Montclair
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Montclair

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School of Rock Montclair
125 Valley Road
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 337-5296

Location Specifics

We are located between Walnut St. and Williams St., across the street from the Girl Scouts building.

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Hours
  • Monday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Saturday: 10:30 AM - 6 PM
  • Sunday: 12 PM - 6 PM

Music programs at School of Rock Montclair combine one-on-one lessons with group band practices

School of Rock in Montclair is proud to serve our community with music lessons taught by real, practicing musicians. We teach everything from singing to piano, bass guitar, drums, and even ukulele. Montclair is home to favored styles such as alternative rock, grunge, classic rock, punk, R&B, hip hop, indie rock, and folk. Overall, the music scene is pretty diverse, making it a great place for budding artists. With lessons from our expert instructors, our students may even rise to the opportunity of one day performing at The Wellmont Theater.

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in Montclair for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 8-13

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Montclair's top programs for kids and beginners. Students have one weekly group rehearsal where they learn to play classic rock songs that have been simplified for beginner musicians. Additionally, Rock 101 students in Montclair have a weekly private music lesson with an instructor who helps them learn the concepts and skills behind their performance songs.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

Our music programs for kids in Montclair are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Montclair who have participated in the Rookies program can move to our Rock 101 music program once they’re ready. Additionally, students (typically ages 8 to 13-years-old) can begin Rock 101 without any prior experience. The goal of this rock program is to quickly develop a basic competence on students’ chosen instruments before moving on to our famous Performance Program.

Performance music program for teens in Montclair
Performance
Ages 8-18

The Performance Program at School of Rock Montclair is our hallmark music program, where tens of thousands of students enroll each year. It consists of a weekly group rehearsal where kids and teens learn by playing rock music's most iconic songs with a band composed of their peers. Students are assigned songs and parts that are tailored to them based on their age, experience and ability to learn new skills and concepts. Students then work through their parts in weekly private music lessons, refining the skills and concepts that those songs introduce. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare kids and teens for live performances. Every few months, School of Rock Montclair Performance Program students take the stage and play at local Montclair music venues in front of a live audience.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

School of Rock Montclair's music programs for kids and teens are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing. All of our other music education programs focus on readying students for our famous Performance Program. This is where students develop incredible musical skills. Performance Program students have often gone through our Rock 101 program first or have some previous basic music experience. These young musicians will have custom development plans outlined by their instructors with key concepts reinforced during private lessons and group rehearsals, all with the goal of performing live at a Montclair music venue.

Rookies music program for children in Montclair
Rookies
Ages 6-7

At School of Rock Montclair, our music program for children with no previous musical experience (typically ages 6 to 7-years-old) is called Rookies. Rookies students have one weekly group music lesson where they learn fundamentals like chords, rhythm and song structure. Kids get to learn and experiment with multiple instruments so they can later decide which one they ultimately want to continue pursuing in Rock 101.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
  • USE OF SIMPLIFIED ROCK INSTRUMENTS TO TEACH KIDS TO PLAY MUSIC

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire students to learn and develop a strong musical proficiency. At School of Rock Montclair, younger students who are not ready for a more comprehensive program like Rock 101 can start in Rookies. Additionally, students who have completed the Little Wing program will progress into the Rookies music program. No prior musical experience is needed for Rookies. Once your child is ready for private music lessons (typically older than first or second graders), they will graduate into our Rock 101 program.

Songwriting
Age 12 and over

Our Songwriting program for kids and teens teaches the fundamentals of songwriting, arrangement and music theory, and helps students compose original works.  At School of Rock Montclair, songwriting students receive one weekly private lesson where they learn concepts, technique and theory on an instrument of their choice. These principles are then applied in a weekly group lesson where students work together on songwriting exercises and lyrical workshops.  Every few months, Songwriting students take the stage to perform or band together to record their original songs.

What to Expect
  • 1 weekly private lesson
  • 1 weekly group lesson

The Path to Take the Stage

Our Songwriting program for kids and teens in Montclair is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Montclair who have completed our Rock 101 program can move to our Songwriting program once they’re ready. Additionally, new students who have prior experience with and basic knowledge of an instrument can also begin Songwriting. The program culminates with a live showcase where students perform their original compositions in bands at a local music venue. Students taking the Songwriting Program online will remotely record their original songs to produce a demo of the class's music.

