Our Spring Show Season is right around the corner! The season will start at the beginning of February, with end-of-season performances taking place in mid-to-late May. Check out the full show desciptions below (rehearsal schedule coming soon).
rock rookies
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.
Drum Core
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!
Rock 101
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!
Opening act
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.
main performance show themes
Best of the 80s
On August 1, 1981, music fans were launched into a wild new music era by the debut of a cultural phenomenon: MTV. This new music format, the music video, gave old and new artists alike the chance to reach unimaginable numbers of diverse audiences and sell millions of records and cassette tapes. Making a huge impact on the '80s were super-star Pop acts like Duran Duran, Devo, and Rick Astley. Synth-driven music became massively popular, with groups like Tears for Fears, Eurythmics, and The Cure becoming stars. Although Pop acts reigned supreme in the '80s, Rock bands like Journey, Toto, Van Halen, and Pat Benatar reaped the benefits of the ‘decade of excess’. The Best of the '80s show will feature a diverse mix of styles and artists, and is a challenging and fun experience for students in our Main Performance Program of any instrument or experience level.
Gone Solo
Gone Solo explores the iconic solo careers that sprang from some of the most influential bands in rock history, when their legends decided to step out on their own. Students will perform songs from a wide-range of eras, genres, and artists, studying legends such as Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel), Beyonce (Destiny’s Child), Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac), Slash (Guns N' Roses), Gwen Stefani (No Doubt), Sting (The Police), and Peter Gabriel (Genesis). The Gone Solo show will also explore the unique voices of all four Beatles in their solo eras, and as well as the unmatched artistry of Michael Jackson, whose transformation from Jackson 5 frontman to King of Pop set the standard for solo greatness. This show is ideal for students in our Main Performance Program of all instruments and levels who are ready to take on a diverse set of music.
2006
The 2006 show spotlights a pivotal moment, now two decades ago, when modern rock and pop dominated the charts and artists released career-defining albums. My Chemical Romance dropped The Black Parade, Red Hot Chili Peppers earned four Grammys with Stadium Arcadium, P!nk and Christina Aguilera ruled the airwaves, and Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black reshaped modern soul. Muse pushed alternative rock with Black Holes and Revelations, Arctic Monkeys made their explosive debut, The Killers expanded their sound, Beyoncé released B’Day, and a young Taylor Swift introduced herself to the world with her debut album.
strat legends
There have been hundreds, if not thousands of iconic guitars: Gibson Les Paul, Telecaster, Flying V, the list goes on. But popping up as a constant favorite among guitar-gods is the Fender Stratocaster. The Strat was first manufactured in 1952, after a team of Fender employees, including Leo Fender, came together to create the “perfect guitar.” Utilizing a triple pick up, vibrato bridge, and comfortable curved body, the Strat became a household name. Now we cannot confirm nor deny that the Strat is the best guitar, but we can recognize all the tone traits that make it great while paying homage to all the best Strat players that made it legendary.
In this show, expect to learn guitar history and techniques including Eddie Van Halen’s guitar tapping, David Gilmour's signature string bending, and Jeff Beck’s iconic finger-playing. Swing heavily into rock and blues with legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and George “Buddy” Guy - all players of the Strat. Take pride in learning the trades of rock geniuses!
Bowie and Friends
David Bowie was an icon on all levels. In 1969, David Bowie released “Space Oddity,” assembling the group that would soon help launch his rise to stardom. The band joined him in recording The Man Who Sold the World (1970) and ultimately became his official backing group. In 1972, Bowie used the stage to develop and debut his new persona, Ziggy Stardust, and later released his fifth album: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Bowie reinvented himself with every subsequent album - Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans and Station To Station, and eventually saw success collaborating with other bands/artists, such as Queen (“Under Pressure") and Mick Jagger ("Dancing in the Street"). Bowie even ventured into ’90s electronic music, showing just how far his talent could reach.
David Bowie influenced generations of rockers with his theatrical style and constant reinvention, and he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Bowie and Friends celebrates his full body of work, including his many collaborations. It’s a great show for intermediate students who want to level up their skills while studying one of the most iconic stars in music history.
Prog
The Prog Show is one of the most challenging School of Rock shows. The term “Prog Rock” can often be interchangeable or associated with “Art Rock”, “Symphonic Rock”, “Progressive Rock”, or “Classical Rock”. In the mid 60s, artists began to use the term “progressive” to describe how their music progressed beyond the standard Pop music formulas that the music industry called for at the time. By abandoning typical Pop traditions and incorporating new instrumentation and compositional techniques, the “Prog” genre, albeit broad, became more defined by the late 60s. Artists began producing longer albums that featured extended solos and higher instrumental skill.
King Crimson’s 1969 album In The Court of The Crimson King arguably defined the genre, as it tied many of the elements associated with the growing definition of “Prog” into a cohesive vision. The Prog genre truly established itself by the mid 70s with Prog-pioneers such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis, and Jethro Tull. Groups like Pink Floyd and Yes contributed to this growing movement with albums such as Dark Side of the Moon and Close to the Edge. Many variations of progressive styles of music have emerged since the end of the classic era, as groups like Queensryche, Dream Theater, and Kings’ X later influenced the heavy prog scene popularized by bands such as Opeth, TOOL, The Mars Volta and Coheed and Cambria. The Prog Show is geared towards more experienced students, taking their abilities to even higher standards.
Want to sign up?
Sign-ups will open to everyone on Wednesday, January 7th at 6 PM via email.
If you are not currently enrolled at School of Rock Highland Heights 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 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!