Portland
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Portland

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School of Rock Portland
1440 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 231-2945

Location Specifics

Our main entrance and parking is located at the back of the building.

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Hours
  • Monday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 2 PM - 7 PM
  • Saturday: 12 PM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: 12 PM - 8 PM

Upcoming Special Hours:

  • 11/28/2024: Closed

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

School of Rock in Portland, Oregon is proud to offer music classes to help teach Portland and surrounding communities how to play instruments with skill and confidence. Students can learn everything from drums, guitar, keyboard, and more in a supportive and encouraging environment. Portland has a thriving music scene with many great indie artists coming from here including Modest Mouse, The Shins, Thing Kingsmen, Quarterflash, The Dandy Warhols, and The Thermals. This makes it a great spot for emerging artists to showcase their skills at many popular live music venues in the area.

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

At School of Rock Portland, 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 Portland, 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 Portland, 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 Portland is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Portland 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 Portland, 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 Portland for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Portland'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 Portland 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 Portland.

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 Portland 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 Portland.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Portland

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Portland

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Portland 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 Portland, 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 Portland 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 Portland, 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 Portland.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Portland

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Portland 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 Portland 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 Portland, 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 Portland 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 Portland, 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 Portland

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Amanda
Amanda
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Amanda has been teaching and directing shows at School of Rock since 2017. She started playing piano and singing at age eleven and has a BA from Haverford College. Amanda is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, both as a soloist and with her current music project Sloane Bayley. Amanda completed a year-long apprenticeship and is a Transformational Voice-trained vocal instructor that teaches students to bring their voice, body, and mind into singing. Amanda offers personalized instruction, creativity, and warmth to both in-person and online lessons. Amanda enjoys spending time with her teenage son, who is also a musician at SOR, and their two kittens.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Anna
Anna
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Anna is a Portland and Los Angeles jazz and contemporary arranger, vocalist, and vocal teacher. She recently performed and recorded with George Colligan for the Phillis Wheatley Project, and has collaborated with the well-known Portland group Greaterkind. In Los Angeles, Anna has collaborated with Lawrence Gilliam at the Greenway Amphitheater and The Mint as part of Astral Voyage - an international funk & soul group.

In July of 2023, Anna became the band leader and founder of the Los Angeles-based neo-soul/jazz group The Swing of Thingz and released her first solo EP project entitled “Soul Angel.” In August of 2023, she became a vocalist with the award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated Los Angeles vocal ensemble Tonality. Anna earned a bachelor's degree in Jazz Vocal Performance from Portland State University and plans to receive her master's degree in Vocal Performance soon.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher Cameron
Cameron
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Cameron is a former student turned instructor for School of Rock Portland. He first got into playing music by learning Green Day songs with his dad as a young kid. His interest in playing grew when he found School of Rock back in 2013 and was involved in numerous Performance Groups and the House Band before graduating.

Cameron is influenced by bands like blink-182, Against Me, State Champs, Descendents, NOFX, and many others! Outside of music, he enjoys playing hockey and being obsessed with the Legend of Zelda. If you like punk music and nerdy things come chat with him!
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Charlie
Charlie
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Charlie grew up in a suburb of Washington, D.C., and he moved to Portland in 2019 to pursue an undergraduate degree at Lewis & Clark College. He has been playing drums for over 15 years and has studied music with some of Portland’s finest jazz musicians including Charlie Doggett, Alan Jones, and Dan Balmer.

Charlie currently drums with many different musical acts throughout the city and in many different genres including jazz, funk, metal, and folk. Some of the artists and projects Charlie plays with include Johnny Franco, Canary Room, Jakki and The Pink Smudge, and Mr. Beautiful.

His biggest musical influences include Fela Kuti, Meshuggah, Bob Marley, and The Talking Heads. When he’s not playing music, Charlie is biking, exploring the local hiking trails, or trying out cool new restaurants. He is excited to share his joy and passion for drumming with others!
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Cory
Cory
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Cory graduated from Berklee College of Music. He teaches drums, guitar and bass, along with some vocals and keys. If you wanna shred on guitar, Cory is your guy! He loves kale and eating at Riyadh's. He plays in a rad band now called Liquid Light. His influences are Genesis, Husker Du and Guided by Voices. He love puns and random stuff on Facebook. They put a smile on his co-workers' faces or maybe even a frown! We love it!
Drum Teacher David
David
Drum Teacher
Dave is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston and joined the School of Rock team in 2009. As one of our busiest drum instructors, Dave brings a ton of teaching and playing experience to School of Rock Portland. Dave currently plays drums in the local jazz-funk band Professional Midnight and is an active session musician for hire. Former bands include 1939 Ensemble, Pig War, Humours, and more.

