Oak Park
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Oak Park

Map
School of Rock Oak Park
219 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 298-0002

Location Specifics

On the corner of Lake St. and Harvey Ave. Across the street from Pete's Market.

Get Directions
Hours
  • Monday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

Upcoming Special Hours:

  • 11/28/2024: Closed

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

Programs we offer

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

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Oak Park'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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Oak Park 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 Oak Park
Performance
Ages 8-18

The Performance Program at School of Rock Oak Park 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 Oak Park Performance Program students take the stage and play at local Oak Park 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 Oak Park'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 Oak Park music venue.

Rookies music program for children in Oak Park
Rookies
Ages 6-7

At School of Rock Oak Park, 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 Oak Park, 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.

Little Wing music program for toddlers and preschoolers in Oak Park
Little Wing
Ages 4-5

At School of Rock Oak Park our Little Wing music program for preschoolers and toddlers teaches students foundational music skills by playing games and participating in other interactive musical activities. Little Wing students have one weekly group music lesson in which they use classic rock songs to learn about rhythm, song structure, melody and dynamics through play.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
  • USE HAND PERCUSSION & OTHER TOOLS TO LEARN RHYTHM PATTERNS & MUSIC SYNTAX

The Path to Take the Stage

The Little Wing music program is the first step in a young musician's journey. At School of Rock Oak Park, toddlers and preschoolers who show an interest in music should start with Little Wing. As they get older, they will progress into the Rookies program, followed by Rock 101 and the Performance 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Oak Park 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Oak Park'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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park.

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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park.

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

The School of Rock Oak Park 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 Oak Park's House Band. Once selected, House Band members become leaders in their School of Rock community and perform live shows at IL 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 Oak Park and the rest of IL. 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 Oak Park

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Oak Park

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock Oak Park, 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 Oak Park is an experienced musician, and they emphasize foundational music theory and technique when teaching guitar lessons to kids. Unlike other Oak Park 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 Oak Park'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 Oak Park, we teach beginner guitar lessons for adults in our Adult Program. This program gets students performing onstage at a local Oak Park 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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park guitar teachers will work with each student to develop a custom learning plan.

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Oak Park

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Oak Park 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 Oak Park we combine private drum lessons for beginners with weekly band rehearsals—it prepares students to perform live. With years of experience teaching drums in Oak Park, 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park. Unlike other Oak Park 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 Oak Park, our drum lessons are customized for each student and his or her goals. Our Oak Park 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 Oak Park

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Oak Park 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Oak Park

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Oak Park 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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in Oak Park. 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the Oak Park 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 Oak Park 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park, 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 Oak Park’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.

General Manager Abby K
Abby K
General Manager
Abby fell in love with rock n' roll when she first heard Elvis Presley at age 5 and played guitar as a child. As an adult, she worked as a dental office coordinator before switching to part-time work at School of Rock. As a studio coordinator, she combined her office coordinating experience and love of music.

Abby quickly joined our Adult Program, refreshing her guitar experience while learning bass and vocals. After falling in love with the school, she became determined to make it the best community possible for the kids who fell in love with music just like she did. You'll probably see her and her daughter around the school, helping in every way they can! She's now thrilled to be a part of the management team at School of Rock in Oak Park, helping the next music generation grow while refreshing her skills at the same time!
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Adam
Adam
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Adam started performing in bands at age 14. He continued to do so throughout his teenage years and later went on to study music in college. His experiences and education have made him versed in many styles such as Metal, Blues, Alternative Rock, Traditional Jazz, and Fusion. He is prepared to share his knowledge with the next generation of rockers!
Regional Director Adam
Adam
Regional Director
Adam is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. Hailing from the NW suburbs of Chicago, Adam first picked up a guitar around the age of 12. After mastering the art of the power chord, he devoted most of his free time to learning every song on every album he had. As a child of mid-90s punk, those first albums consisted of Green Day, Rancid, Offspring, Weezer, etc. Adam started his first band in the eighth grade and never looked back. He has since learned how to sing, play bass and drums, played countless shows with many bands, spent four years in Los Angbeles and toured the country. Adam also studied Audio Recording and Production at The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, OH. He uses those skills at his recording studio The Space, located at Music Garage Chicago, where he records, produces and mixes a variety of artists as well as his own bands. He is the Regional Director at School of Rock Oak Park.
Al
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Al has been playing and performing music almost since he was old enough to walk. From playing the bass for gospel artist Inez Andrews in the early 70s at the tender of age of 10, to performing in the Chicago all-city jazz ensemble with fellow School of Rock instructor Rafe Bradford in the 80s, his music career began at a young age. Al toured and recorded with Grammy award-winning choir, Rev. Milton Brunson and The Thompson Community Singers. He worked as a Nashville session musician in the 1990s. He has performed with Michael McDonald, Patty Austin, Ali Woodson, Jamie Foxx, Billy Paul and Aretha Franklin. He was formerly the guitarist for The Dells and is now touring and performing with The Isley Brothers.
Little Wing & Rookies Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Amber
Little Wing & Rookies Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Amber is a multi-instrumentalist from Indianapolis, IN. After pursuing a degree in music history and flute performance at Butler University, she relocated to Chicago to teach music.

