The Electric Chair Salon in Ocean Beach has undergone some tremendous transitions since its humble beginnings as a quaint, three-chair hair salon 26 years ago. The business is a Peninsula Beacon Readers Choice winner five years running. Today, the funky little salon boasts a full-service menu that includes massages, waxings, facials, nail services — and now, a rock ’n’ roll academy. In February, owners Paul and Lynne Bolton transformed Studio D, the third suite of The Electric Chair Salon, into Electric Music Studios — a music instruction and rehearsal studio. “We used to have waxing, nails and massage in that room, but that whole industry from the recession was way out,” Paul said. “We were actually losing money on that room.” Lynne, inspired by her son’s musical talent fine-tuned ed at San Diego’s School of Rock downtown, convinced her husband to open a music studio. Paul finally agreed to give the idea a try. Today, Electric Music Studios has 27 students, and the numbers grow every weekend. “The room is actually profiting right now,” Paul said, attributing the observation to the fact that kids today do not all want to be jocks and athletes. “I realized years ago when I tried to bring my son up playing baseball — because that’s what I played when I was his age — that nowadays not everyone is going to be a football player, a baseball player or a soccer player. … Maybe they can sing, maybe they can play an instrument,” he said. Electric Music Studios spices up the traditional music lesson by adding performance-based instruction to its practice. Students learn about stage presence, clothing and, of course, hair styling. Programs are designed for beginners and accomplished musicians alike. The performance-based instruction includes private lessons and weekend band rehearsals designed to take students up to the next level — no matter their experience. Students in the beginner classes, known as the “weekend warriors,” receive one 45-minute private lesson and one 2-hour weekend band rehearsal with the other students. After a few months of rehearsals, the students perform a live gig in front of friends and family. Such was the case Oct. 3 at Portugalia restaurant in Ocean Beach. “Everything that we teach them gets them ready for a live gig, so it motivates them to learn the songs because they’re getting up in front of a live audience,” Paul said. Students can learn guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and get voice coaching from the studio’s well-qualified, and somewhat high-profile, musicians. Music director Omar Lopez, for example, is an active member of the Latin-reggae sensation the B-Side Players. Esjay Jones, lead singer of Stealing Love Jones, has shared the stage with such talent as Staind, Fall Out Boy, Evanescence, 3 Doors Down, Hoobastank and Jimmy Eat World. Other instructors include Louis Valenzuela and Kris Korsgaden, who are highly talented in instrument, vocals and performance instruction. “We’re really lucky to have them,” Paul said. “The kids like them and really relate because they’re close to their own age and the music they grew up with is very similar.” Electric Music Studios accepts students from 6 to 18 years of age for private instruction and performance-based rehearsals. Electric Music Studios is located at 4944 Newport Ave. For more information on lessons, rates or performance dates, call (619) 222-0836, or visit www.electricmusicstudios.com.