Summer’s better with music! Learn, play, and rock out all season long with School of Rock! The season will start the beginning of June and performances will take place at the end of September. Check out the full desciptions of our main performance themes as well as the full rehearsal schedule below.
MONDAYS
Drum Core (4-5 pm)
Drum Core is our program specially designed for kids ages 8-11 with no prior drumming experience. This foundational program is the perfect starting point for aspiring young drummers and teaches essential skills to help students play drums confidently in a live-band setting, paving the way for a smooth transition into our Rock 101 program and beyond!
Old School punk (5-8 pm)
Punk Rock rose to popularity as a rebellious response to the overcomplicated, pretentious direction that Prog Rock had taken in the 1970s, and as a voice for the anti-establishment movement following the post-Vietnam era. Marked by short, energetic songs with little ornamentation, Punk Rock is more about spirit and feeling than musical technique. This show covers the classic period of the genre, including bands like Sex Pistols, Ramones, The Clash, Blondie, The Stooges, and Patti Smith. Students might hear striking similarities of styles to current Pop Punk bands like Green Day and My Chemical Romance, as the legacy of the original generation of Punk bands continues to inspire artists today. While Punk is a great show for less experienced rockers, it still challenges more advanced students and teaches them the art of showmanship and stage presence. Don your spikes, mohawk, and ripped jeans and get ready for a season of Punk Rock!
TUESDAYS
Rock Rookies (4-5 PM)
Students (7 and 8) in Rock Rookies learn about various rock instruments (guitar, drums, bass, keyboards, and vocals), ear training, song structuring, 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.
Wacky Tracks (4:30-6:30 pm)
Wacky Tracks is a SoR Cleveland original show which is a great option for intermediate and advanced level students. This is a wild ride through the weird, the wonderful, and the totally unexpected corners of rock 'n' roll. From quirky classics to off-the-wall deep cuts, our students will take the stage to celebrate the songs that make you say, "Wait... they played what?" This show takes a tour through many genres and features classics by Talking Heads, The Flaming Lips, Frank Zappa, The B-52’s, “Weird Al” Yankovic, DEVO, Ween, They Might Be Giants and many more! Don’t let these fun songs fool you, this eclectic selection will challenge musicians at every skill level.
Rock 101 (5:30-7 pm)
Rock 101 is our beginner performance program for students 7-10 years old. Learn how to play with a band and have fun doing it! This is our first day/time option for Rock 101.
Glam rock (6:45-8:45 pm)
Glam Rock was a reaction against the earnest blues guitar rock that had dominated the airwaves in the late 1960s. Platform boots, glitter, heavy makeup, jumpsuits and androgynous costumes all combined with larger than life stage personas in the 1970s to create the artfully arranged image of all that was “glam”. Some of the most notable artists of this super-style are British artists such as David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John, Mott the Hoople, Slade, and Roxy Music, as well as American acts like New York Dolls, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and Suzi Quatro. Though Glam Rock may have had a limited run, its influence has also been seen in other eras and genres, perhaps most notably in 1980s Sunset Strip “hair metal”, which has traceable roots in the glitter, trash, and guitars of glam. Modern artists who borrow elements of Glam Rock include The Darkness and Scissor Sisters. The Glam Rock show is filled with challenging vocal and keyboard parts, and also features some deceptively difficult parts for lead guitar and great grooves for rhythm sections.
WEDNESDAYS
Rock rookies (4:30-5:30 PM)
This is our second day/time option for Rookies.
neo soul (4:30-6:30 PM)
One of the coolest shows in the SoR curriculum! Neo Soul refers to the revival of Soul and R&B music in the 90s and 2000s, led by artists such as Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, TLC, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo. Combining elements and grooves from R&B, Jazz, Pop, Funk, and Hip Hop influences, Neo Soul distinguished itself from other Pop music of the time by focusing on a return to live instrumentation. As the genre gained in popularity, artists such as Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, and Mary J Blige became pop superstars. Neo-Soul remains incredibly popular today, with Bruno Mars, John Legend, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Silk Sonic carrying the torch. Neo Soul is a super educational show that will turn students into sophisticated groove monsters! Beginners up to advanced players will be challenged by these intricate arrangements and diverse styles.
Opening Act (6:45-8:15 PM)
Opening Act is our performance program for beginning teens. Develop your chops alongside other beginners your age while learning classic songs and techniques.
THURSDAYS
Led zeppelin (5-8 PM)
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!
FRIDAYS
Rock 101 (4:30-6 PM)
This is our 2nd day/time option for Rock 101, our beginner performance program for students 7-10 years old.
SATURDAYS
Rock 101 (10:15-11:45 AM)
Our 3rd day/time option for Rock 101.
Grunge (12-3 PM)
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1980s out of Seattle, Washington and gained massive popularity in the early 1990s.. Characterized by its raw sound, distorted guitars, and emotionally charged lyrics, grunge blended elements of punk rock and heavy metal while rejecting the polished aesthetic of mainstream '80s rock. The genre often conveyed themes of apathy, disillusionment, resonating with a generation grappling with societal and personal unrest.
Unlike other rock subgenres, grunge emphasized authenticity. While the movement declined in the late '90s, its influence endures, shaping alternative rock and indie music. Grunge left a lasting cultural impact by challenging musical norms and voicing a collective dissatisfaction with the status quo, making it not just a sound, but a statement. Some of the most successful grunge bands are Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. Other great bands include Mudhoney, Stone Temple Pilots, and Hole, L7, plus many more! The Grunge show is a great option for any intermediate or advanced level students!
Super Seniors (day & time tbd)
It’s our graduating seniors' final show! YOU choose the set for the ultimate send-off and the perfect #sorcle farewell celebration! A day and time for rehearsal will be determined once sign ups are completed.
Want to sign up?
Please complete this form: 2025 Summer Show Sign Up Form. If you are not currently enrolled as a student at SoR Cleveland West, we will reach out to you via the email provided on the form to get your student onboarded.
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, please reach out to us at clevelandwest@schoolofrock.com or 440-333-7625.