Remote student playing guitar
Online
All Ages

At School of Rock Montclair, our students can take online, one-on-one music instruction from the comfort of their homes. We call this program School of Rock Remote. This online music program contains weekly one-on-one instruction conducted by our expert School of Rock instructors in a safe virtual lesson room.
 
Students will receive their training using our proprietary education program, The School of Rock Method™, which couples live video lessons with our proprietary Method App™, SongFirst Approach™ and Method Books™. 

What To Expect
  • ONE WEEKLY 1-ON-1 LESSON
  • LESSONS CONDUCTED USING SECURE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

THE PATH TO TAKE THE STAGE

All of our music programs for kids, teens, and adults are designed to help students gain amazing musical proficiency. School of Rock’s online music lesson program is no exception. Online guitar lessons, online piano lessons, online drum lessons, online singing lessons and online bass guitar lessons are all offered through the School of Rock Remote online program.

Adult music program in Montclair for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Montclair's Adult Program is for students over 18 years old who are looking to either improve their musical proficiency or pick up an instrument with no prior musical experience. As with most School of Rock music programs, the Adult Program uses a performance-based music education approach. This means the curriculum focuses on learning music concepts and applying them in a live performance setting. Our Adult Music Program includes one weekly private music lesson and a weekly group rehearsal. Every student at School of Rock Montclair is placed in a band of fellow adults and then assigned specific songs as a way of learning key music concepts and skills. Adult students then take the stage to play at a live show in Montclair.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency along the way. The School of Rock Montclair Adult Program is open to all experience levels and each student will follow a customized learning plan developed by their instructor. Adult students will work together during rehearsal to prepare for a live performance at a real rock venue in Montclair.

House Band program for gigging at local venues in Montclair
House Band
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock Montclair House Band music program gives students under 18 the opportunity to join a gigging band composed of fellow musicians from their school. These students perform additional live shows throughout the year. All students in the Performance Program have the opportunity to audition for a spot in School of Rock Montclair's House Band. Once selected, House Band members become leaders in their School of Rock community and perform live shows at NJ rock venues throughout the year.

What To Expect
  • A GIGGING MUSICIAN'S EXPERIENCE
  • FREQUENT LIVE PERFORMANCES IN COMMUNITY

The Path to Take the Stage

Performance is the core of School of Rock's educational approach. Therefore, we create additional opportunities for students to perform on stages throughout Montclair and the rest of NJ. The House Band music program allows each school's most talented students the opportunity to join a band and play routinely in front of live audiences. Once a member, students will gain real music experience associated with gigging musicians and will become leaders and mentors inside the School of Rock community.

The AllStars national tour features the best child and teen musicians
AllStars
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock AllStars Tour takes the very best students from around the world and sends them on a nationwide summer tour across the United States. Less than 1% of School of Rock students are selected each year to represent School of Rock as an AllStar. All Performance Program students are eligible to audition for this prestigious program. The intensive audition process starts off with video submissions followed by live auditions. Once selected, AllStar students will have an authentic touring experience including traveling on a tour bus, doing tour publicity and starring in nightly performances at famous venues and festivals during a two-week tour.

What To Expect
  • A MULTI-CITY, COUNTRY-WIDE MUSIC TOUR EXPERIENCE
  • PERFORMING ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST FAMOUS STAGES IN THE WORLD

The Path to Take the Stage

Becoming an AllStar is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student. They play on legendary stages large and small, including The Knitting Factory, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Troubadour and Lollapalooza. AllStar students often go on to have accomplished careers in the music industry. Former AllStars have gone on to become touring artists, star in Broadway musicals, get signed to record deals, become finalists on talent competitions like "The Voice" and "American Idol" and have other notable roles in the music industry.

Music Lessons in Montclair

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Montclair

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock Montclair, we offer beginner guitar lessons for kids. Our expert guitar instructors guide your child from start to finish with private instruction and weekly group band rehearsals. Every instructor at School of Rock Montclair is an experienced musician, and they emphasize foundational music theory and technique when teaching guitar lessons to kids. Unlike other Montclair guitar lessons and programs, School of Rock is designed to get students performing in a band.