Amber has been playing flute and guitar for 14 years and has taught private music lessons since 2015. Amber teaches guitar, bass, and oversees our Rookies and Little Wing classes at the School of Rock in Oak Park.
Owner
Amy
Owner
Amy is a rocker mom and corporate marketer and the owner of School of Rock Oak Park. Amy has spent most of her work life building her career in Sales and Marketing at Blue Cross and Blue Shield and at the same time pursuing artistic interests. While she developed her business skills in web marketing, sales strategy and technology adoption, she also hosted art shows, crafted and sold jewelry in local boutiques and galleries, and generally sought opportunities that would enable her to marry her business skills with her love of art. When her daughter, at the time, only 12 years old, attended summer camp at School of Rock Chicago, Amy suggested that they should consider opening a school in Oak Park. Amy learned that the School of Rock was a franchise opportunity and a light bulb went off. She knew that she would be the person to make it happen. In early December 2012, Amy and her ever-supportive husband converted a 50-year-old combination warehouse and office building into the vibrant home of School of Rock Oak Park.
Annette
Guitar Teacher
Annette grew up in a music loving family and has no earlier childhood memories than of The Beatles, "A Hard Days Night" and Sundays spent cruising the streets of Logan Square with three teenage uncles to the sounds of the British invasion, Motown, Jim, Jimi and Janis. It was to no one's surprise that most of her boyfriends had a guitar strapped to them, and, eventually weary of watching, she picked up an instrument and began playing herself. She has an extensive background in theatre, both performing and producing. Together with her director husband, they founded, built and operated one of the first commercial venues in the Bucktown area- a 100-seat performance space and art gallery. Annette organized and directed a fundraiser concert for her daughter's second grade class performing hits of the 60s, including a medley from "Hair" and was immediately offered a position teaching guitar. Over the past seven years, she has developed her own technique to get even the youngest guitar enthusiasts playing. She's taught hundreds of kids through Park District programs she initiated in Oak Park, River Forest and Elmwood Park as well as privately in her home studio. Annette is the creator of Guitar Cat and has been seen over the years performing with her band of students, The Cat Pack. She couldn't be happier to join School of Rock Oak Park.
Singing Teacher Christina
Christina
Vocal Teacher
Christina is a vocal teacher at SOR Oak Park. She grew up on 70s classics, R&B, and gained an appreciation for classical music through her grandparents. From the coffee table “stage” with a hairbrush mic where she sang to the imagined packed arena to the stage with live humans, Christina took every chance she could to sing: in choirs, as the lead in her high school musical, and was classically trained through high school. That training served her well and, meshed with her rock voice, created a National Anthem range. She has sung at major and minor league and local games. Her classical voice also found her singing in the church choir for 10 years. She also currently serves her as a sound healer.
Assistant Music Director, Production Teacher, Drum Teacher Ast Music Director, Production Teacher Ethan
Ethan
Assistant Music Director, Production Teacher, Drum Teacher
Born in Rhode Island and raised in Oak Park, IL, Ethan grew up to rock n’ roll classics and found his place behind a drum kit at 10 years old. While soaking up information from drum magazines between school and private lessons, Ethan began playing in performing bands at the age of 13.

