Here at School of Rock, it is our mission for students to gain musical proficiency through performance-based music education. Our primary programs pair group band rehearsals with one-on-one lessons to prepare students of all ages and skill levels to play live with a full band. This fall we are offering a great selection of programs that are guaranteed to prepare students with the skills and concepts necessary for live performance.
Rock 101 vs Performance Program
If you are a current student with us, we'll let you know when you're ready to graduate to our Performance Program. If you have questions as to when you can graduate, email us and we'll update you on our progress!
If you are a new student with us, Rock 101 is designed for beginner students 8-12 years old. We'll teach you how to be in a band while you get a handle on the fundamentals of your instrument.
How to Register
Send us an email, we'll guide you on which program to sign up for and the schedule!
Rock 101 Rehearsal Schedule
Check out this seasons pERformance programs:
Performance Program Rehearsal Schedule
British Invasion
Mondays 6:00-8:00pm
The mid-1960s cultural phenomenon known as “The British Invasion” refers to the sudden and ubiquitous 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. In addition, bands like The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, The Yardbirds also contributed to this movement. 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. Some notable song selections may include The Beatles’ “Twist And Shout”, The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”, and The Yardbirds’ “For Your Love”.
Classic Soul
Tuesdays 6:00-8:00pm
Soul music takes root from African-American gospel and R&B in the mid-'50s. Artists such as Etta James, Smokey Robinson, Nina Simone, Sam Cooke, and Ray Charles pioneered the genre by combining the musical concepts of Gospel with non-religious lyrics and themes. The '60s established the sound we are most familiar with when we think of Soul music. Two of the primary record labels during the '60s that mass-produced and promoted Soul music were Motown and Stax records, each which established its own signature sound. Motown Records out of Detroit combined elements from Pop music such as hooks and common chord patterns with a deep rhythmic feel to create a unique ‘Detroit’ Soul sound. Stax records out of Memphis managed to still highlight elements of Pop but focused more on R&B roots by releasing music with heavier use of organ and brass and featuring more artists with roots in Gospel music. Though the Stax sound could be more musically dense it still held up a lot of groove, often producing dance tracks that rivaled Motown’s. Other notable artists from different labels which impacted Soul include James Brown (King), Aretha Franklin (Atlantic), and the Isley Brothers (RCA Victor and later Motown). Soul music has developed and evolved throughout the later decades of the century, and has enjoyed a resurgence in the modern day. However, the one thing that remains constant is the deep sense of rhythm and groove-based, catchy songs that are derived from the African-American music of the '50s. Classic Soul is a great show choice for any student interested in fun yet challenging rhythm-based music with uplifting lyrical themes.
Pink Floyd
Wednesdays 4:30-6:30pm
Pink Floyd is one of the most celebrated and influential rock acts of all time. Formed in London in 1965, the band decided to name themselves after Delta bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. The band began with an experimental Pop sound, led by frontman Syd Barrett, but after Barrett’s departure became Prog Rock heavyweights known for their ambitious songwriting, atmospheric textures, killer guitar solos, and spell-binding stage show. Pink Floyd has sold more than 250 million albums worldwide, and their album Dark Side of the Moon spent a record 724 consecutive weeks - almost 14 years - on the Billboard Top 200 chart. This show will be a survey of their entire career – from the weird early days of Piper at the Gates of Dawn, to the massively successful trilogy of Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and Animals, to the gradual dissolution of the band in The Wall and later albums. The Pink Floyd show is an aspirational challenge for all instruments and experience levels.
Paramore
Thursdays 4:00-6:00pm
Arguably the most successful Rock band to emerge this millennium, Paramore was formed in the Nashville area in the early 2000s, and got their start on renowned Pop Punk label Fueled by Ramen. Their sound has evolved as their career has blossomed, incorporating diverse influences such as Rock, Punk, New Wave, Pop, Emo, and Dance music. Led by singer Hayley Williams, a dynamic performer with a four-octave vocal range, the band is known for hits like “Ain’t It Fun,” “Decode,” “Hard Times,” and “This Is Why.” Students of all instruments will find worthwhile challenges in the band’s tight hooks and varied sonic palette, which often includes synths, strings, and marimba in addition to the standard Rock instruments.
21st Century Indie Rock
Thursdays 6:00-8:00pm
We are taking our Indie Rock show and putting a spin to it! In this show students who love Indie music will have a unique opportunity to learn and perform the music of artists like 100 Gecs, Beabadoobee, Big Thief, Boygenius, Phoebe Bridgers, Car Seat Headrest, Clairo, Conan Gray, Crumb, Dazey and the Scouts, Faye Webster, The Linda Lindas, Le Tigre, and more. While “Indie Rock” began as an underground DIY movement in rock and roll in the late 1970s and 1980s, the term began to be used more broadly in the aftermath of Nirvana’s success in the early 90s to refer to any music that fell outside of mainstream tastes - a synonym to the more well-known “alternative” label. This show celebrates all of the varied sounds of Indie Rock in the 21st Century, and is a great option for students of all instruments and experience levels.
Modern Metal
Saturdays 12:30-2:30pm
The Modern Metal show traces the evolution of metal music from the turn of the century to the present day, and focuses on bands who kept the virtuosic spirit of metal alive while incorporating more contemporary techniques into their sound, such as an emphasis on melody and harmony, and modern studio production. Artists such as Disturbed and Slipknot rose to prominence with the popularity of Nu-Metal, while Metalcore bands such as Killswitch Engage and The Dillinger Escape Plan brought the genre into the 2010s. The Modern Metal show will celebrate this next generation of metal artists - including Avenged Sevenfold, Tool, Baroness, Gojira, System of a Down, Lamb of God, Mastodon, and more! This is a super challenging show for all instruments, as the speed and precision of this music requires quite a bit of proficiency to master.
A Note About Show Casting
We strive for well-balanced shows where all of our students are challenged and get equal opportunity for parts. Please understand that factors such as attendance at rehearsals, behavior at rehearsals, and musical preparation for rehearsals can affect the number of songs a student is assigned. The School of Rock method is merit based. While a show’s first casting is as equitable as possible, in subsequent castings we reward commitment, hard work, and steady improvement.
We know many students have talents beyond the instruments they study at School of Rock. We do our best to encourage (and show off) all of our students’ abilities! However, students who take lessons on an instrument at School of Rock get priority casting on that instrument in shows. Students are guaranteed to be assigned parts only on instruments they are actively taking lessons on at SoR. Depending on the makeup of the show’s cast, we may not be able to accommodate students who wish to perform on an instrument (including vocals) that they do not study at SoR. If your student is interested in studying an additional instrument, please reach out to us to discuss options.