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Adults

It’s never too late to learn to play the guitar. Similar to our kids guitar lessons, School of Rock Montclair's beginner guitar lessons for adults utilizes a performance-based curriculum. Our experienced instructors teach adult students through popular rock songs, and teach students to play guitar in a way that’s challenging and fun. We believe the best way to learn is by doing, which is why we combine weekly private guitar lessons with group band rehearsals. At School of Rock Montclair, we teach beginner guitar lessons for adults in our Adult Program. This program gets students performing onstage at a local Montclair venue.

Key Concepts
  • Technique
  • Solos
  • Chords
  • Theory

Intermediate to Advanced Guitar Lessons

As students gain skills and experience, we move them along to more challenging programs at higher skill levels. Intermediate and advanced students take the skills they learned in beginner guitar lessons, and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. School of Rock Montclair offers advanced guitar lessons for kids and adults that teach by playing challenging classic rock songs and emphasize playing the guitar in a real music venue. Our Montclair guitar teachers will work with each student to develop a custom learning plan.

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Montclair

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Montclair is the best option for anyone looking to learn the drums. Our beginner drum lessons get kids behind the drum kit and on their way to taking the stage. That’s why at School of Rock Montclair we combine private drum lessons for beginners with weekly band rehearsals—it prepares students to perform live. With years of experience teaching drums in Montclair, our drum instructors teach beginner drum students core techniques, including how to groove, play rudiments and more.

Beginner Drum Lessons for Adults

Our drum lessons for adults are designed to accommodate all skill levels. At School of Rock Montclair, our beginner drum lessons for adults are built for musicians with little to no experience. We teach adults using the same core performance-based education philosophy as our drum lessons for kids—performing with a band accelerates the learning process. Adult students will perform live at a venue in Montclair. Unlike other Montclair drum lessons for beginners, School of Rock combines private drum lessons with weekly band rehearsals so students are ready to play in front of real, live audiences.

Key Concepts
  • RUDIMENTS
  • TIME SIGNATURES
  • TECHNIQUE
  • GROOVE

Intermediate to Advanced Drum Lessons

More experienced to advanced drum students need a drum lesson curriculum that builds upon foundational skills and continues to grow musical proficiency. That’s why at School of Rock Montclair, our drum lessons are customized for each student and his or her goals. Our Montclair drum instructors integrate more complex techniques and concepts—intermediary grooves, shifts, meters and more—into a student's individual lessons and group band rehearsal, and will also select more difficult songs for his or her live performances.

 

Kid learns to sing at School of Rock Montclair

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Montclair offers beginner singing lessons for kids. Our unique, performance-based approach develops students' musical proficiency by preparing them to perform live. At School of Rock Montclair, our vocal coaches are practicing musicians who integrate key music fundamentals—breathing, posture and more—into a curriculum based on performing with a band. Each week, beginner singing students participate in a private singing lesson and a band rehearsal.

Beginner Singing Lessons for Adults

School of Rock Montclair teaches adults how to sing in our innovative Adult Program. Students develop vocal skills at a challenging pace designed to help you see results with every singing lesson. Adult vocalists learn how to keep tempo, stay on-key and master advanced vocal techniques for a powerful and healthy voice. Our curriculum teaches students how to sing by using popular rock songs that emphasize key concepts. Each week, Adult Program students have a private singing lesson for beginners and group band rehearsal.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • HARMONY
  • POWER
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Singing Lessons

At School of Rock Montclair, our singing lessons for kids and adults are designed to help our students reach a high degree of musical proficiency. Intermediate and advanced singers take skills learned from previous singing lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. Our advanced singing lessons teach students to sing by performing popular rock songs that illustrate a specific vocal concept or technique. We pair weekly private singing lessons with weekly band rehearsals with the goal of getting musicians to perform live in Montclair.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Montclair

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Montclair offers beginner bass guitar lessons for kids that blend weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. This performance-based approach results in a high level of musical proficiency because it engages and inspires students. Every School of Rock bass instructor is a practicing musician in Montclair and teaches bass lessons for kids that get great results. Beginners learn to play bass guitar by using popular rock songs that illustrate key concepts and techniques.