Dave’s playing is rooted in a Meters cassette tape given to him in the eighth grade. Some other artists that inspire and influence him include The Melvins, Miles Davis, Can, Steve Gadd, and Fiona Apple. Besides teaching and playing drums, David enjoys the simple things in life: spending time with his family, grilling, trips to the coast, and listening to baseball. Dave also makes the best drum faces in the history of drumming!
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Ezra
Ezra
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Ezra is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, and sound designer from Chicago who came to Portland to study at Reed College and has a BA in Comparative Race and Ethnicity Studies with a concentration in Sociology. During college, Ezra expanded his musical endeavors and gained experience as a sound technician and theatrical sound designer. Following college, he used his skills as a guitarist, performer, and stage manager in Fuse Theatre Ensemble’s Shroom Show, and sound designed the Portland Trans Voices Cabaret.

As a musician and teacher, Ezra likes to combine the study of blues and jazz techniques with pop, rock, and folk songwriting structures. As a former School of Rock student and House Band member at School of Rock Naperville for many years, he is excited to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of rockers!

In his free time, Ezra likes to cook, read, draw, and play Guitar Hero. Some of his musical influences include Talking Heads, Janis Joplin, My Chemical Romance, and Led Zeppelin.
Assistant Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher Hadley
Hadley
Assistant Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Hadley is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, performer, and music lover from Jacksonville, Florida. They began playing violin in kindergarten and moved on to guitar in the fourth grade. Classically trained in guitar and voice at Lavilla School of the Arts and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, they started playing gigs in Jacksonville at age 13. Since moving to Portland to attend Reed College, Hadley started the band Pepper Jelly, wrote a collaborative song cycle called The Last to Go: Reprise, and performed as June Carter in Stumptown Stages' production of The Ring of Fire. They have played in bands ranging in genre from ska-punk to bluegrass, making appearances at the Florida Folk Festival and Jacksonville Porchfest, often performing with their dad and his band, The Uncanny Valley Boys.

When not making music, Hadley can often be found taking long walks with their dog, Leeloo Dallas, crafting, or watching Star Trek. Some of their favorite musicians include Bob Schneider, Tom Waits, Pup the Band, Crucial Eddy Cotton (their dad), and Tigers Jaw. Hadley is a self-proclaimed music nerd and is always learning and hoping to grow as a musician.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher, Drum Teacher John
John
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher, Drum Teacher
John is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing guitar, electric bass, and drums since 2013. He received his BA from Lewis & Clark College in 2022, taking as many music classes and private lessons as he could while enrolled. John has experience and education in many styles including rock, funk, metal, folk, and musical theater. He has been performing in Portland for the past five years in bands such as Mr. Beautiful, Unspeakable Carnage, Canary Room, & The Alabama Boys' Choir.

John's biggest musical influences include Neil Young, Darkthrone, and Fela Kuti & Africa '70. Outside of School of Rock, John keeps busy in the Portland music scene working as the repair technician at Old Town Music in the central eastside. When not playing or working, John enjoys cooking, sci-fi/fantasy novels, and endlessly tinkering with his guitars and amplifiers.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher Kameko
Kameko
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Kameko began her lifelong musical venture taking classical piano lessons at seven years old, leaning into choir later in grade school on through college, and teaching herself guitar in her early teens. Today she is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, producer, songwriter, and perennial learner. She has spent the last three years performing, writing, recording, and touring with her psych-rock outfit Femme Cell, occasionally performing as a solo project with a live looper. She is also pursuing a BS in Sonic Arts and Music Production, with a minor in Community Development, from Portland State University. She spends her rare bouts of downtime reading, designing, sewing outfits, screenprinting, and tinkering with old analog gear. She hails from Olympia, WA.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Luke
Luke
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Luke is a recent graduate from the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance with a Bachelor's Degree of Music in Jazz Studies. He has toured internationally and worked as a studio musician for the last five years. With close to ten years of experience teaching music, Luke has developed a curriculum that caters to the individual needs of each student. Luke teaches guitar, bass, ukulele, and beginner keys.

An avid fan of Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, The Beatles, Prince, and D'Angelo, Luke has an eclectic taste in music and mastery of many different genres including rock, blues, jazz, latin, funk, reggae, soul, and R&B.

When not teaching, Luke can be found playing music with his band Spiller, watching sports (Go Packers), and enjoying the beautiful scenery Oregon has to offer.
Bass Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher Max
Max
Bass Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Max discovered his passion for music during middle school through School of Rock summer camps. Immersed in the energy of rock, he moved on to perform with bands such as Grandfather, Open Floor Plan, and Radler. Max’s dedication to music has led him to participate in countless recording sessions, as well as tour with well-known bands like Like Roses, Awakebutstillinbed, and Mom Jeans. His time on the road and in the studio has shaped him into a versatile musician, and he’s currently the lead singer and songwriter for the local band Dog Cult, where he channels his love for music.

