TORONTO - SCHOOL OF LOCK

When I first heard about this Japanese Rock School here in Toronto I was more than muy suspicious. I pictured anime goths doing Venom covers in some tiny, sweaty, musky room inside a karaoke bar, and that when they gave you your diploma they'd also light it on fire as they handed it to you. So you can imagine my surprise when I showed up and banged on a huge wooden door that had a nice school crest on it and discovered that it's not the Japanese version of a J-pop puppy mill, but an actual school to learn the beautiful craft of making music. 

A tiny, smiling ambassador greeted me and introduced me to Ashley Ingram, the school's headmaster. He was in that group Imagination back in the day and he's still a producer now, and he's huger than fucking huge in Japan, which is why most of the students are Japanese and why they move to Toronto just to go to this music school. Before we left we witnessed a confidence-building dance class, a runway walking class, and a three-guy Korean boy band practice. They did raps and serenades while they jammed on their guitar, sax, and drums.

TOMOKO, Instructor

VICE: Why did you come here?
Tomoko: I came here as a student first but I came for language. Then I found this music school. You can learn how to sing! I was in the vocal course. I got interested in music production as well. I started writing songs and making my own album.

Oooh, so you're a triple treat. Why do you think students want to come here?
Many students come from Asian countries looking for what they can do and they find themselves. I didn't believe what I could do in music. Now after four years I'm the school manager, and have a work permit from the Canadian Government.

You're in!
Yes.

 

 

ASHLEY INGRAM, Headmaster

How many students did you start with?
Ashley Ingram: With three students, in my living room.

Was it hard to be recognized as a school back when you were conducting classes out of your living room?
I have always found it difficult to tell people what this school is about exactly. It occured to me that you are the first Western journalist that have come in here.

Well, why is everyone Japanese anyway?
 I did very well in Japan. I was producing a Japanese artist here, a man called Kazu Marayama--he owns Bits magazine. He said, "Why don't you teach Japanese people? Everyone passes them by." At that time I wasn't thinking of doing a school; I got out of California and was so jaded. I felt I could start again with no one around me.

So how come you chose Toronto?
 I kind of got the feeling that America was killing me. So when I came here to visit a friend, and I hadn't been here since the early days, Toronto was completely changed for me. I loved it. I saw a Black women with an Asian guy, a Russian with a Brazilian, a this with a that. I saw people getting along.

Yeah, we get along alright here.

 

YOSHI, Student

How long have you been here for? 
Yoshi: Six or seven months

Are they really hard on you?
 Of course sometimes, how can you say it, "I hit the wall"? 

Do you like it at this school?
I really like it; I don't want to leave.

What kind of music do you play? 
 Folk music. Live folk. 

JUSTICE, Student 

How long have you been at the school for?
Justice: Two years.

What do you think is the best thing about the school?
 It's getting us out there, into the mainstream. Asians in Hollywood.

What do you want to do?
Music production. To the level where I am respected by black people.

That is a decent goal.

 KATIE HEINDL 

(Photos by Carl Heindl)

Comments

[seizures r. fake]

I like the late 70's Kodak quality to the photographs. Fuck digital.

[Bonner]

HAHA. I love the mini soundproofing, like the noise isn't going to make its way around the one-foot partition. HAHAHAHAHA

[Tara]

Toronto: City of Racial Mixing. You heard it here first. Next stop, Asians in Hollywood.

[olga]

if you're not respected by black people then what are you in music production?

[gunter]

wow, the beginning description is horrible. yeah, doing venom covers..... yawn.

[dinkle]

wow. this is good journalism

[Lexington]

I also want to be Asian, attend this weird school and gain the respect of black people...especially will.i.am.

[les]

so you think you can dance? in my living room?

[2down1up]

WOW.. I cant believe how blatantly racist this article is!! "School of Lock," the intro, the pictures... I didn't think people still stooped to this level.. A different kind of music school where different cultures get along and make music sounds pretty cool to me.. just my opinion.. cool school.. HORRIBLE article!

[TonyFunfetti]

That's every musician's goal, justice. First compose the music, then hope for the cred with the white folk, then maybe (depending on how many white people like you) black people may give you a chance. GOOD RUCk THO!

[Shana]

I agree with Les this article is kinda racist. I see what they're trying to say. And I also think this is a cool school and I may check it out.