Beginner Bass Lessons for Adults

Adults looking to learn bass guitar can enroll in School of Rock’s Adult Program. No experience is necessary in our beginner bass guitar lessons for adults. At School of Rock Montclair, our experienced, local bass guitar instructors have the patience and skills to help adult students gain musical proficiency. As with all School of Rock music programs, our bass guitar lessons for adults ciriculum is performance-based, and include both weekly private instruction and weekly band rehearsals.

Key Concepts
  • GROOVE
  • TECHNIQUE
  • THEORY
  • TONE

Intermediate to Advanced Bass Lessons

Our intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons teach Montclair students the skills they need to become the backbone of a band. Students take skills from previous bass lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. At School of Rock Montclair, our bass instructors use popular rock songs as a way of teaching students advanced concepts and techniques. We pair weekly private bass lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Kid learns to play piano at School of Rock Montclair

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in Montclair. Our curriculum is performance-based, meaning that we prepare students to perform. Our piano lessons for beginners combine weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock Montclair, our beginner keyboard lessons for kids take key concepts and music fundamentals—finger placement, scales, key differentiation and more—and teach them through popular rock songs. This approach inspires and engages students, which results in attaining a high level of musical proficiency. Our piano teachers have years of experience teaching music in the Montclair area, and know how to coach and motivate students of any skill level to play the keyboard.

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Adults

The School of Rock Montclair Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the Montclair area learn to play piano through a combination of weekly private beginner piano lessons and weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock, our piano lessons give adult students the chance to perform in a band at local Montclair music venues, taking them out of the classroom and onto the stage.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • TONE
  • THEORY
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Keyboard Lessons

At School of Rock Montclair, our keyboard lessons for kids and adults are designed to help students get results. Intermediate and advanced students take skills learned from beginner keyboard lessons and layer on more advanced piano techniques with concepts. Our local keyboard instructors are all practicing musicians in Montclair, and use popular rock songs as a way of teaching complex skills. We pair weekly private piano lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Our Experienced Music Teachers

All of School of Rock Montclair’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.

Chris Barnett
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Christopher Barnett is a bassist, composer, producer, music educator and publisher with ASCAP. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music (Jazz Studies) from Montclair State University. Chris has been playing bass professionally for over 25 years throughout the US and abroad. He has also taught music, as well as marching band in Paterson, NJ public schools. He continues to perform live music while also teaching bass, guitar and ukulele, and directing the House Band at School of Rock Montclair.
Rookies Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher Robert Benaquista
Robert Benaquista
Rookies Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Drum Teacher
Born and raised in North Jersey, Robert Benaquista found his musical spark from a very young age when he first began playing piano. Having discovered multiple musical talents and innate abilities from a young age—including absolute pitch and Synesthesia—he became self-taught on guitar, piano, and bass before formally taking lessons as a teenager. He studied Music at William Paterson University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Music with a concentration in Music Management before pursuing his endeavors as a music instructor.

Robert has taught individual and group lessons for over 15 years on guitar, piano, bass, voice, and drums, allowing students of all ages to develop their skills, build upon their talents, and achieve their short-term and long-term goals along their musical journey. At School of Rock Montclair, he has taught Rookies classes, helped lead bands in music camps, and assisted in the Performance Program along with instructing students of all ages on multiple instruments.

