Guitar teacher: School gives kids confidence

School of Rock guitar teacher Randy Rost also plays in punk band Blackmarket Syndicate.

Growing up in the 1980s, his passion for music was ignited by punk rock legends, such as the Clash, Social Distortion and the Ramones. He founded his first band at age 14 and, at age 18, began giving guitar lessons to share his love of music with others.

Rost now teaches guitar lessons at the School of Rock franchise in Katy, which opened in July 2012. The school offers private and group guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drum and vocal lessons for student musicians ages 7 and older.

"I've been teaching (guitar) for a little over 10 years, and the thing that's significantly different about the School of Rock is that, aside from the weekly private lesson for each student, there's a three-hour group rehearsal where everyone takes what they learn and we cast each student into songs for a show that's coming up at the end of each season," Rost said. "It's really inspiring."

Rost is excited to be a part of the faculty at the School of Rock, which he says provides something he hasn't found at any of the other places he's taught.

"I think this place, in particular, out of any place I've ever worked as a teacher, really gives a kind of haven for kids that just really love rock music," he said. "A lot of kids in the program come in during the week and hang out and do their homework here when it's not even their day to come. It's just really cool to see it growing into a real community recreational facility."

Rost is also a member of the local punk band Blackmarket Syndicate. Together since 2007, Blackmarket Syndicate has released two albums and has toured extensively.

When he's not teaching guitar lessons at the School of Rock or playing with Blackmarket Syndicate, Rost enjoys running and boxing. He is also an avid film buff and lists David Lynch among his favorite directors.

For more information on Randy Rost or the School of Rock in Katy, call 281-769-7010 or visit www.katy.schoolofrock.com. You can also connect with Katy's School of Rock on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+. To learn more about Rost's band, Blackmarket Syndicate, visit www.blackmarketsyndicate.com. You can also connect with Blackmarket Syndicate on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace.

ABOUT Randy Rost
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: Guitar instructor
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Heights resident
FAST FACT: Rost graduated from Cypress Creek High School

Megan Mattingly-Arthur is a freelance writer. She can be reached at neighborhoods@chron.com.