With experience from indie rock, to thrash metal, to funk grooves, Ethan has a broad range of drumming in several rock bands. He wrote, recorded, and toured with indie rock outfit India By Rail for a couple of years.

After graduating from Columbia College Chicago in 2013 with a degree in Audio Design and Production, Ethan’s career as a music producer and audio engineer has been diverse and has taken him from Chicago to Los Angeles and back. As a producer/DJ, he has worked in all styles of electronic music, hip hop, and pop, and played famous venues like The Metro, Lincoln Hall, and Bottom Lounge just to name a few.

Ethan served as our Music Director for about 3 years, while also teaching drum and production lessons. He is currently acting as our Assistant Music Director while he pursues his master's at Northwestern for Post Production Audio.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher Hannah
Hannah
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Hannah is from Minneapolis and has been playing guitar for over a decade. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a music degree in instrumental performance. Since coming to Chicago in 2018, Hannah has been performing original music and has been playing guitar for artists across a wide variety of genres.
Jennifer
Vocal Teacher
Jennifer is a veteran music director whose imagination and curriculum expertise have helped School of Rock Oak Park become the largest school in the international system. She is a four-time School of Rock AllStar director and has served on content and innovation boards at the corporate level over her many years with the company. Jennifer is a voice teacher who loves coaching students of all levels to perform at their personal best through personalized training, biodynamics and stage prep. As a director, Jennifer challenges players to step out of their comfort zones and develop the skills needed to be free and authentic on stage. Jennifer served as School of Rock Oak Park’s Music Director and developed programming, show seasons and touring groups, and oversaw the artistic direction of the school. As Music Experience Director of the new AMP (Awaken Musical Power) program for team-building, Jennifer aims to offer non-musicians the opportunity to experience the magic of group music through learning to spark breakthroughs of their own. Jennifer holds an M.Phil in Irish Theatre from Trinity College Dublin and a BFA in Acting from Kent State University. She performs regularly with the band 1976 and has a long performing resume that includes musical theater, jazz, roots, rock and punk. She lives in Oak Park with her husband and two kids and spends her free time volunteering and engaged in social justice. She is a vocal instructor at School of Rock Oak Park.
Jim
Piano Teacher, Vocal Instructor
A chance encounter with a ukulele at the tender age of nine launched Jim on a life-long rock and roll adventure. Teenage garage bands in the Arizona desert led to years of touring and recording in musical styles that ranged from rock, blues and R&B to cumbia, salsa and musical theater. Along the way, he has been privileged to work with a number of great artists, including Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall, Bo Diddley, The Four Tops, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Delbert McClinton, Dallas Taylor, 'Gatemouth' Brown and Luther Allison. During his musical travels, Jim took de-tours to study classical piano, music theory and earn a Masters in Choral Conducting at Arizona State University. Having invested all that time and money in higher education, he switched tracks to a career as a high school and college instructor (though he continued to gig in every city between Tucson and Seattle, as well as in Chicagoland, Europe, Australia and New Zealand). After toiling valiantly for 25 years in classrooms from Berwyn to the border of Mexico, Jim retired from the Latin School of Chicago, and he is thrilled to be returning to his rock roots as a member of the amazing staff at School of Rock Oak Park. In addition to teaching here, he records and performs with his roots-rock band The Hurtin' Kind. His favorite bands are The Beatles and Los Lobos. He loves teaching music to young people.
Joe
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
"Smoking" Joe has been a mainstay on the Chicago blues scene. He has played with local, national, and international legends such as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Koko Taylor, Lurrie Bell, Carrie Bell, Otis Clay, Mojo Buford, and Elvin Bishop. For 22 years he served as the music director for The Underground Wonder Bar. Joe, as bassist, has toured with the Mandingo Griot Society in the countries of Germany, France, Greece, Finland, Amsterdam, and the entire continent of Europe. He has toured, as bassist, with the Kinzey Report throughout the state of California during the period of 1995-2005. Joe also played and toured worldwide with the world-renowned Buddy Miles (drummer for Jimi Hendrix).
Guitar Teacher Kyle
Kyle
Guitar Teacher
Kyle was captivated by music at a very young age, listening for hours with his father to the artists of XRT. Inspired by the Rock ‘n Roll of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, he picked up a guitar and took lessons throughout his childhood. In high school, it was the attitude and rebellious nature of Pop Punk bands like Blink-182 that led him to form a band with his friends and begin performing music for others. Being a quiet-natured kid from the suburbs, the stage allowed him a platform of self-expression unlike any other. He pursued this creative outlet in college, earning a degree in music performance from Columbia College Chicago. It was here that he first heard The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, forever expanding his conceptions of music and songwriting. Since then, music has continued to be a central part of Kyle’s life, whether it was repairing and building stringed instruments, or performing the sounds of Funk, Soul, and Motown with the Chicago-based Second Hand Soul Band. Now a guitar and bass instructor at School of Rock, he is excited to share his lifelong passion with others.
Max
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
As a Columbia College Graduate, Max has gone on to become a fill-in touring guitarist for the rock group Remada. Along with being a singer-songwriter, he is also the frontman and manager for Chicago's hard rock quartet UnderFire. He has played various venues such as House of Blues, Metro, Bottom Lounge, Toads Place and Webster Theatre. Max has also shared the stage with notable acts such as Saving Abel, Cavo, Lights Alive, and Three Years Hollow.

