Going back to school is fun with School of Rock! Our Fall show season for ages 7-18 will begin in October, with end-of-season performances taking place in mid-to-late January of 2027. Check out the full show desciptions and rehearsal schedule below and get prepared to sign up!
mondays
Rock 101 (5:00 - 6:30 PM) | beginner program
Rock 101 is our performance program for beginners ages 7-11, 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.
Opening act (6:30 - 8:00 PM) | beginner program
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.
rock rookies (6:45 - 7:45 PM) | beginner program
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 Rookies.
tuesdays
British Invasion (4:30-6:30 PM) | main performance program
The mid-1960s cultural phenomenon known as “The British Invasion” refers to the sudden and widespread popularity of British rock and roll among the American youth of the time. The catalog of music created by these artists - including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks among others - propelled Rock & Roll music to the mainstream of cultural relevance where it remains to this day. The British Invasion bands took inspiration from Blues, Folk, and early Rock & Roll and combined these influences in an exciting way that can teach both our students and audiences the foundation of modern pop and rock music. British Invasion is a prime show choice for all instruments and experience levels to learn the foundations of rock music, and especially perfect for emerging players who are looking to take the next step in widening their musical repertoire. This will be the School of Rock Featured Show for the Fall 2026 season, presenting unique opportunities for our students!
KISS (6:45 - 8:45 PM) | main performance program
KISS rose to prominence in the 1970s with a string of hard rock hits and live shows that generated a thrilling visual experience, becoming one of the biggest-selling bands in rock history. While the blood spitting, fire breathing, and extreme marketing sometimes overshadowed the music, behind the face paint KISS were four talented musicians with a gift for writing great, catchy rock and roll songs. Many rock bands of today cite KISS as a main influence and inspiration to pursue the life of a touring musician. Beyond the visual spectacle, KISS is a band with a surprisingly diverse catalog with some amazing musicianship. This is a show the whole family will have fun singing along to, featuring hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “Beth”, and “Shout It Out Loud”. The KISS show has challenges for every skill level, turning beginners into intermediates and transforming intermediate players into advanced rockers!
wednesdays
Funk & Reggae (5:00 - 7:30 PM) | main performance program
The Funk and Reggae show celebrates the mainstream explosion of two rhythmic genres that grew out of R&B in the 1960s and 1970s. Funk artists such as James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone inspired a musical movement that came to define the 1970s and influence much of what came after. Meanwhile, Reggae artists such as Alton Ellis, The Techniques, and Jimmy Cliff were busy carving out the beginnings of the new genre. Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament / Funkadelic, and The Commodores are just a few of the many great artists who found ‘70s success in the Funk genre, with The Maytals, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and the Wailers dominating the Reggae spaces of the ‘70s as well. The legacy of Funk and Reggae is still heard today in modern popular music by the likes of No Doubt, Bruno Mars, Vulfpeck, Hiatus Kaiyote. Funk and Reggae is an educational - and incredibly FUN - show choice where students intermediate or advanced can work on their improvisation and groove.
Drum Core (5:30 - 6:30 PM) | beginner program
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!
thursdays
Rock 101 (5:00 - 6:30 PM) | beginner program
This is our second day/time option for Rock 101.
Legendary Songwriters (5:00 - 7:30 PM) | main performance program
Creating original songs can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences for any musician. The Legendary Songwriters show will explore the works of history’s most revolutionary songwriters from a diverse set of time periods and genres. Students will study the fundamentals of songwriting and arranging from these artists, and use what they learn to compose their own original works as well. Students will learn songs by legendary songwriters such as Elton John, Dolly Parton, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Marvin Gaye, Sheryl Crow, Kurt Cobain, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Carole King, Smokey Robinson, and Billy Joel to serve as templates for songwriting exercises and theory workshops. As the band builds on their original song idea, we will begin arranging their songs, helping each other realize their collective vision. The season culminates in a live performance of both the songs they studied as well as the original songs they went on to write themselves. The Legendary Songwriters show will provide endless educational opportunities for every experience level.
saturdays
Rock rookies (10:30 - 11:30 aM) | beginner program
This is our second day/time option for Rookies.
Rock 101 (10:30 AM - 12:00 PM) | beginner program
This is our third day/time option for Rock 101.
Bass gods (12:15 - 2:15 PM) | MAIN PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
The Bass Gods show is a celebration of some of the most influential bassists who have defined Rock history. These bass deities go by many names: Jaco Pastorius, James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, and Tina Weymouth. Other bass heroes celebrated in this show are trailblazers such as Primus’ Les Claypool, Metallica’s Cliff Burton, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Rush’s Geddy Lee and Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon. The bassists featured in this show help students understand the evolution of Rock and Roll, and how history’s legendary bassists helped pave the way for modern music as we know it today. While this show may focus on unparalleled bass playing, all of these stars shared the stage with bandmates who were incredible musicians in their own rights. The Bass Gods show is a great option for any intermediate or advanced level students!
Vocal GROUPS (2:30-4:30 PM) | MAIN PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
This show theme traces the history of the “vocal group” in rock and roll, focusing primarily on the '50s and '60s R&B that grew out of the Doo-Wop tradition. Artists like The Impressions, The Supremes, The Crystals, The Temptations, and Martha & The Vandellas set the standard for this popular style, though there were dozens of very successful acts. These groups were often branded as anonymous performers until the talents of stars like Curtis Mayfield, Diana Ross, and Smokey Robinson began to outshine their bandmates. Differentiated from bands who employed lots of vocal harmonies (such as The Beatles and Beach Boys), the vocal groups in this theme primarily employed studio musicians as backing instrumentalists, while the band members were known for singing. The vocal group tradition continues to influence rock and roll, and this theme has various artists from the late 1960s (Mamas and the Papas), 70s (Jackson 5) and even '90s (TLC, En Vogue) who were heavily influenced by the original pioneers. While vocalists will practice using more advanced techniques and harmonies, the Vocal Groups show is also a great option for instrumentalists of all ability levels.
Want to sign up?
Sign up for a fall show here: FALL SHOW SEASON 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 Highland Heights but would like to sign up, please reach out to us to schedule your individual lessons and set up your enrollment.
Early sign-ups receive advanced priority, but final placement is dependent on 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 highlandheights@schoolofrock.com or 440-684-7625.
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!