San Mateo's school of rock

The Paul Green School of Rock Music with its open doors in at San Mateo’s B Street Music Store offers a unique style of music lessons to kids from 7 to 18.

The school gives kids the opportunity to be rock stars, learning the songs of accomplished bands for a rock show even at the beginning level.

Students receive 12 private lessons and eight rehearsals during the season for whichthey sign up. This season in San Mateo, the students will learn the music of either Pink Floyd or U2 and perform these songs at a show at the end of their lessons.

"They start by learning chords and work up to the gig,” said branch manager Rachel Sager. "This allows them to apply what they learn immediately in the coolest way.”

Wells Costello, 9, of Hillsborough, is taking guitar lessons for the first time.

"I have had three years of experience but this is the first time I have taken lessons,” said Costello.

Costello will perform in the Pink Floyd show. He will play in two songs, including "Another Brick in the Wall.” Costello said he has listened to Pink Floyd but his favorite band is AC/DC.

"My favorite song is Back in Black. I can play the intro, that is the hardest part,” said Costello.

Co-founder Aldo Noboa said he is very excited about teaching in San Mateo. Branching out of San Francisco and having lessons in San Mateo makes the music school, which inspired the movie School of Rock starring Jack Black, more accessible to Peninsula families.

"A lot of the students here are picking up instruments for the first time,” said Noboa. "We have only been here for a few weeks but things are booming. There is a different groove here.”

Noboa taught at the original school in Philadelphia, founded in 1998, before moving out to San Francisco three years ago. He spends 45 minutes with students in a private lesson, teaching them chords and scales. The students play along to the rock songs they will perform, learning a new piece of the song each week.

"Rock school,” as many of the students call it, helps the kids focus on music and get their nerves out right away, said Sager.

"They get to be part of the music on stage right away and get their jitters out. They learn discipline and can focus on music for the rest of their careers rather than nerves,” said Sager. "They get to be rock starts immediately.”