FALL SEASON 2026
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
The Performance Program is School of Rock's hallmark music program, where tens of thousands of students enroll each year. Utilizing the patented School of Rock Method, Performance Program consists of a weekly group rehearsal where kids and teens learn by playing rock music's most iconic songs with a band composed of their peers. Students are assigned songs and parts that are tailored to them based on their age, experience, and ability to learn new skills and concepts. Students then work through their parts in weekly private music lessons, and refine the skills and concepts that those songs introduce. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare kids and teens for live performances. Every few months, Performance Program students take the stage and play at local music venues in front of a live audience.
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: GRUNGE
AGES 13-17 |
The landscape of popular music was abruptly and permanently changed in the autumn of 1991, when Nirvana’s song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” took radio and MTV by storm. Soon, other bands with the Grunge sound followed Nirvana up the charts, ushering in the “alternative” era. Emerging out of Seattle, Grunge music is defined by heavy guitars, powerful drumming, and expressive, moody vocals. Bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden valued innovation and authenticity over precision and posturing, which contrasted sharply with the Pop and Hair Metal that had ruled the previous decade. Grunge music’s aggressive rhythms, angular melodies, and unpredictable song forms will challenge students of all skill levels on guitar, bass, drums, and vocals.
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: Hair Metal
AGES 13-17 |
The Hair Metal show is one of the most fun shows in the SoR repertoire, and can be very challenging as well. Hair Metal took over radio and MTV in the 1980s, as bands like Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Van Halen and Quiet Riot combined great songwriting, acrobatic shred guitar, and sugary vocal harmonies with flashy outfits and tons of hairspray, capturing the hearts of America’s teenagers. As the 1980s began, a fusion of several musical styles began to occur. The Glam Rock sound and imagery of the '70s began to combine with Metal and Punk to create a “glittery” Heavy Metal: Hair Metal. As the decade moved forward, the first wave of L.A. bands began to get signed and work their way up the charts. This included acts such as Quiet Riot with Metal Health, Dokken with Breaking the Chains, and Ratt with Out of the Cellar. While each had their own distinct sound, what they shared in common was an image of leather and chains, and an aggressive musical style that emphasized great hooks and loud guitars. Students will have a chance to play selections by Motley Crue, Poison, Guns n Roses, Ozzy, Van Halen, Skid Row, Quiet Riot, Lita Ford, Def Leppard, Ratt, Warrant, Bon Jovi, Dokken, Whitesnake and the like!
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: New Wave
AGES 13-17 |
The New Wave genre incorporates a variety of different sounds and styles that were prevalent at the end of the 1970s and expanded until the end of the 1980s. New Wave began as an extension of Punk Rock, which changed the music scene starting in 1976 in the US and the UK. American power-pop groups like The Cars and The Knack were New Wave, while the Disco-inspired hits of Blondie, and the Reggae-influenced rock of the Police fell under the same umbrella. Gloomy goth rockers like The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees and dance-oriented synth pop artists like Gary Numan and Eurythmics are all considered New Wave bands as well. One unifying factor shared by most, but not all, of the New Wave artists was an increasing use of electronic instrumentation, specifically the synthesizer. Many '80s New Wave artists, Soft Cell and Eurythmics among them, used the synthesizer as the foundation of their sound, while others like The Cars and The Police integrated the synth seamlessly into their punchy guitar pop. By the end of the 1980s, New Wave as a genre had splintered and the term became increasingly meaningless. The spirit of New Wave would live on in Indie Rock and College Rock, soon to become known as Alternative. The legacy of New Wave is still felt today as rock artists continue to experiment with synth textures and embody the quirky and offbeat image that made the New Wave era such a vibrant and influential time.
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: Festival Headliners
AGES 13-17 |
Festival Headliners is the ultimate performance program designed for musicians who want to command the crowd, master the stage, and play the biggest hits in modern music history! This class channels the high-octane energy of iconic music festivals like Coachella, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Rock in Rio, Welcome to Rockville and more. In this season, students will dive into the catalog of legendary artists who have topped festival posters across the globe. From stadium rock anthems to indie rock masterpieces, you will learn what it takes to captivate thousands of screaming fans. This show will play the likes of Guns N Roses, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin and more!
ROCK 101, ROCK 102 and Pop 101
Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Briarcliff Manor's top programs for kids and beginners. Students have one weekly group rehearsal where they learn to play classic and modern rock songs that have been simplified for beginner musicians. Additionally, Rock 101 students have a weekly private music lesson with an instructor who helps them learn the concepts and skills behind their performance songs. Pop 101 takes them same structure as Rock 101 but focuses on Pop music. After passing Rock 101 or Pop 101 graduation requirements, students move into Rock 102.
ROCK 101
AGES 7-12 | MONDAYS, THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS, 4:30-6:00PM
ROCK 102
AGES 9-13 | MONDAYS, 6:00-7:30PM | FRIDAYS, 5:30PM-7:00PM
POP 101
AGES 7-12 | MONDAYS 4:30-6:00PM
ROOKIES AND LITTLE WING
ROOKIES
AGES 5-8 | MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, 4:30-5:30PM
At School of Rock Briarcliff Manor, our music program for children with no previous musical experience (typically ages 6 to 7-years-old) is called Rookies. Rookies students have one weekly group music lesson where they learn fundamentals like chords, rhythm and song structure. Kids get to learn and experiment with multiple instruments so they can later decide which one they ultimately want to continue pursuing in Rock 101.
LITTLE WING
AGES 3-5 | WEDNESDAYS, 3-3:45pm | SUNDAYS, 10:30-11:15AM
Our Little Wing music program for preschoolers and toddlers teaches students foundational music skills by playing games and participating in other interactive musical activities. Little Wing students have one weekly group music lesson in which they use classic rock songs to learn about rhythm, song structure, melody and dynamics through play.
ADULT BAND
AGES 18+| TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 8:15-10:15PM
Adult Program is for students over 18 years old who are looking to either improve their musical proficiency or pick up an instrument with no prior musical experience. As with most School of Rock music programs, the Adult Program uses a performance-based music education approach. This means the curriculum focuses on learning music concepts and applying them in a live performance setting. Our Adult Music Program includes one weekly private music lesson and a weekly group rehearsal. Every student at School of Rock Briarcliff Manor is placed in a band of fellow adults and then assigned specific songs as a way of learning key music concepts and skills. Adult students then take the stage to play at a live show!