Robert writes, records, and performs all instruments on his own material under his instrumental progressive metal band, Nexus Insidias, and his horror-themed neoclassical/avant-garde project, Cucurbitophobia. Both projects have attracted fans from many parts of the world and have been featured on the internet, college radio stations, and notable press sources.
Joe Billy III
Drum Teacher
Joe has had a passion for music since he could remember, listening to his mother's classic rock n' roll and his father's smooth jazz, but his introduction to playing music wasn't sparked until the later age of 15. After getting bored of the video game "Rock Band 2," he decided to pursue drum lessons at our own School of Rock Montclair, where he found his love for the stage. After a few years with us, he went to school for Audio Engineering, and soon after contacted Matt Sandoski for some live sound experience. After a few gigs, Matt decided to bring him to the school where he now teaches drums, Rock 101 and Performance. You can also find him back-lining and doing sound for our live performances. Joe loves to write, record and perform music. He continues to play around the local music scene of NJ, drumming, engineering and joining mosh pits anywhere he can.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher  Matthew Billy
Matthew Billy
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Matthew Billy is multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter from Clifton, New Jersey. It all started when he won a Six Flags guitar on an 8th grade field trip. The first thing he did was ask his parents if he could enroll in the new School of Rock that opened in Montclair in 2010. He learned invaluable lessons while attending the school for four years, until he moved on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Music Production from Ramapo College of New Jersey. He has played in local bands, recorded and produced a few albums, and always strives to be himself when he writes and performs. If there's one thing Matt loves more than playing/recording music, it's sharing the knowledge he has learned. He is excited to be a teacher of the same school he once learned in; passing off what he knows to the next generation of rockers.
Stu Damm
Drum Teacher
From Scarsdale, NY, Stu Damm started playing piano at age six, but after hearing rock and roll for the first time, he knew that was the music he wanted to play. From there on it was drums all the way. He started taking lessons, played in school bands and quickly found friends to play with. While in high school, Stu started playing local Westchester County and New York City gigs with local bands and friends while studying with the legendary Kenwood Dennard. Stu attended the University of Colorado as a Music Performance major where he co-formed a new band. The band, Steak, would go on to be a Boulder, CO favorite. They toured the country, put out several independent albums and they also had their song "Big Bear" on the soundtracks of the movies "Super Troopers" and "Super Troopers 2."

After moving back to New York with Steak, Stu started playing the NYC blues and R&B circuit with Michael Powers, The Slam Allen Band and many others. He also became the foremost percussionist in New York's most exclusive nightclubs, playing with John Popper, Tommy Lee and New York's best DJs. Stu then joined Threads of Scarlet, a Barbados-based band. They released an album and several videos, opened for Sum 41, Puddle of Mudd and Fuel, and were featured at South by Southwest. He moved to Hoboken, NJ and released an EP of his own works titled "DAMM." Playing again with Steak, Stu loves passing his music knowledge and experience to his students and is ready for the next chapter in a long musical journey.
Mark Dollar
guitar and bass guitar teacher
Mark's engineering and production knowledge is highly favored amongst record producers and labels, as being one of the first local engineers to fully learn and master the powerful industry changing software - Pro Tools.

Because of Mark's engineering expertise that included a hybrid of old school engineering techniques along with newly discovered techniques in the digital engineering realm, Mark managed to work with a host of current A list clients such as Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, Florence + The Machine, Beyonce, Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston and many others.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher Nick Hall
Nick Hall
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Drum Teacher
Nick is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist. He began learning to play guitar at the age of ten and began performing frequently at the New York City School of Rock and in other bands only a few years later. He attended songwriting and guitar programs at both Interlochen Center for the Arts, and Berklee College of Music before finishing high school. With over 10 years of performing experience, he has had opportunities to perform at venues across New Jersey and New York City.

In that time, Nick has dabbled in different instruments and facets of musicality. He has a strong knowledge of musical theory concepts, production and recording, songwriting, musical arrangement, and is proficient in many different instruments including guitar, bass, vocals, drums, and piano.

