Back to School... of Rock! We are so excited for our fall show season. The season will start at the beginning of October, with end-of-season performances taking place in mid-to-late January. Check out the full show desciptions as well as the full rehearsal schedule below.
Mondays
Drum Core (4:00 - 5:00 PM)
Drum Core is a program designed for kids ages 8-11 with little-to-no drumming experience, consisting of a weekly 45-minute private lesson and an hour long class. The class teaches essential drum skills for playing confidently in a band, setting the stage for a smooth transition into Rock 101 and beyond!
Classic Metal (5:00 - 8:00 PM) | Main performance program
Classic Metal (School of Rock's 3rd Featured Show) is widely regarded as ranging from the late 1960s Proto-Metal sound of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin up until the mid 1980s, when Thrash Metal reigned supreme with bands like the ‘big four’ (Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer) and Hair Metal was still a blip on the horizon. Full of guitar wizardry and riffs galore, Classic Metal’s explosion in the 1970s and early '80s would set the tone for generations of Metal bands to come and leave an indelible impression on the music industry.
This show will trace the roots of metal, from the pioneer bands like Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and Iron Maiden, to metal’s big break in the '80s with bands like Metallica and Megadeth and more! If you’re looking to sharpen your shredding skills on guitar and bass, speed up your chops on the drums, or hone your high range vocals - the Classic Metal show is for you!
Tuesdays
rock rookies (4:15 - 5:15 PM)
Rookies is a music program for kids ages 7 and 8 with no musical experience. Students have a weekly one-hour group lesson to learn about various rock instruments (guitar, drums, bass, keyboards, and vocals), ear training, song structure, and rhythmic patterns within a group setting. Most kids are still discovering their instrument preference at this stage, and we provide the perfect environment to explore different options. This is our first day/time option for Rock Rookies.
More Cowbell! (4:30 - 6:30 PM) | Main Performance Program
There are rock shows… and then there are cowbell shows. More Cowbell! celebrates the songs that made this little piece of metal a big part of rock history. It’s about the groove, the attitude, and that unmistakable clang that kicks a song into overdrive.
This show will hit everything from the classic rock punch of Blue Öyster Cult, Grand Funk Railroad, Mountain, Van Halen, and James Gang… to the glam swagger of David Bowie and Twisted Sister. Then we’ll dive into the alt and punk world with Pixies, The Offspring, Queens of the Stone Age, and Jimmy Eat World, plus indie-pop and dance-punk from Ben Folds Five, OK Go, and LCD Soundsystem, and even some funk from War and hip-hop from Tone Loc and Beastie Boys.
More Cowbell! brings drive, rhythm, and personality to the stage, spanning multiple genres and offering something for musicians of all skill levels. And of course, plenty of cowbell for everyone!
Rock 101 (5:30 - 7:00 PM)
Rock 101 is our performance program for beginners ages 7-11 years old, consisting of a weekly 45-minute private lesson and a group rehearsal. Students focus on an instrument of their choice (guitar, drums, keys, vocals, or bass) while learning how to work with a band - and have fun doing it! This is our first day/time option for Rock 101.
Best of the 2010s (6:45 - 8:45 PM) | Main performance program
The 2010s proved that rock and roll is alive and well, with diverse artists rising to prominence in the music world. Combining modern production techniques with retro-sounding riffs and song structures, the music of his era proved that genre boundaries were made to be broken.
From the psychedelic grooves of Tame Impala to the soulful pop brilliance of Adele and Bruno Mars, the 2010s showcased an eclectic mix of voices redefining what it meant to be a modern artist. Bands like Paramore and Avenged Sevenfold kept rock’s energy alive in their own unique ways (one with pop-punk emotion, the other with thunderous metal precision). Meanwhile, The Black Keys brought raw, bluesy grit to the mainstream, and bands like Vulfpeck delivered a refreshing dose of tight, vintage-inspired funk.
