A school that rocks

When Anmol Rai came back to the city after completing his studies from the Trinity College of Music in London a few years ago, he realised there were no schools in and around Delhi for rock music.

After the success of Rock On, the Noida School of Rock climbs up the popularity charts

When Anmol Rai came back to the city after completing his studies from the Trinity College of Music in London a few years ago, he realised there were no schools in and around Delhi for rock music. 8220;I came across so many people who were talented and just needed a platform to showcase it. I also realised that they needed to be trained in the same way as musicians are abroad,8221; he says. So, he decided to start the Noida School of Rock.

The school has 300-odd students who are learning an instrument8212;keyboard, guitar, drums, violin8212;or are receiving vocal training. 8220;The teachers are all professionally trained and we use the best equipment to teach our students,8221; says 28-year-old Rai, who also performs with iWitness and Perfect Strangers, both Delhi-based bands. Rai, who is a visiting faculty at Miranda House, also teaches music in DPS Noida.

NSR conducts an annual concert in which more than 30 student bands take part. They also perform in pubs and clubs during Christmas and New Year8217;s Eve. All students get a chance to perform on stage through these concerts. 8220;Our aim is to make sure that each and every student in the school gets a chance to showcase their talent in front of a crowd. This gives them the confidence and makes them feel like a rock star,8221; says Rai. The students get to form their own bands and cover songs that range from country singers like John Denver to metal-heads such as Pantera and Megadeath.

To get admissions in the school is easy. Rai takes an informal interview to gauge a applicant8217;s talent. Also, there is no age limit8212;the youngest student is five-year-old Malvika Dang, a hardcore metal fan and a budding guitarist, and the oldest is 60-year-old Amit Verma who learns the keyboards. 8220;Music knows no boundaries, no religion and no age. We didn8217;t want to intimidate people by setting an age limit or a tough entrance exam and interview,8221; he says.

The tough bit begins after the admissions. Every student has to appear for an end-term exam that is conducted under the supervision of visiting lecturers from Trinity College of Music and Rock School, London. Another achievement for the school is that the highest number of toppers in these exams that are held in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, the UAE and India, are from the Noida school.

Even though the school has been around for close to three years, Rai agrees that its popularity has gone up after the release of Farhan Akhtar8217;s Rock On. 8220;As a musician, I found the movie extremely inspiring and motivating,8221; he says.