Christian Pearson is staying in the music business — and in the same Cornelius building where he spent a decade helping students learn to play.

Pearson House of Rock is opening a new music school in the former School of Rock location on Catawba Avenue. School of Rock closed this summer when its out-of-town owners opted to shut down the business. The Cornelius location had operated since 2016, with Pearson working there from the beginning and eventually serving as general manager.

Pearson

While the name is new, the approach to developing musicians through a “performance-first” model is familiar. Pearson combines private instruction with group rehearsals and opportunities to play live, as he has done for the past decade.

“The band program is what works,” he said. “It’s how these individuals learn to be well-rounded musicians. The difference between going to lessons with no end goal is that the student is not going to learn as fast as someone playing with other people their age in the rehearsal room. Preparing for a performance is vital.”

Pearson House of Rock offers private instruction in guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals. Its programs include bands for different age groups, from young children through adults.

For students ages 12 to 18, the school also offers a Travel Team, an invite-only ensemble that performs at community events, fundraisers, restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and other venues.

The school says its mission extends beyond musical instruction, emphasizing community, social skills, encouragement, hard work and dedication.

Pearson said encouragement from his students and their families led him to pursue his own school. He brought on five investors, including former student and now co-owner Nick DeVaughn, who helped fund renovations to the 100-year-old building it calls home. Pearson also signed a lease with the building’s new owner that should help guarantee a long-term future for the school.

Laure Bokas, whose college-aged daughter studied under Pearson, praised the community he created during her time there.

“We watched those kids find confidence, friendship and a place they truly belonged. We’re excited another generation of kids won’t miss out on that opportunity,” Bokas said.