THE TIME HAS COME... NEW SHOW THEMES AVAILABLE FOR SIGNUP!

Here at School of Rock Bedford, there's no more exciting day than show announcement day... and it's finally here! Read on to get the downlow on all of next season's rockin' offerings. Rehearsals will begin in early October following the wrap-up of this season’s shows and will run through mid-February. Official performance dates will be announced as soon as possible.

Metallica vs. Megadeth / rehearses Mondays 6:00-8:00 beginning October 7th:

A showdown between two metal titans: Metallica and Megadeth! The biggest metal band of all-time, Metallica rose to prominence in the 1980s as leaders of the “Thrash Metal” scene, pairing heavy, aggressive guitar riffs with fast, driving rhythms, all punctuated by vocalist James Hetfield’s signature snarl. Their albums Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets are widely regarded as two of the best Metal albums ever recorded. Megadeth, another of the "Big Four" of metal, is also considered as responsible for the genre's development and popularization. Dave Mustaine, the founding and longest-running member of the group, actually started as part of Metallica, forming Megadeth as revenge for being fired from the original band. He vowed to form a group even faster and heavier than Metallica, and brought his extensive experience writing thrash to the new group. This is a must-do show for any aspiring shredders!

Classic R&B / rehearses Tuesdays 6:00-8:00 beginning October 8th:

Rhythm and Blues music was foundational to the evolution of rock and roll! Originating with jazz and blues in the 1940s, R&B music was predominantly created by black musicians for black audiences until the 1950s, when artists such as Etta James, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Ike & Tina Turner began to achieve crossover success with white audiences as well. By the early 1960s, record labels like Motown and Stax were churning out legendary hits by Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Supremes, and Otis Redding, which influenced virtually all of the Rock and Roll and Pop music that came after. The Classic R&B show features groove-oriented music with dynamic arrangements and standout vocal performances. Students participating in this show will have an opportunity to hone their rhythmic skills and broaden their repertoire of music styles by focusing on the music that inspired artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, and which continues to be relevant today with its influence on modern Pop stars such as Adele and John Legend. Classic R&B is one of the most educational shows that School of Rock offers!

Taylor Swift / rehearses Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 beginning October 9th:

One of the most successful musical artists of all time, Taylor Swift has inspired legions of fans and musicians around the world by writing compelling songs that draw from a remarkable variety of stylistic influences. Taylor Swift’s ”eras” of music incorporate elements of Pop, Rock, Country, Folk, Emo, Disco, and more, all tastefully arranged around her well-crafted, confessional lyrics that often explore themes of vulnerability and resilience. She has sold more than 200 million records in her career, and has more than fifty Top-40 hits to her name. Beyond her music itself, Taylor Swift has revolutionized the music industry by re-recording her first six albums to reclaim ownership of her creative work. This show is a great fit for all instruments and experience levels, and is not just a theme for up-and-coming vocalists. An incredible artist is at their best when supported by an incredible band, and Taylor Swift’s band features some of the most accomplished musicians on the planet, playing challenging and highly detailed arrangements.

80s Prom Night / rehearses Fridays 6:00-8:00 beginning October 11th:

In the 80s Prom Night show, School of Rock will travel back in time to an era of fluorescent clothes, poofy hair, and the best synth-driven pop anthems you will ever hear. On August 1, 1981, music fans were catapulted into the '80s music era by the debut of a cultural phenomenon: MTV. This new music format - the music video - gave old and new artists alike the chance to reach unimaginable numbers of diverse audiences and sell millions of records and cassette tapes. The '80s would not have had its soundtrack without Michael Jackson. Jackson began the '80s on a sonic high that carried over from 1979’s “Off the Wall”, but he struck gold with the worldwide phenomenon that was Thriller. Also making a huge impact on the '80s were super-star Pop acts like Madonna, Prince, and all-girl band The Go- Gos. Gender became less binary and static in the '80s with wildly popular artists like Boy George of Culture Club, Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics, Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders and every hair metal act challenging perceptions of what is acceptable attire or behavior for “male” and “female.” Although pop acts reigned supreme in the '80s, rock bands like Guns N’ Roses, Journey, and Bon Jovi reaped the benefits from the ‘decade of excess’. The Best of the '80s show will feature a diverse mix of styles and artists, and is a challenging and fun experience for students of any instrument or experience level.

Led Zeppelin / rehearses Saturday 2:00-4:00 beginning October 12th:

Led Zeppelin has been synonymous with being the innovators of the Hard Rock genre. Formed originally as a new version of the British Invasion group The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin quickly took shape to become the most popular rock band in the world, filling arenas and selling millions of albums. The mastermind behind it all was Jimmy Page. As a studio musician, producer, and songwriter, Page recruited Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass), and John Bonham (drums), and began a decade-long journey of prolific songwriting. Songs like “Stairway to Heaven”, “Black Dog”, “Good Times Bad Times”, and “The Ocean” have become rock standards and rights of passage for aspiring musicians. Led Zeppelin’s blend of Hard Rock, Blues, and Folk has remained the primary inspiration for many of today’s rock bands. Any student participating in this show is sure to gain a wealth of musical knowledge and advancement. The Led Zeppelin show has challenges for every skill level - it will turn beginners into intermediates and will transform intermediate players into advanced rockers.

Rock 101 / sessions Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 5:00-6:00 and Saturday 11:30-12:30 beginning September 23rd, 25th, 27th, & 28th

Rock 101 is designed to teach beginner students, ages 7 and up, the fundamentals of their instrument and how to play in a band. In addition to musical instruction, Rock 101 provides training in rehearsal etiquette and stagecraft, and allows students to progress at their own speed in a low-stakes, nurturing, and fun environment. The ultimate goal of Rock 101 is graduation into the Performance Program by fulfilling the requirements specific to each student's instrument, which they work on during their weekly 45-minute lesson one-on-one with their instructors. Students may join or graduate from Rock 101 at any point in the season, and will be assigned songs according to their progress with their instrument.

To sign up now, click HERE to access our Google Form! Make sure to take your time submitting your preferences, as these are not first come, first served; our music team will carefully review each submission before assigning students to the shows which will give them the most opportunity to grow and shine!