Jake Zender posed a question to me when I asked him to describe his new business, The Music Shop, on Donner Pass Road in Gateway. ‘You know the ‘School of Rock’?’ he asked. ‘Yeah, I love that movie,’ I responded. ‘No, not the movie, the actual School of Rock, the famous music school,’ he clarified.
It turns out that the School of Rock, founded by Paul Green in Philadelphia in 1998, is a performance-based, interactive music school that has been so successful there are more than 25 scattered across the country now. School of Rock’s philosophy is to not only teach music and theory, but to help students form bands and perform as often as possible in front of as many people as possible. Zender really likes that model, and when he purchased Between the Notes from the former owner, he decided to create his own unique version of the School of Rock here in Truckee.
One of the first things you notice when you enter the reorganized and remodeled Music Shop is an inviting stage. I sat there while I waited for Zender to finish up with a customer and soaked in the atmosphere. I was tempted to pick up a guitar and start strumming away.
With 50 students and five instructors on staff, business is beginning to thrive. The Music Shop offers lessons in guitar, bass, drums, piano and vocals plus plans on adding violin and saxophone instruction soon. All the students came together recently for their first real recital, which was a huge success according to Zender. ‘The shop was packed and overflowing with family and friends and the students were really excited and nervous for their live performances. It was great!’
Zender, who has also worked as a ski instructor and whitewater guide in the area and is originally from San Diego, has lived in Truckee five years. Building his new business has clearly been challenging but very exciting for him and his enthusiasm is a bit contagious. He admits without hesitation that no matter what else he has done or continues to do in his life, ‘music is my biggest passion.’
In addition to owning and managing the Music Shop, Zender also fronts his own band, singing and playing guitar with Momentum, a jam-style band that plays around locally, and is intent on getting more gigs now that summer is nearing.
While the Music Shop carries a great selection of strings, pedals, guitar straps, cables, music books, percussion instruments and other sundry items, Zender has scaled back significantly on the merchandise and consignment aspects of the business in order to devote the space to instruction rooms. But he’s doing a great business special ordering things like amplifiers and other items for customers. Zender has made a commitment to match any advertised price and encourages folks to always come in and check with him before ordering items online or traveling to Reno to find them. In most cases he can have the product in a day or two and will take care of shipping as well. Zender plans on having band instrument rentals for local students this fall and a website will be coming soon as well.
The Music Shop, located at 11075 Donner Pass Road, is open every day but Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Private lessons are $30 per half hour and offered to all ages, abilities and styles. Stop by to check out the shop or call 530-582-9378 for more information.
