Meet Alex Rosenberg, project Advisor (right) and Amanuel Tesfaye, student lead (left)

In 2021, as students returned to Alex's classroom after a challenging year of remote learning due to Covid-19, he realized the need for innovative ways to help them reconnect. Chronic absenteeism and anxiety were at all-time highs, with many students struggling to make the transition back to in-person learning.

Alex started a music club with a few guitars, meeting before and after school once or twice a week. This simple idea quickly gained traction, and over the next three years, his classroom became a very musical space with many guitars, a drum set, keyboards, basses, and percussion instruments.

The club's focus on jamming, improvisation, and collaboration resonated with students, helping them build confidence and forge meaningful connections. Today, the club is thriving, with growing interest and participation. Alex and his students were thrilled to receive a grant, which enabled them to continue expanding their program and offering more students the chance to experience the joy of making music together.

Building on this success, Alex's students have taken the initiative to expand the program further. Inspired by their experiences in the music club, a group of dedicated students proposed transforming the existing program into a full-fledged Rock Band style music program. They've been actively involved in planning the expansion, researching equipment needs, and even creating a curriculum that incorporates various aspects of rock music history and performance techniques.

With Alex's guidance and the students' drive, the Rock Band style music program is set to launch in the coming school year, promising to bring even more energy, creativity, and collaborative spirit to the school's musical landscape.

Project Progress