Max is currently working on session work and is the guitarist for the Detroit rock band A War Within. A War Within has toured with bands such as Bless The Fall, The Word Alive, Ded, The Plot In You, and many others. Max looks forward to inspiring students, along with sharing his love and knowledge of music with them. He is a guitar teacher and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock Oak Park.
Music Director, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Michael
Michael
Music Director, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Michael has been curious about music ever since he first heard his parents' vinyl copy of "Pet Sounds." While being trained in classical piano as a child, Michael eventually found himself drawn to Billy Joel, Ben Folds, and rock operas. He studied music, theatre, and voice at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI before moving to Chicago with his indie pop/piano rock band Common Shiner.

In his 12-year tenure with that project, Michael charted nationally in the AC format (thanks to major support from Midwestern radio stations), toured the continental U.S., and made a slasher movie parody music video that went viral across the globe with over 85 million views. Michael has also voiced radio commercials and characters nationally and won a Kennedy Center Special Award for Theatrical Sound Design in 2006. Current musical endeavors include Otter Finn, Front Runners, and solo project Jen Dressed Ridiculous.

Michael teaches keys and voice, and recently took up the mantle as Music Director after almost 10 years on our team.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Mike
Mike
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Mike has been playing music for over nine years and has roots in The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, but loves all kinds of music genres, such as jazz, funk, rock, blues, classical, metal, folk, bluegrass and lots in between! He believes there is always more to learn when it comes to music and strives to keep improving as a musician and a teacher.

Mike has been in almost every role School of Rock has to offer from teacher to general manager. He recently stepped back from the GM position to focus on his own music endeavors. We are thrilled to keep him as part of our school!
Steve
Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher
Steve began playing piano when he was 5 years old and began studying guitar at age 11 after hearing a classical guitar recital at his church on Easter Sunday. Since then, Steve has concertized throughout the United States and Europe as a recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist. After receiving his bachelor's degree on a scholarship to DePaul University, where he studied with legendary guitarist Leon Borkowski, he pursued his master's degree at DePaul under the instruction of Mark Maxwell.