Having written and performed in bands all across the northeast, Nick has the tools to teach your child how to become the best musician they can be.
Brielle Liebman
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Brielle Liebman is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Wayne, New Jersey. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Popular Music from William Paterson University, where she studied songwriting and performance, as well as music theory, history and business. Over at the university, she was the chair of the Songwriting Guild and ran showcases and ensembles for her degree program. Her love for music began as a child, listening to The Beatles on vinyl with her father and sister as a weekend activity. She began singing and writing back then as well, writing lyrics and melodies that she and her sister would sing to entertain her family (though she will admit, her songs have since gotten more mature). Since then, she has written in many genres from hard rock to folk to jazz. She has played in her own band, as well as solo. Her most recent studio release, “Silver Lines,” gave her experience recording, arranging and producing as the project took many years to complete. She has played from New Jersey’s Stone Pony to New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall, as well as held residencies at restaurants.
Kevin March
General Manager, Drum Teacher
Kevin is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. He is currently the drummer for the critically acclaimed Guided By Voices. His vast professional experience includes being a member of The Dambuilders (Atlantic/Elektra Records), Shudder To Think (Epic Records) and Those Bastard Souls (V2 Records). He's performed on recording sessions for Jeff Buckley, The Breeders, James Iha (original member of Smashing Pumpkins) and A Camp (featuring Nina Persson of The Cardigans). He has also been featured on songs and scores for such films as "School of Rock," "Velvet Goldmine," "Boys Don't Cry," "The Woodsman" and "Tigerland." He also co-produced the 2013 album "Warned You" by NYC-based rock quartet The NowhereNauts along with Grammy-winning recording engineer Carl Glanville (U2, Jason Mraz, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson).
Tom Nadolski
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Tom's love of music began as a diaper-clad toddler in Jersey City, listening to his dad play The Beatles on accordion. After years of attempting to wrangle the accordion he was fortunate to find an old acoustic guitar in the basement. Since then he has never put it down. Self-taught for the first five years (with the assistance of a single Mel Bay book) Tom enhanced his education at New Jersey City University where he studied classical guitar, jazz guitar, music theory, sight-reading, ear-training and music technology. From 1991 to the present he has been involved in numerous rock bands and has performed in clubs all over the New York/New Jersey area, including CBGB's and The Bitter End. No job is too big or too small for Tom, and he has played guitar in every conceivable situation, ranging from dressing up as a cow for Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream in NYC to playing at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina for 30,000 people. His love of music led him to the audio field, working as a live sound engineer and a recording engineer. He worked at the infamous Chung King Studios in NYC where he recorded countless artists, including Blondie, Talib Kwali and Mos Def. A full-circle moment occurred at Chung King where Tom had the pleasure of teaching Jack Black how to play "Stairway To Heaven" on guitar during a session for a commercial spot for the "School Of Rock" movie. Despite Tom's love for performing, few things can compare to sharing the gift of music and his 20 years of knowledge with anyone who is willing to learn. He thrives on the satisfaction of unlocking the joy of music for students, and specializes in turning mistakes, or 'happy accidents,' into teachable moments. Tom is thrilled to be part of School of Rock in Montclair, where he is part of a fantastic team that shares his love of musical gift-giving and strives to help each and every student find their own inherent and individual musical voice.
Lewis Robinson
Vocal Teacher
Lewis Robinson never fails to captivate audiences with his warm, outgoing personality, extraordinary vocal skills and his compelling performance style. A specialist in vocal and stage performance for over 30 + years, Lewis brings his experience from theater and being a singer-songwriter to coaching and directing his students at School of Rock Montclair. As an educator in the Montclair, NJ elementary school system, he brings his love and knowledge of music and dynamic performance energy to the students and faculty alike. An accomplished and studied drummer, Lewis Robinson has also thrilled audiences worldwide as a lead vocalist with his own band singing jazz favorites, R&B and original compositions. He has also received directorial awards from Italy and has performed and recorded numerous radio and television ads.
Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher Phil Silverberg
Phil Silverberg
Keyboard Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Phil is a Producer, Songwriter, Engineer, and a hired gun keyboard player/multi-instrumentalist. Piano is where started his musical journey over 25 years ago. Since then, he’s double-majored in Music Theory/Composition and Economics/Business at Lafayette College, where he also studied Flamenco Guitar and sang in the Chamber Singers. He’s had an opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall, has toured with both national and international acts, and has played for a sitting United States President.

While studying composition, Phil became familiar with the recording process and got his engineering chops while working for Live Nation at some of NYCs most well-known venues. With over 10 years of teaching experience, he’s helped countless musicians and artists find their voices. He found comfort in collaborating with artists in all genres, and has helped countless artists develop and release their music.

