Lifelong Brooklyn residents, Mingo Tull and Roseann Natale are well known for Rock’Scool Brooklyn, a school for music education offering Band and Orchestral Instrument Rental. This business has endured many changes recently; like so many independent business owners, Mingo Tull and Roseann Natale were forced to shut down due to Covid 19 and the inability of having in person music lessons.
Rock’Scool had been located on Smith Street until November 2020. Tull and Natale tried to hold on to that location but couldn’t due to NY State and the Department of Health restrictions causing severe lack of business. They managed to maintain some additional classroom instruction at their second location on 354 Degraw St. but eventually were forced to close that site as well.
“Last summer was particularly difficult because people were quite tired of Zoom and virtual lessons but not yet comfortable with doing in person instructions,” Tull says.
Tull and Natale were able to bridge the gap with the help of a NY State Covid 19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant. Now they are excited to open a new school located at 389 Court Street with its main entrance immediately to the right of Baby Luc’s, a branch of the popular pizzeria Lucali’s.
Formerly a Dental Office, Rock’Scool’s new site has six classroom-studios for lessons on piano, guitar, vocals, drums, audio production, orchestral, brass and woodwind instruments and more. With an updated HVAC system, HEPA filters, readily available hand sanitizer, mask requirements and proof of vaccination, student and staff safety have been given top priority. In addition, there are security cameras in each classroom and a public display screen in the waiting lobby of the school.
Natale found this current location online, optimally positioned on the corner of 1st Place and Court Street. Tull says they are thrilled to be in the heart of Carroll Gardens and next to PS58, Hannah Senesh Community Day School and others with whom he has collaborated on many occasions. In addition to running Rock’Scool, Tull is well known for producing community live events at local public schools and annual street fairs such as 7th Heaven in Park Slope. He is also an accomplished bass player and bandleader for MetropolisEntertainment NYC, a popular Wedding and Corporate Dance Band.
“We are so happy to be opening back up once again because there’s nothing like one-on-one, in person instruction” Tull and Natale say.
The husband-wife team are still putting the finishing touches on the interior and updating their social media and website. For information on classes, rentals and more, write to info@rockscoolbrooklyn.com or go to http://rockscoolbrooklyn.com