Steve has studied and worked with such world-famous guitarists as Pepé Romero, Christopher Parkening, Denis Azabagic, Douglas Niedt, and Robert Guthrie. An exceptionally talented classical guitarist, Steve received the distinguished honor of runner-up in the Society of American Musicians Guitar Competition. A versatile chamber musician, Steve's preeminent performance career has included collaborations with many notable artists, including flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya, legendary jazz pianist George Shearing and violin virtuoso Gidon Kremer. Recordings of Steve have been featured on national broadcasts by Chicago's fine arts radio station, 98.7WFMT, as well as on Radio France. He has devoted a lifetime of experience to performing and has appeared in concert with Dave Mason, Buddy Guy, and George Shearing. Steve is a prolific composer and arranger for film and live theatre. His compositions on Guitarra Azul's debut CD "Mariposa" have received great acclaim as well as enthusiastic reception from audiences nationwide.
Drum Teacher Thomas
Thomas
Drum Teacher
Tommy is a young professional drummer, experienced in all genres from Rock to Orchestral. Having recently completed his bachelor of music in Jazz studies at Elmhurst University, Tommy is primarily playing with the Beyond Standard Trio, as well as developing his compositional skills with various side projects. As an educator, he offers fourteen years of formal training and a diversity of musical knowledge which can give insight to all drummers and percussionists no matter their age or skill level.
Tim
Guitar Teacher
Tim first picked up the guitar over 20 years ago at age 13 and hasn't put it down since. In 2001, he earned a BA in Music Business from Elmhurst College. He has been teaching private guitar and bass lessons consistently since 2000 in the western suburbs and running rock band programs for kids since 2010. When outside of lessons, Tim evenly divides his time between practicing, rehearsals and a plethora of varying live performance situations, including everything from Chicago street festivals to weddings, large events like Riot Fest, big and small club shows and performing on the street. Trying to stay as busy as possible, he has held tenure in countless bands. This constant real world performing experience enriches every lesson. In addition to several original projects that Tim has in the works, he also currently performs extensively in and around Chicago with The Student Body (party rock covers).
Tracy
Drum Teacher
Tracy is a professional drummer and instructor based in Chicago. He has over 20 years of stage and studio experience covering all styles and eras, from swing to rock, blues to Latin, and country to dance/pop/R&B. A Chicago native, Tracy was raised in a musical family. With a father and older brother who were both drummers, his passion for drums and music has been literally life-long. Tracy majored in Music in college and, starting at age nine, has studied under several great teachers, including renowned NBC staff drummer Max Mariash, the late, great Chicago drummer, teacher and band leader Tony Caselli, and classical percussion studies with Mike McLead. Additional private lessons followed with masters such as Rusty Jones and Johnny Rabb.

Tracy’s earliest professional experience started at 13, playing for local Chicago area church and school musical productions. Since then his music career has taken him to venues large and small, from the east coast to Las Vegas and throughout the Midwest, including the Surf Ballroom, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, Metro, Vic Theater, Arcada Theater, Shuba's, House of Blues and many others. Tracy’s playing/recording credits include work with many great Chicago bands and artists. He has also shared the stage with such notables as The Samples, The Radiators, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Edwin McCain, The Grassroots, Jazz is Dead, Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Edan Don Everly, Remembering Ricky Nelson featuring Gunnar and Matthew Nelson, Johnny Rivers and others. In addition to a busy live performance schedule, Tracy is very active in drum education and studies piano and voice in his spare time. He is a drum teacher at School of Rock Oak Park.
Drum Teacher Maurice
Maurice
Drum Teacher
Maurice (or Reese) is a drummer and producer with over three decades of experience, Reese has had the good fortune of performing, recording, and touring internationally. He has even played in West Africa with his world roots band, Brown Rice Family. Reese has also performed at South By Southwest, Lincoln Center, and The Apollo Theater.
Bass Guitar Teacher Steve H
Steve H
Bass Guitar Teacher
Steve H, or Hash, has been a professional musician in the Chicago music scene since 1969 (that's the year he got his first musicians' union card, and it's still paying off!). He has performed with countless bands and artists at almost every venue in the Chicago area, playing jazz, rock, funk, folk, country, Latin, avant-garde, cabaret, bluegrass, blues, R&B, reggae, Cajun, Brazilian, African, and theatre music.

Steve has appeared at The Chicago Jazz Festival, The South Shore Jazz Festival, Taste of Chicago, ChicagoFest, and Chicago’s Asian American Jazz Festival. He has anchored the late-night jam session at The Green Mill for over 22 years.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher Pat
Pat
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Pat grew up with music and studying music production directly. He is fascinated by the diversity of contemporary music, whether music composition, music arrangement, sound recording, musical performances, or experimental music. Pat has been at the forefront of the music and production industry with over a decade of experience in Thailand.