This show will explore the wide-ranging sounds that shaped the decade. Expect a varied setlist where rock, pop, funk, and soul collide, showcasing how today’s artists honor the past while pushing music into new territory.
wednesdays
rock rookies (4:30 - 5:30 PM)
This is our second day/time option for Rock Rookies.
motown (5:00 - 8:00 PM) | main performance program
The mastermind behind Motown Records’ success was the endlessly entrepreneurial Berry Gordy. Gordy’s meticulous approach to the creation, performance, and distribution of music fueled the growth of one of the most successful black-owned businesses in American history. With over 100 hits in Billboard’s top 10 from 1961 to 1971, Motown and its subsidiary labels more than earned the right to become known as “Hitsville, U.S.A.”. The explosive success of Motown broke new ground by tearing down racial barriers in the music industry, helping to open the door to mainstream success for countless black creators.
In the 1960s, Motown’s star-studded roster featured groups like Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Diana Ross & the Supremes, the Jackson 5, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, the Marvelettes, and The Temptations. Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross would eventually enjoy successful solo careers. In the next decade, the label’s headquarters migrated from Detroit to Los Angeles and saw the artistic and comparatively more experimental offerings from Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Motown’s influence has impacted generations of artists since its heyday in the 1960s. Its contributions to the racial integration of the music industry will never be forgotten - nor will its infectious sound.
Opening act (6:45 - 8:15 PM)
Opening Act is School of Rock’s performance program for beginners ages 12-17, consisting of a weekly 45-minute private lesson and group rehearsal. In Opening Act, students learn simplified versions of classic and modern rock songs to progress their skills in an instrument of their choice including guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, or vocals.
thursdays
60s Rock (5:00 - 8:00 PM) | Main performance program
The 1960s were a revolutionary decade, not just socially and politically, but musically. “‘60s Rock” dives headfirst into the golden era that shaped the future of rock and roll forever. From the British Invasion to the Summer of Love, from garage rock to psychedelia, this show celebrates the iconic bands and groundbreaking sounds that defined a generation.
Students will explore legendary artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, and The Doors, whose music pushed boundaries and expanded what rock would become. The show also highlights the electric energy of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, and Led Zeppelin, the poetic edge of The Velvet Underground and The Kinks, and the raw power of proto-punk pioneers like The Stooges. Other artists in this setlist include Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, Sly and the Family Stone, and the genius of Frank Zappa. This show will be a celebration of one of the most exciting and influential decades in music history!
Fridays
Rock 101 (4:30 - 6:00 PM)
This is our second day/time option for Rock 101 (ages 7-11).
saturdays
rock 101 (10:15 AM - 11:45 AM)
This is our third day/time option for Rock 101 (ages 7-11).
Weezer (12:00 - 3:00 PM) | Main performance program
Few bands have balanced irony, emotion, and power chords quite like Weezer. Since their 1994 debut, they've carved out a unique space in rock history, blending garage rock grit with pop sensibilities, nerdy charm, and endlessly catchy hooks. Weezer’s catalog is a masterclass in songwriting that spans decades, including the fuzzed-out anthems of the Blue Album, the raw vulnerability of Pinkerton, and the polished power-pop of their later records.
This show dives deep into the band’s most iconic tracks like “Buddy Holly,” “Say It Ain’t So,” and “El Scorcho,” “Pork and Beans” and “Island in the Sun.” Along the way, students will explore dynamic song structures, expressive guitar work, vocal harmonies, and the balance between simplicity and sophistication that defines Weezer’s sound.
Perfect for intermediate and advanced students of all instruments, this show offers something for everyone: big riffs, sing-along choruses, and the chance to rock out with one of the most influential alternative bands of the last 30 years.
Want to sign up?
Click here for the sign-up form: 2025 Fall Show Sign-up Form
Sign ups are currently open, though please note that some shows may be completely full or full on certain instruments. If you are not currently enrolled at School of Rock Cleveland West but would like to sign up, please reach out to us to schedule your individual lessons and set up your enrollment.
Sign ups are first come, first served, though student placement will be determined by several factors including scheduling, age, experience, group dynamics, and educational value. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at clevelandwest@schoolofrock.com or 440-333-7625.
Note: Rock Rookies and Drum Core are not part of the seasonal sign-up process and will not appear on the form. These programs offer rolling enrollment, so you can start anytime. Just contact us to check class availability and get started right away!