Phil’s a well-rounded musician, with real world experience. Whatever your skill level might be, he’ll help you sharpen your craft.
James Stivaly
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
James Stivaly is an experienced session guitarist, producer and music teacher driven by helping artists at all levels become self-actuating musicians. He takes pride in providing the best possible guitar lessons and audio engineering services. As a musician his goals include showing the musical community around him how to use free expression to move themselves closer to their musical and life goals, and also helping artists make their vision a reality. In addition to his primary job functions, James Stivaly has been recognized by countless music news outlets for his extraordinary commitment to writing, producing and teaching. His writing is internationally lauded for its originality, without it losing the traditional nuances of its genre. Alongside teaching and performing, James is a producer at his own small recording studio, and an owner of his own music production company. James’ recordings have climbed up various types of Top 40 charts. His songwriting landed him on the back of one of the world's biggest metal music magazines. James is a guitar and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock Montclair.
Maurice "Moe" Watson
Drum Teacher
Maurice Watson is a diverse and talented drummer hailing from Newark, NJ. With 20 years of performing and recording experience under his belt, music has been a commitment in his life from a very early age and it shows. Cutting his teeth with family members in the Newark gospel music scene, he developed a polished, yet rough and hard-hitting style which has found him completely prepared to tackle ANY musical endeavor he has come across. He attended Franklin Pierce College (now University) in New Hampshire and began drumming for Metalblade/Blackmarket recording artists Deadwater Drowning as well as a host of other metal and hardcore punk projects all around New England. He rubbed elbows and played shows with many bands he loved and respected, such as Suicide Silence. It was during this time that Maurice took proper instruction from Brooklyn, NY's multi-instrumentalist Nathan Davis to sharpen his skills in jazz and other percussion. Years after graduating Maurice found himself back home in NYC/NJ with a new set of skills and ready to start work on rock/pop band Aliens with his long time cousin, best friend, guitarist and collaborator Mark Dollar. Maurice also found himself in session work for artists in the greater New York City area, sharing stages with the likes of Trey Songz, hellogoodbye, Keri Hilson, Ludacris and many more.
Singing Teacher, Piano Teacher Micaela Aldridge
Micaela Aldridge
Vocal Teacher, Piano Teacher
Montclair native Micaela Aldridge (she/her) is a versatile performer with experience with opera, musical theatre, jazz, folk, and rock music. Born and raised in a musical family, Micaela started voice lessons at the age of nine and later appeared on NPR’s From the Top as a teenager. She then went on to receive a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music degree at the University of Michigan, where she was the recipient of the prestigious Jessye Norman Graduate Fellowship in Voice.

As a performer, Micaela has been seen with Rutgers Opera, Nashville Opera, dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Seagle Festival, and Central City Opera, among others. Additionally, she has received numerous awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council in New York City. Known for her passion and expertise in contemporary classical music, she has performed and collaborated on numerous world premieres. She also has an interest in performing music that addresses modern day social issues and increasing accessibility in the performing arts.

As a teacher, Micaela is highly knowledgeable in both vocal and keyboard pedagogy and is able to educate all ages in all musical genres, placing emphasis on healthy and efficient techniques along with building performance skills.
Chris Dunn Drum Teachers
Chris Dunn
Drum Teachers
Chris has lived and breathed music for as long as he can remember. Crediting Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters as his main inspiration for playing music, he started playing drums around the age of 7 years old and hasn't slowed down since then. He primarily plays Hard Rock, Punk, and various types of Metal in the local music scene, however he loves all musical styles. Chris has decided to take his drumming experience and applying to teaching the younger generation how to rock at the school where he teaches private lessons, Rookies, Rock 101. He is currently pursuing a music business degree and continues to play music in the Underground Metal scene.
Drum Teacher John Paul Andrade
John Paul Andrade
Drum Teacher
JP is a professional drummer and educator from the Union County area. A former member of the bands Allegaeon and Pyrithion, he now performs with 107 Production’s top cover band, Audio Riot as well as the original band Kallias. When he is not gigging or teaching, JP enjoys writing, spending time with his family, and browsing Reverb endlessly for drum gear he does not need!
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher Christmas Lamoureux
Christmas Lamoureux
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Christmas is a lifelong musician from Baltimore, MD. She is primarily a mezzo-soprano vocalist with a decade of classical training. When she was 16, Christmas moved to Costa Rica to work in tourism and ended up finding work touring the Alajuela province as a singer and ukulele player with her original music. After moving back to the United States, Christmas began piano lessons at a local college in order to accompany her voice and fell in love with the instrument. She decided to transfer to Montclair State University to pursue a bachelor's degree in music therapy. Christmas is passionate about music education and emphasizes the importance of music theory in her lessons so that students will be able to better recognize patterns in music and be independent musicians able to create their own original music. Christmas also has some experience playing the violin and the guitar.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Danae Barbee
Danae Barbee
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Danae Barbee, more known by her stage name, DANAII, is a performer with experience in jazz, classical, R&B, musical theatre, and rock music. Danae’s parents knew she was bound for a musical career when she was 3 years old and would belt songs in the backseat of the car. By age 7 she was already writing her own songs and performing on stage. She continued on to participate in All-State choirs in high school and even performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC.

