Rock School

"Rock School" is a documentary based on a school for 9-16 year old rock students in Philadelphia run by Paul Green (center in the picture below). This movie should not be confused with Jack Black's "School of Rock". Although there are some similarities, they are completely different films. This movie is clearly based on real life, filled with real people. The other movie feels like a Hollywood fantasy with stereotyped characters. I do not mean to disparage "School of Rock"; I enjoyed that movie as well. I just don't want you to expect this movies to be like "School of Rock".


I enjoyed "Rock School" due to and in spite of Green. He is a fascinating character whose teaching technique reminds one of an overbearing sports coach. At times, Green screams obscenities at the pupils. (Note that the obscenities were "bleeped" from the version that I saw on A&E). Yet it is a type of tough love. He is just as likely to be funny, warm and compassionate. Most of the kids do not seem too bothered by his tirades. They seem to understand that he wants something great from them. Furthermore, I suspect that he only berates the kids that can handle it. In fact, the one pupil that is most affected by it, seems to be inspired to work harder to improve. As an aside, I wonder if the tirades are over-represented in the film to make a "better" movie.

The director (Don Argott) also focuses on several of the students and their parents. All of the characters are engaging. Some of the musicians are very talented, some not so, but it is clear that this school has changed their lives in dramatic ways. Every student thinks the world of Green. The parents are interesting as well. The mother of the student in the cover photo is a classic soccer mom. There is a scene where she is giving her child the Mohawk haircut. The students are preparing for a Black Sabbath tribute. She agrees to painting "ozzy" on the knuckles but draws the line at pentagrams on the cheeks. It should be noted that one of the parents, who is actually teacher at the school, feels that one of Green's outbursts has negatively affected his child. Not all of the outbursts, just one.


CJ Tywoniak (left in above picture) is a 12-year-old musician. The movie opens with CJ doing a guitar solo of Santana's "Black Magic Woman". It is incredible. You see this 5 foot kid with a guitar that looks bigger than he is. And he just makes the guitar sing. Professional musicians are in awe of this kid. Madi Diaz-Svalgard ( the musician below) has a compelling story as well, which you will have to see the movie to know. In fact all of the stories are fascinating and I am really tempted to tell them, but that would ruin too much of the movie for you.


I got the idea that Green spends significant time with each student. Yet, the movie also mentions that his school has 120 students. In fact if you look at the school's website, you find that there are 14 schools across the nation and 12 more due to "open soon". I suspect that he spends far more time with the most gifted musicians in his Philadelphia school.

I enjoyed this film and the characters in the film. At the end of the movie, I am left wanting to know what has happened Green and his students since the movie was made. And, I really want to hear more from CJ. I could watch a whole film of him just playing his guitar.