Our Summer Show Season for ages 7-18 will begin in June, with end-of-season performances taking place in mid-to-late September. 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!
blues legends (5:00 - 8:00 PM) | Main performance program
The Blues is a genre that transcends time and cultural boundaries, and has influenced, in some capacity, nearly every song that has come since its original inception. This show is a crash course in the great blues players, and shows how the torch was passed throughout the years. From the original blues pioneers to the '80s blues revival and beyond, this show is not only a great lesson in instrument improvisation, but also why the blues will never fade away! Traditional artists like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, and Albert King will be showcased, along with more contemporary blues masters like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, Gary Clark Jr., John Mayer, Joe Bonamassa, and Derek Trucks. Throughout the many changes in blues music over the years, it truly is music that will continue to stand the test of time. Blues Legends presents an ambitious challenge for students ready to dial in and take their skills to the next level.
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.
slash (4:30 - 6:30 PM) | Main Performance Program
Alongside the hat, the hair, and the leather pants, Slash is a true guitar hero whose sound helped define hard rock in the late ‘80s and beyond. Slash (Saul Hudson) earned his nickname due to his wild energy as a small child, and that energy remains present in his guitar playing even today. His path to Guns N' Roses started in the early ‘80s LA scene with bands like Tidus Sloan and Road Crew, where he first teamed up with drummer Steven Adler and bassist Duff McKagan. Slash and Adler then joined Hollywood Rose with Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, laying the groundwork for what would become Guns N’ Roses in 1985. The band went on to play sold-out stadiums and release hits like “Sweet Child O' Mine,” “Paradise City,” and “Welcome to the Jungle.”
After establishing himself with Guns N’ Roses, Slash went on to form Slash's Snakepit and Velvet Revolver, plus build a solo career collaborating with an incredible range of artists including Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Lenny Kravitz, Carole King, Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, Fishbone, Chris Cornell, Iggy Pop, and Rihanna. Drawing from these collaborations, this show gives students the chance to dive into the techniques that make Slash’s music so iconic. Guitar players can expect to learn finger tapping, pinch harmonics, and high string muting, while bass players and drummers will provide the band's backbone (with big fills!). Vocalists will develop their upper-register and the call-and-response energy that made Hair Metal so enticing, while keyboardists will elevate the full band sound by adding texture and depth. No matter what you play, if you want to push your technique and experience being part of a band driven by serious musicianship and larger-than-life performance, this show is for you!
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.
early beatles (6:45 - 8:45 PM) | Main performance program
John! Paul! George! Ringo! Arguably the most musically diverse and iconic band of the 1960s British Invasion, The Beatles set the standard for which bands still strive in today’s music. This show focuses on the early Beatles era, up through 1965, when Beatlemania was in full swing and the band was turning out hit after hit.
The early Beatles catalog is packed with dissonant three-chord garage rock bangers as well as classic pop songwriting. Drummers will learn the true artistry of Ringo’s feel and groove; bassists will be blown away by Paul’s melodic yet rhythmic bass lines; guitarists will develop the tight, complementary playing of John and George that defines this era; and vocalists will experience the brilliance of their harmonies. With great material for all instruments, the Early Beatles show is a can’t miss opportunity for any SoR student.
wednesdays
rock rookies (4:30 - 5:30 PM)
This is our second day/time option for Rock Rookies.
women of the 70s (4:30 - 6:30 PM) | main performance program
The 1970s were a groundbreaking decade for women in music, marked by powerful voices, artistry, and groundbreaking performances that shaped the future of rock and beyond. Women-fronted bands like The Runaways, Heart, ABBA, and Fleetwood Mac dominated the airwaves with songs that we’re still singing along to today, while solo artists such as Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, Roberta Flack, Cher, Carole King, Patti Smith, and Aretha Franklin rose to prominence and became household names. Their music provided a new perspective and inspired generations of musicians to follow. This show will span rock, folk, pop, soul, and more, requiring a range of techniques from every student and with one common goal: to celebrate the women whose music forever changed the trajectory of the industry.
Rock 101 (5:45 - 7:15 PM)
This is our second day/time option for Rock 101.
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
nirvana (5:00 - 8:00 PM) | Main performance program
Nirvana was formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987 by friends Kurt Cobain (vocals and guitar) and Krist Novoselic (bass). After a succession of drummers, including the Melvins’ Dale Crover, Chad Channing joined and they released their first 7” single “Love Buzz” on the fledgling label Sub Pop in 1988. Combining elements of Punk, Metal, and Pop, Nirvana channeled teen angst into Rock’s last sweeping mainstream movement. In 1989 the band recorded their first full-length record “Bleach”, which was a hit on college radio. As their tour to support their LP progressed, Cobain and Novoselic became frustrated with Channing’s drumming, and Channing left the group. Buzz Osborne of The Melvins introduced the band to Dave Grohl, providing the missing piece of the puzzle.
Nirvana went on to record what is known as the pinnacle of the Grunge movement, Nevermind. With tracks like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Come As You Are”, and “In Bloom”, Nirvana skyrocketed into mainstream success, crowning them the kings of Grunge. While the band’s career was cut short by Cobain’s untimely death in 1994, Nirvana have remained prominent music legends due to their innovative sound and their influence on countless bands who came after them. Beginner and intermediate guitar players will learn power chords and melodic lead guitar in this show, while any drum student will be challenged by David Grohl’s powerful, technical drumming. The Nirvana show is a solid show for all levels of playing and is packed with crowd-pleasing '90s anthems.
Fridays
Rock 101 (4:30 - 6:00 PM)
This is our third day/time option for Rock 101 (ages 7-11).
saturdays
rock 101 (10:15 AM - 11:45 AM)
This is our fourth day/time option for Rock 101 (ages 7-11).
goth (12:00 - 3:00 PM) | Main performance program
Goth music emerged in the late 70s and early 80s as a darker evolution of British post-punk. Artists like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, and Joy Division helped define the genre with songs that leaned into isolation, identity, and emotion rather than straightforward rock themes. Over time, the style expanded in different directions. Artists like Marilyn Manson, Type O Negative, and The Cult leaned heavier, Depeche Mode, New Order, and Gary Numan added electronic elements, and Deftones and Cocteau Twins developed a more hazy, atmospheric sound.
This show gives students in the Main Performance Program the chance to explore contrast and dynamics on every instrument. Many parts emphasize feel, timing, and mood building. The Goth show is geared toward students who want to stretch their musicianship and play more expressively and intentionally.
tbd
super seniors (time tbd)
It’s our graduating seniors' final show! Seniors from each School of Rock Cleveland location will choose the set for the ultimate send-off and the perfect #sorcle farewell celebration! The season will be condensed and the performance will take place before seniors are off to college. A day and time for rehearsal will be determined once sign ups are completed.
Want to sign up?
Sign-ups will open to everyone on Wednesday, May 6th at 6 PM via email.
If you are not currently enrolled at School of Rock Cleveland West but would like to sign up, please reach out to us to set up your enrollment and to make sure you're on our email list.
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!