“As instructors, helping young students become excited about playing music they recognize and love on their instrument is extremely rewarding,” Bentley said.
Bentley said since his childhood he knew he would be in the music business. From starting out practicing in his mother’s garage to being professionally trained at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Bentley has made it his life goal to make sure rock never dies.That passion was transferred from his band into teaching children. Don’t Stop Rockin’ offers private music lessons in piano, drums, guitar, bass, ukulele and voice in addition to offering group programs, such as guitar and band. Lessons are $112 a month for weekly 30-minute sessions.
“While we understand it is imperative to share our musical knowledge and to help build a skill set on the student’s chosen instrument, what we really hope to be able to give the student is something of their own to be proud of and something they would like to share about themselves, ... a flag to plant.”
The idea of the music school started with Bentley and his then-bandmate James King in 2010 when they decided to rent a room at Gorzycki Middle School to teach group guitar lessons. The program quickly grew large enough that the pair opened their own space in 2012 on Brodie Lane, which has become what is now Don’t Stop Rockin’.
“[Don’t Stop Rockin’] is simply our way of saying, ‘Yes, you can, and don’t give up,’” he said. “Of course, our way of saying it sounds way sweeter.”
Bentley said he chose this area of Austin because of its culture.
“As everyone knows, South Austin is where the cool kids are and SoBro—South Brodie—is the coolest of the cool,” he said. “Also, I live in the area and wanted to provide music lessons in the neighborhood that my family lives and spends times in the most."
Don’t Stop Rockin’
8213 Brodie Lane, Ste. 101, Austin
512-626-4654
www.dontstoprockin.com
Hours: Mon., Wed., Thu. 2-7:30 p.m.; Tue. 2-8:30 p.m. Closed Fri.-Sun.
Learn how to Rock. Don’t Stop Rockin’ offers private music lessons in piano, drums, guitar and ukulele.