Pat is currently the co-founder and director of the contemporary music production of 28Production (Thailand) and works as a session producer for a film scoring orchestra with the recording studio Studio28 (Thailand). Pat was a member of the Thai band Chanudom as a guitarist, composer, and arranger for the album Third World in 2019.
Singing Teacher Katie
Katie
Vocal Teacher
Katie is a vocalist, guitarist, performer, and songwriter originally from Salinas, California. She studied Jazz Voice at the Jacob’s School of Music before earning a BFA in Musical Theatre at Indiana University in 2023. She has performed as a vocalist at various venues and festivals such as the Monterey Jazz Festival and San Jose Jazz Festival.

Katie grew up in a musical household and began taking private lessons when she was 8 years old. Over the years she has played violin, guitar, clarinet, piano, and alto saxophone. Katie spent her time in college playing rhythm guitar and singing with various bands in Bloomington, Indiana. She has written for her former band, Middle Name Basis, and continues to write and perform her own solo work.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Matt W
Matt W
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Matt grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and began playing music from a young age through private lessons and school band. He soon began as a student at the School of Rock in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, where he participated in the performance program, performed in the school's House Band, and was selected for the AllStars program.

Matt's time as a School of Rock student ultimately led him to study music, and more specifically, guitar, at Columbia College Chicago. Since graduating, Matt has been pursuing music on multiple fronts, from teaching guitar, bass, drums, keys, and general music theory at all different levels, to playing in multiple projects on multiple different instruments.
Studio Coordinator, Little Wing Teacher, Rookies Director, Sadie
Sadie
Studio Coordinator, Little Wing Teacher, Rookies Teacher
Sadie is a resident renaissance woman at the School of Rock in Oak Park. She began as a School of Rock "rocker mom" to a guitarist daughter, then realized that she truly wanted to be a Rocker Mom and joined the Grad School program as a vocalist. Growing up, Sadie enjoyed singing in the church and school choir, musical theatre, the shower, and the car. Harmonizing is her jam! Sadie is a career educator, teaching Preschool for All in neighboring Berwyn School District 100, where she has been teaching for years. She decided to combine her love of music and teaching children and began teaching Little Wings and Rookies classes at the School of Rock in Oak Park.
Keyboard Teacher Judy
Judy
Keyboard Teacher
Judy was about five years old when she first saw a piano at a relative’s house; she was instantly hooked. She has toured with a variety of bands from genres like jazz to rock to blues to reggae and world music. Judy and her husband have a production company, Detinu Sounds where they produce and write for various projects. She plays some guitar and bass, and she learned how to sing from a job she had accompanying voice lessons. She is grateful for the opportunity to share what she loves to do.
Studio Coordinator Emily
Emily
Studio Coordinator
Emily is a Studio Coordinator for the School of Rock in Oak Park and a DJ at WRRG, Triton College Radio. She hosts a hard rock/classic rock show called Rock N Roll Rewind on Friday nights from 8-10 PM! She is super stoked to rock the front desk on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
School of Rock is where music and learning come together

For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.

Reviews

A great experience for my two boys!

One of my sons is a complete introvert who has never stuck out in other extracurricular activities, but he plays drums and plays in the shows. It's kind of a miracle! I also love how excited the staff gets the kids about music.

School of Rock is amazing.

My kids have learned what it is like to be a musician, an artist and a music collaborator. Because of the wide variety of musicians teaching, they can try out different approaches to playing, performing and creating music.

The Adult Band is wonderful!

The Adult Band teachers are so incredibly knowledgeable, inspiring and friendly. They're able to communicate technically and informally, and their song selections bring back memories and turn me on to new music.

School of Rock engages kids.

My daughter is in Rock 101 and takes keyboard lessons. I love that your programs keep kids engaged and have an awesome community atmosphere. Rock 101 is great for team/band building.

My daughter has thrived at School of Rock.

The confidence and creativity she acquired on the School of Rock stage is now apparent in all aspects of her life—personally, academically and socially. She looks forward to her lesson as much as her weekly band practice. We can’t say enough good things about this program.

By submitting your email address you are verifying that you are 13 years or older.