Moon Rock Music helps kids find their inner rock star

“Close enough for rock and roll.”

And of course, “Rock on.”

The philosophy behind these maxims is precisely what Bean Pitonak imbues his rock music students with: keeping it fun, flexible and joyful.

Take this spring’s Porchfest event in Elmwood Village. In the middle of an outdoor set by a preteen rock trio formed through Bean’s Moon Rock Music, it rained. Not just rained: dumped buckets on the friends and family eagerly waiting to hear their kids get their turn at the mic.

Instead of panicking or canceling, Bean and his crew calmly unplugged the outdoor equipment and hustled everyone inside for a makeshift reboot. And when that didn’t work out, he again calmly thanked everyone for coming, reassured his young musicians and said, “See you next time!”

No big deal. It’s only rock and roll, after all.

Music ed, his way

Brian “Bean” Friend Pitonak is the founder of Moon Rock Music, a Western New York music school and community of music teachers, students of all ages, and, where appropriate, their families. He’s also a professional musician and a middle school music teacher. Moon Rock Music’s programs include individual lessons for all ages and levels (guitar, bass, drums, ukulele, piano, voice, accordion), rock band sessions/performance, rock band camp and songwriting and recording.

As far as his many names, “Bean” was a childhood moniker that stuck, and he uses his middle name, “Friend,” as his professional music name. His methods as a teacher, musician, and mentor are based on his own experience—wanting to learn, play and create music, but not always enjoying stereotypical teaching methods.

“As a kid, I didn’t want to go to [piano lessons] with some teachers. Then one teacher noticed, supported, and focused on my interest in writing music. Those lessons were fun,” Bean says. “In middle school, I started playing guitar and joining bands; I loved music so much, but I dreaded music class at school.”

After school though, he would go to a friend’s garage to play and rehearse. “That’s where the joy was, and it still is,” he says.

He uses that joy to guide Moon Rock Music’s approach. His goal? “Meet the students where they are, give them the experience of playing an instrument and building confidence, and make it fun.” Some students are as young as 4 or 5, and some are adults, perhaps returning to a childhood practice or fulfilling a goal.

Rather than solely focusing on talent and skills, Bean’s philosophy of fun and positivity extends to an individual’s potential.

“I think every kid, every person, can find joy in music,” he says. “And it’s normal for everyone to take different amounts of time to learn. Sometimes a student—adult or kid—might plateau, but then when they’re ready, something will click, and all of a sudden they get it.”

Going where the joy is

Moon Rock Music, newly located in an expanded space within the the Kenmore Community Center (135 Wilber Ave.), is a wonderland for students. There are three spacious, acoustically treated music rooms, containing everything from a piano, drums and “a ton of guitars” to microphones and recording equipment.

“Frequently, a student starts on piano, and after a couple of months they might ask to try drums. And they might love it,” he explains. “Then maybe in a year they want to go back to piano or try guitar. In every lesson, we have a plan and a curriculum, but it’s important to be flexible. If somebody wants to try a new song or a different instrument … we go where the joy is.”

Drew Tsakiris started keyboard/piano with Bean when he was 5. He shifted to acoustic guitar and then electric, which he has played for about four years. He also writes and sings his own songs. Now 13, he embodies the Moon Rock philosophy.

“Bean is energetic and open-minded,” he says. “He’s devoted to doing what’s best, rather than just correcting you. He helps everybody succeed.”

Drew’s mom, Carrie, describes what any parent would want in a young music student’s experience: “In the last eight years, Drew never once has said he doesn’t want to go to [music lessons at] Bean’s. Even on his hardest school day, or when he was the most tired.”

New friends and new confidence

Moon Rock’s rock band program holds a special place in Bean’s heart. At every performance, he is a focused presence, ready with a cheer or a helping hand.

“Rock band is important for many reasons,” he says. “Something unexpected, and that I really love, is through the bands we’re forming, the students are making friends. I think a lot of kids are finding their identity—it’s a joy seeing someone who might be nervous or shy, and then on stage they kind of let loose.”

Bean’s song selections for first-time bands are also based on his own experience.

“The early and mid-1990s was a great era for rock music,” he says. “I teach a lot of songs by bands like Nirvana, Green Day, Weezer and The Cranberries. They are so fun, kids love them, and the songs aren’t overly complicated.”

As always, Bean emphasizes the fun and keeps the stakes realistic.

“In the world of rock bands, it’s okay if you hit a wrong note—you just hop right back on the train and keep going,” he says. “The confidence I’m talking about is often how the students feel after, that feeling of success.”