Here at School of Rock, It is our mission for students to gain musical proficiency through performance-based music education, therefore 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 season's pERformance programs:
Performance Program Rehearsal Schedule
AC/DC
Mondays 6:00-8:00pm
If you like Hard Rock, you belong in this program. AC/DC have been given labels like Blues Rock, Hard Rock, and Heavy Metal, but they consider themselves just “Rock ‘N Roll!” Few rock bands have had the longevity and commercial success of AC/DC. Formed in Sydney, Australia in the early '70s, the band - led by guitarist brothers Angus and Malcolm Young - quickly rose to Hard Rock superstardom with the release of their albums High Voltage, T.N.T., and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. With Bon Scott at the vocal helm, AC/DC gained world-wide fame. After Scott’s untimely passing in 1980, Brian Johnson took over as vocalist as the band recorded one of the greatest, most influential albums in modern rock: Back In Black, featuring classic songs like “Hells Bells”, “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Shoot To Thrill”, and, of course, “Back In Black”. After almost 50 years, AC/DC continues to be a favorite band for generations of fans. Their songs are fun to listen to, but playing them even more so! Join us in this performance program to celebrate one of the greatest rock bands of all time - you will be thunderstruck! Sorry, bad joke…
Blondie vs. Talking Heads
Tuesdays 6:00-8:00pm
We are putting two “Sort-Of-Punk” bands together and making an awesome performance program out of it! Although many consider Blondie and Talking Heads to be punk bands, this is not really the case. On one side of the ring, Blondie’s songs shook the punk scene, but also expertly blended musical elements of Pop, Disco, Reggae, Hip-Hop, and other styles into an unmistakable sound that propelled them to international stardom. On the other side, we have Talking Heads combining elements of punk, art rock, funk, and world music. Both bands greatly contributed to the New Wave scene and performed at the venerated club CBGB in NYC, each gaining popularity because of their unique sound. Blondie achieved four No. 1 hits in the US, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, and remains one of the most influential bands in rock history, inspiring artists such as Lady Gaga, Paramore, No Doubt, Miley Cyrus, and The Killers. Talking Heads had four albums in the Rolling Stones’s list of 500 greatest albums of all time and had three songs in the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame. If we were you, we would come check out why these two amazing bands became so popular and join the group to play their greatest hits. There is something for everyone of every skill level. Great drum parts, interesting percussion additions, guitar riffs, bass lines, intricate vocals and harmonies, and keys galore! Come check it out for yourself and be surprised by how much fun you can have performing their songs.
Prog Rock
Wednesdays 5:00-7:00pm
Prog Rock is one of the most challenging shows we can offer. It will require students to develop advanced techniques on their instruments, as well as a deeper understanding of music theory. The term “progressive” describes how this 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, higher instrumental skill, fantasy-like lyrical content, and unique instrumentation. Complex song structures combined with odd time signatures will challenge even the most advanced players. Artists and bands that helped define and solidify Prog as a genre include King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Rush, Yes, Dream Theater, Frank Zappa, TOOL, among many others. We want to see you bring it, because we are bringing the full power. Expectations will be high on this one and you will come out on the other side as an AllStar-level monster. If you think you can handle being pushed to the limits of your abilities, you should sign up for Prog immediately! But be warned, this is not a show for the faint of heart. If you believe you are up to the challenge, we are waiting for you.
best of the '80s
Thursdays 4:30-6:30pm
We are very excited to announce that Best of the ‘80s will be our feature show this coming Spring. As part of this show, you will be able to connect with students from other SoR schools, share insights and videos, and win prizes! Here you will perform the music of the most sparkly decade Rock’N Roll has ever seen. Everything happened in the ‘80s, and the best things were born in this fabulous decade! Things like music videos and MTV, which allowed artists to reinvent themselves and reach an unimaginable number of diverse audiences. In addition, the ‘80s musical culture created an unparalleled phenomenon in an era of fluorescent clothes, poofy hair, and the best synth-driven pop anthems you will ever hear. Have you heard of Hair Metal? Happened in the ‘80s! What about Glam Rock? Happened in the ‘80s! What about pop legends like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna? Guess when? That is right! The ‘80s was the best decade ever, and this performance program will feature its defining artists. We also would like to mention a few “small timers” that left their mark in the ‘80s: bands like Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Queen, Journey, The Bangles, The Cult…. literally every great band, just saying! The Best of the '80s show will have a diverse mix of styles and artists, while providing a challenging and fun experience for students of any instrument or experience level.
Radiohead
Fridays 6:30-7:30pm
Radiohead have emerged in the 21st century as torchbearers of the progressive rock tradition, and have threaded the needle between innovation and popularity as well as anyone. Formed in 1985 in the UK under the name “On A Friday”, they eventually changed their name to Radiohead upon the request of their record label, EMI. Although their songs carry on the Prog Rock tradition, they can serve as an intro to the style with simpler songs to help beginners and intermediate students to get their feet wet in this complex genre. Don’t get us wrong - there are definitely a handful of songs for the advanced folks to challenge themselves as well, especially when it comes to attention to guitar tones, keyboard patches, and electronic drum sounds. Finding and matching those effects can be a great challenge in itself. With their constant instrumental experimentation, culturally relevant lyrics and themes, and blend of styles and genres, Radiohead are heralded as one of the most important and critically acclaimed rock acts of the modern era. The Radiohead show is an ambitious challenge for all skill levels, but can be one of the most rewarding and educational shows offered by School of Rock.
iron Maiden vs. Judas Priest
Saturdays 12:30-2:30pm
If you love Heavy Metal, you can’t miss this program! Iron Maiden and Judas Priest represent the epitome of 1980s metal. While each act has their own unique sound, what they have in common is power, precision, technical mastery, and unrelenting energy. The two Heavy Metal titans are originally from England, and they are both still active and touring. If you are a good player, you will be extremely challenged in this program. If you are still developing your skills, this program will undoubtedly make you a better player, but you must work hard to keep up with the challenges. We are ready to see you have fun and push you to your limits with their classics. To name a few of their greatest hits: “The Number of The Beast,” “Painkiller,” “The Trooper,” “Electric Eye,” “Fear of The Dark,” and “Breaking The Law,” are among many other songs that will need strong lead guitarists to handle iconic solos, solid drummers and bassists to keep up with the rhythm section, and skilled vocalists to handle the skills of none less than Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson. Whatever instrument you play, you will have huge shoes to fill. We are calling out to all the Metal lovers to come and be a part of this show for a unique opportunity to play some of the greatest Metal tunes ever written!
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.