chris says this is the perfect outlet for his son, where he can not only become a better musician but also learn other important life skills.
“You’ll see kids that they come out of their shell up there,” Chris Colburn said. “They’re very shy naturally. When they get on stage they’ll come out of that shell and really open up. Increases their social skills, teamwork, I mean it’s just good all around.”
School of Rock was brought to Louisville in 2018 by Doug Scofield and his wife Melanie. Its first performance featured only a handful of students. Fast forward to today and they’re now mentoring nearly 400, and more than 100 will play in this set of eight shows.
“You get to learn that it’s just more than learning cords, you get to learn that it’s how to interact and it’s how to have fun and it’s how to support each other,” Scofield said. “Our takeaway is absolutely to learn more and become a better musician, but it is also what does it take for me to feel confident on stage and make really great friendships.”
It’s this kind of hands-on learning that Scofield believes helps the kids the most.