[Yoko Okayama]

I think this article is really RACIST! Because I'm Japanese living in Toronto, and I felt really uncomfortable reading this. I thought Canadians are much better than this.
The Japanese Emperor & Empress just visited Toronto a few weeks ago, celebrating Japan-Canada 80 years diplomatic relationship...
Just pure disappointment...

[darthvice]

good to see some people still inspired and wanting to actually learn real music not protools. Fast and the Furious: Hollywood Drift next.

[vicefreak411]

It's unreal how racist this is - does Vice Japan even know you guys wrote this article? What's wrong Vice, can't make racial slurs about black people anymore so you need to start slamming Koreans, Japanese, and other Asian communities?

I checked this school's website:
Music classes, dance classes, multicultural students passionate about their craft... this place looks amazing!

This article doesn't mention anything about the school and instead just fuels insecurity for Japanese people living in Canada. Nice title Katie Heindl; it must feel awesome to take pot shots at students who's second language is English.

Yoko is right - pure dissapointment.

[caution]

Do you people get paid to write this kind of RACIST crap? Canada has prided itself for years on being a diverse and multicultural country. These students are brave enough to leave their home country and comfort zone to come here and experience and learn new things. These people are living life and trying to learn as much as possible while you sit being your lil computer screen slaving for some higher power to write an article thats going to be forgotten in a matter of weeks. at least what these students are getting is something that will last a life time. I am pretty sure if any one of you had the balls to put your self in their shoes you would probably realize that you have a lot to learn from them.

["K"]

This article is incredibly INSULTING and RUDE to Asian people and pure RACISM.
what are you trying to say by putting the pic of a girl stretching? I don't get it. this article says nothing about this school. it's rubbish as an article.

[singing midget]

Hello Katie and Carl,

I'm a student of Ashley Ingram school of Music.
Thank you for visiting us and writing an article about our school.
However I didn't like it.
I thought our instructors told you many things about school
and it seemed you guys were really impressed to hear that.
When you interviewed me, although my English was not perfect, I tried to speak English as well as I can.
I feel so sad to know that your intention was to make fun of us while you were listening to me.
I know it's your job to write funny stories by twisting the fact, but still I feel deeply offended that our school was used to do that.

I'm worried about this article giving people wrong message about us.
I've been here for 2 years and know this school very well.
And I love my school.

[齋藤 有意]

This does not seem right.
It says nothing about the school.
You can not make fun of us like this.
We are taking things seriously and doing real stuff.
It's just something you never know as long as you are trying to make things look funny just like this.
Disrespect.

[Tim]

I seriously did not see this as a racist article. If anything, the article makes this look like a pretty awesome school. As a Canadian-Asian I find nothing wrong with the writing here. The title is funny, the interviews are interesting and the pictures make you want to go check it out yourself. I hope the school isn't offended by this article, because I really thought it was well-meaning and interesting.

[snacks]

i don't see why or how this article was racist either! give me a break, you're whining.

[eh]

OK
"Vice is known for its controversial content, and often strikes a sardonic and ironic pose on debauchery, sex, drugs, violence, crime, and social issues involving race and economic class." - From Wikipedia

The 'Controversy' section adds to it.
"Articles such as The Vice Guide to Shagging Muslims and Bukkake On My Face: Welcome to the Ancient Tradition of the Japanese Facial have precipitated the magazine being banned from a number of university campuses. The VICE Guide to Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll was banned from some bookstores in 2003.[13]"-Wikipedia

It's this kind of magazine. Vice thinks they are being witty and tasteful in their own way.

Know who's interviewing you before you invite people over for an article interview.

[Magilla]

This is fucked up, I know Vice normally cuts pretty close to the Politically Incorrect bone, but this article is totally vanilla, a puff piece even. Why are people calling this racist? Didn't get that feeling from the article one bit.

How very un 'wok n woll' of you.

[yasuko]

Whats wrong with this article? They welcomed the magazine to interview the school and now their whining.... This article ain't racist and too bad racism still exists...even in Toronto...
Stop whining people and get over it, welcome to the society we live in, don't u you wish it was perfect?

[obediently]

Why the focus on asians. Cuz they have money and obediently do what their told? Do these kids even have proper visa status?
Why hire japanese staff when fellow canadians are out of jobs? Thats unequal treatment, maybe just maybe even racist!

[Ms Viking]

just because Canada is swarming with tons of different races doesn't mean that racist jokes don't exist here.

Mainly: Everyone who claimed has their head stuck way too far up their ass to even realize that they don't know what the fuck they're talking about.