Cue the dueling guitar riffs. Two new music schools are chasing young students who have rock star ambitions.

Planet Rock in Roswell and School of Rock in Buckhead recently opened in metro Atlanta within weeks of each other. Both schools combine private lessons with group sessions. Both plan their first concerts in late spring. And both are hoping to fill a perceived marketplace hole by providing students a venue to create great rock music in a collaborative, nurturing environment. Think Jack Black's popular 2004 film "School of Rock."

Becky Stein/Special (ENLARGE)

Jacob Shippel, 9, plays the Beatles' 'Come Together' on guitar at Planet Rock in Roswell.

• More Photos LESSONS School of Rock 321 Pharr Road, Atlanta 404-218-3105 www.schoolofrock.com/atlanta/main_school.php $250 a month for weekly private lessons and three-hour weekly group sessions Planet Rock 10506 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell 770-817-ROCK www.planetrockschool.com $300 a month for weekly private lessons and three-hour weekly group sessions Camp Jam's Rock University Various locations via mobile van 770-874-4653 www.campjam.com $180 for eight weekly 90-minute group lessons LIVING Latest Headlines: In White Lily biscuit bake-off, we have two winners  Rome teen is world's fastest drummer  One man's quest for the perfect pizza  Transplant heroes: First mom then sister  Online, in utero becomes in publico  • More Living Stories • Living photo galleries

"The movie celebrated the basic thing we believe in: this connection between great music, inspired music teachers and kids," said School of Rock CEO Matt Ross, who lived in Atlanta from 1995 to 1999 and runs 34 schools nationwide.

That's not all. Atlanta-based Camp Jam, which has operated summer rock 'n' roll camps the past five years, just added its own year-round program

but not in a single location. Rather, it drives to different places such as the Galloway School in Buckhead and the East Cobb YMCA. By going where the students are, it has already pulled in 42, more than the other two schools so far.

All three operations are trying to feed off the allure of performing live, fueled by competition shows such as Fox's "American Idol" and CBS show "Rock Star." And the runaway success of video games such as "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" hasn't hurt. (NPD Group says Activision has sold a whopping 14 million "Guitar Hero" games in North America since 2005.)

"This is the 'Guitar Hero' generation," Planet Rock music director Sarah Peacock said. "It's blowing up! They're learning from the influential musicians that shaped the industry, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles."

For many students, this is simply an opportunity to have fun and get loud with a group of like-minded musicians. "It's great to get to sing with a real drum set and people around me," 14 year-old vocalist Rachel Murphy said at Planet Rock. "All my friends are into Justin and Britney. I like rock!"

A few students are already proving their rock cred.

Last month, a neighbor's black Lab took a sizable chunk out of 11-year-old Dillon Broyles' upper right arm. He needed 10 stitches and was instructed to rest up for a few days. But within 48 hours, he was at Planet Rock, gingerly drumming his way through Mountain's "Mississippi Queen."

"I could see bone!" Dillon said, five days later, exaggerating for effect. "But I'm OK now."

His mom, Jill Broyles, 49, said Planet Rock and "Guitar Hero" have opened Dillon to a world of music beyond the Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"He used to refuse to listen to the Southern rock I grew up with," she said. "Now he can appreciate the Allman Brothers and Cream. And he loves groups like Kiss."

A recent rehearsal featured 10 students, including Dillon, packed in a tiny yellow room in the back of the Atlanta Music Brokers instrument store in Roswell.

"I know you have that arm thing going on," Planet Rock's Peacock told Dillon. "But I need it a little more solid." When he ended the song with a spontaneous yelping of "Mississippi Queen!" she grinned.

"You're feeling that in your soul, man! Yah!"

Peacock, a professional musician since 2003, is a strict taskmaster who is laid-back at times. But she works hard to keep everyone focused. When someone complains about doing the final portion of the song for a sixth time, she said, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings."

Several parents watched rapt, clapping and mouthing the words while their kids practiced.

"We're groupies!" said Enid Colon, whose 9-year-old son, Timo, is a drummer. She brings snacks and helps out when she can. Peacock expects the first 15 students to have 15 rock classics from the '60s and '70s — including "American Woman" by the Guess Who and "Come Together" by the Beatles — ready to go by the first concert in early June.

In Buckhead, Matt Burks, a Riverwood High School senior, heard about School of Rock through MySpace. A huge Pink Floyd fan, he was psyched when he heard the first Atlanta School of Rock concert in May would be a replay of the entire Pink Floyd "The Wall" album.

"In 300 years, people are going to be studying Floyd like we study Mozart and Beethoven today," Burks said earlier this month at the school's new space on Pharr Road. "I'd stay here all day if I could."

After the three-hour rehearsal, which included watching part of a DVD of "The Wall" concert, Burks, who sings and plays drums and guitar, stuck around and jammed with one of the teachers. Peter Maraldo, who helped start Planet Rock, thinks there's plenty of room for all the schools. "There are multiple schools for ballet and soccer," he said. "Why not rock? And each of us will specialize in different areas. My school is for really serious musicians who want to eventually create their own original music. And I plan to add a pre-school program and an adult program."

School of Rock general manager Justin Nihiser is equally unfazed by the competition. "Atlanta can handle it," he said. "And I like having a static location [compared with Rock University.] It gives us more stability."