Disturbed Bassist John Moyer Talks About His Music School for Kids

You know John Moyer as the bassist in Disturbed, and recently supergroup Adrenaline Mob, but did you know he also owns a school? In late December, the 38-year-old took over ownership of Natural Ear Music School in Austin, Texas. Established in 1991, the school takes a non-conventional instructional approach, teaching kids how to play rock music by ear.

"I had been teaching at the school for 12 years before I became the owner, so I'm really comfortable with the program," Moyer tells Noisecreep in between stops for a tour with Adrenaline Mob, the band that also features Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, Flying Colors) and Russell Allen (Symphony X).

"We have a few different curriculum styles, but right now, while the kids are in regular school, we just have different bands that meet once a week, after school. What I try to do is find the right band for you within the school that you click with. We also give individual lessons, but I find that the band environment is where you can learn the most about being a musician.

"Look, playing and practicing on your own is great. You can definitely get good at your instrument, but I've seen people in the past have a hard time adjusting their playing once they get in a room with a band. Playing with a band is where you learn all of the physical cues and you get challenged to keep up with other musicians," says bassist and instructor.

Watch John Moyer at Natural Ear Music School

But at Natural Ear Music School students don't just spend all of their time in rehearsal rooms. Using his local music connections, Moyer helps the kids take their rock 'n' roll dreams one step further: "Once they get comfortable in their bands and I think they're ready to perform in front of a bigger audience, I actually start booking gigs for them around Austin.

"There's a student band at the school called The Aviators that have been here for three years and they can play a 90 minute set and are working on original material as well. They play gigs all over Austin and are travelling to other cities too. It's great because the kids can go out there and show people what they got."

Moyer's school also gives the bassist a chance to give back to the large musician community in Austin hit hard by the recession: "That's another part of this that feels really good. We've been able to put a lot of talented musicians to work at the school as instructors. So at the same time I get to connect with the new youth of rock and the veteran musicians when they aren't out on tour."

Get more information about Natural Ear Music School at this link.

Adrenaline Mob's debut album, Omertá, is available now. Check out the band out on tour with Kill Devil Hill on the following dates:

May 10 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues

May 11 Flint, MI The Machine Show

May 13 Chicago, IL House Of Blues

May 15 Dallas, TX Trees

May 16 San Antonio, TX Backstage Live

May 19 Fort Lauderdale, FL Revolution

May 21 Orlando, FL House Of Blues

May 22 Charlotte, NC Amos' Southend

Adrenaline Mob European tour dates:

Jun. 08 - Sweden Rock - Sölvesborg, Sweden

Jun. 10 - Nosturi - Helsinki, Finland

Jun. 12 - Studio Club - Krakow, Poland

Jun. 14 - MMC Club - Bratislava, Slovakia

Jun. 15 - Pesca Music Club - Budapest, Hungary

Jun. 16 - Szene - Vienna, Austria

Jun. 17 - Conrad Sohm - Dornbirn, Austria

Jun. 18 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland

Jun. 20 - Orion - Rome, Italy

Jun. 21 - Gods Of Metal - Milan, Italy

Jun. 23 – Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessen, Belgium

Jun. 24 - Maroquinerie- Paris, France

Jun. 25 - Colos-Saal - Aschaffenburg, GER

Jun. 26 - Knust - Hamburg, GER

Jun. 29 - King Tuts - Glasgow, UK

Jun. 30 - Moho Live - Manchester, UK

Jul. 01 - Academy2 - Birmingham, UK

Jul. 02 - The Junction - Cambridge, UK

Jul. 03 - Koko - London, UK

Jul. 05 - Rockfabrik - Ludwigsburg, GER

Jul. 06 - Theaterfabrik - Munich, GER

Jul. 07 - Matrix - Bochum, GER

Jul. 08 - Bospop - Weert, Netherlands