Danae attended Catawba College pursuing a bachelor’s in Popular Music and then in 2018 transferred to Five Towns College in Long Island where she received her bachelor’s degree in Commercial Jazz Music with a concentration in Jazz Performance in 2021. In the past five years, Danae has performed at many notable places in the city such as SOB’s twice, DROM, The Meadows, and many other places in the boroughs and on Long Island.

She now resides in Jersey City, where she’s recording her own original music as well as gigging all over the five boroughs and beyond.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher Spencer Thron
Spencer Thron
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Spencer has been a bassist, songwriter, and music nerd ever since he was 9 years old, but his interest in music dates back to when he was 5 years old. He would watch movies with music composed by Bernard Herrmann, and would only need to hear the song one time before memorizing the tune and humming it while he barely paid attention to what was actually happening on screen. His love for music continued when he became a student at School of Rock Montclair at 9 years old, and he continuously practiced until he was able to not only be accepted into the Allstars program but also acquire a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.

Spencer loves and plays all types of genres, and strives to be better at his instrument every day, but also enjoys teaching those who are interested in music. Before teaching at School of Rock Montclair, he would teach private lessons to his friends and would show them the fundamentals of music, and this was when his interest in teaching music really sparked.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Jamison McKeehan
Jamison McKeehan
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Originally from the small town of Dyersville, Iowa, Jamison McKeehan (he/him) moved to St. Louis where he earned his BA degree with an emphasis in Vocal Performance from Webster University. While earning his degree, Jamison had the opportunity to perform in a number of operas at Union Avenue Opera as well as performances with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at Powell Hall. His senior thesis explored the existence of queer music throughout the ages and was presented in a recital/presentation format to the public to which he earned the "Outstanding Thesis Award."

After graduation, Jamison began teaching voice and keys at a School of Rock located in St. Louis. There he worked to build up the Rookies and Little Wing programs to help younger students find their music passion! Through the school, he led public demonstrations of these classes as well as directing Rookies performances and camps. Jamison also had the opportunity to participate in a "Staff Band" to demonstrate musicianship and performance etiquette for his students.

With his students, Jamison loves to explore new styles and genres while also encouraging personal expression and growth through music. His current plans are to attend grad school here on the East Coast to further his own musical education.
Drum Teacher, Rookies Director, Rock 101 Director Vanessa Burghardt
Vanessa Burghardt
Drum Teacher, Rookies Director, Rock 101 Director
Vanessa’s interest in playing music started at the age of 12 when she began taking piano lessons. Shortly after, she discovered the all-female rock band The Runaways and immediately took to the drum kit. As her passion for the instrument grew, she began taking lessons at School of Rock Montclair and eventually went on to become a member of the House Band.

Aside from drums, Vanessa has some experience with guitar and bass and loves furthering her musical knowledge every day. Vanessa is also an actor and recently worked on her first two feature films, the first of which is titled “Cha Cha Real Smooth” and the second which is soon to be released.
Drum Teacher Stephen Brown
Stephen Brown
Drum Teacher
Stephen Browne is a musician with over 15 years of experience playing the drums. His study of the instrument has taken him through a wide range of styles from rock and pop to jazz, classical, and more. In high school, Stephen developed an interest in music theory which led him to pursue music in college.

Stephen earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from Louisiana State University in 2022. Although his degree was in composition, Stephen was heavily involved with the percussion studio as well as the jazz studies program during his time at LSU.
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Reviews

We love the performances!

My son loves School of Rock. He loves the performances and meeting other people that share his intense love of music.

It couldn't be better!

All three of our boys attend and all play different instruments and are at different skill levels. The instructors are true musicians and very encouraging of the kids at any level.

She went from shy to enthusiastic!

All of the instructors/staff are very friendly and approachable. In a very short time the instructor has made our normally shy daughter very enthusiastic about learning her instrument, which is a big deal for us.

What a great place!

It feels so warm and encouraging while also professional and inspirational. I am so pleased that after just two lessons, my son is now excited about music. Their philosophy is so wonderful as well.

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