Max became an instructor at the School of Rock in Portland in 2023, bringing his passion for teaching and performance to new musicians. Whether working with beginners or seasoned players, Max enjoys helping others find their voice and place in the ever-evolving world of music. His teaching approach is rooted in his deep love for rock history, and he’s always eager to explore the many subgenres and influences that have shaped modern music.

Outside of teaching and performing, Max remains a huge fan of rock’s rich legacy, from its pioneers to the underground movements that keep the genre alive. Whether it’s discussing the finer points of punk or diving into the history of classic albums, Max loves to share his enthusiasm with fellow music lovers. He also enjoys connecting with his students over their own musical tastes and helping them discover new sounds and styles.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher Octavio
Octavio
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Octavio is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance with a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology. He has played in multiple Portland bands and composes music for films, TV shows, video games, and ads for everything from Sizzle Pie to Nike.

Having started his musical journey at School of Rock Portland when he was 11, Octavio has developed a deep passion for music education and music history. He’s always enthusiastic to have his students embrace their curiosity and learn from all genres of music.

When he’s not building synthesizers, Octavio enjoys reading history books, cooking Korean food, going to the movie theater, collecting retro video games, studying Japanese, and trading obscure vinyl soundtracks.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher Rachel
Rachel
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Rachel is a multi instrumentalist, singer songwriter, and audio engineer best known for her work with bands Black Mountain, Sleepy Sun, and UNKLE. In between tours she has accumulated over a decade of experience working as a musical instructor to all ages in the Los Angeles area and is excited to now call Portland home. Rachel is currently drumming for a feminist punk group and her favorite singers are David Bowie, Robert Plant, Billie Holiday, and Freddie Mercury.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher Ragon
Ragon
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Ragon is a music professional working as a solo performer and recording artist, music teacher, recording engineer, radio DJ, and supporting musician. Originally from Oklahoma, Ragon has called Portland home since 2006. Their background includes working as a multi-instrumentalist in many genres of music, teaching, internet radio, and on the board of directors for a music education non-profit.

You can find Ragon’s solo work on all major streaming services and they currently play in three Portland bands: Doödrr, Bug Complex, and a Pink Floyd tribute band, Comfortably Numb. Ragon loves all music genres and they are especially a big fan of Prog Rock. You can catch their weekly Prog Rock radio show on Tuesdays on Shady Pines Radio.

Ragon holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher Ryan
Ryan
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Drum Teacher
Ryan is a drum, bass, guitar, piano and voice teacher. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Studies. After studying with drummers Jim White and Chris Smith in Colorado, Ryan moved to Los Angeles where he played in numerous bands and studied with Dave Elitch and Thomas Pridgen. Throughout his musical career Ryan has become proficient in many different styles on many different instruments. With a background in rock, jazz, metal, indie/folk rock, and freely improvised music, Ryan can adapt to the needs of any student, and most importantly, make it fun! Ryan is a recent transplant to Portland, and after teaching at the school of rock in Santa Clarita while touring and playing with bands in LA, he is looking forward to continuing the musical journey in Oregon! Favorite bands include Dillinger Escape Plan, John Coltrane, Nirvana, Alexisonfire, Led Zeppelin, and Tom Waits. Favorite hobbies include running around with his dogs and jumping into rivers.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher Spencer
Spencer
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Spencer is a music production student at Portland State University and a member of the world-renowned Portland State Chamber Choir. He has over 12 years experience in both guitar and singing, and has been a featured singer with Josh Groban and Thomas Lauderdale. He's very passionate about music theory and helping his students play songs that challenge them and inspire them to improve. Spencer teaches guitar, voice, bass guitar and beginner drums.

Spencer's a huge fan of Weezer and Soundgarden, and he also likes progressive metal acts like Dream Theater. His wide taste in music helps him connect with any song choice his students might bring to him.

When Spencer isn't working, he's singing with his choir, writing/recording his own music or nerding out over the newest Marvel movie or TV show.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher Tiana
Tiana
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Tiana is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and audio engineer from Los Angeles. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Audio Design & Production at Columbia College Chicago and has engineered, performed, produced, written music and worked alongside musicians and engineers all over the country. Tiana is a lover of all things analog, lo-fi, or unreleased and you can usually find anything from Zappa to Japanese funk to AfroCuban to old country music on my record shelf. As a former School of Rock All Star, Tiana is happy to be teaching guitar, bass, and drums to the next generations of music makers. A fun fact about Tiana: “I once toured with an all-female Metallica tribute band Misstallica as Kirk Hammett!”

Tiana loves to cook and spends most non-musical brain power thinking about food and new recipes. Her favorite foods are the family’s traditional cuisines: Thai and Argentine. ”I’m a huge X-Files nerd and my favorite movies to watch over and over again are “Spirited Away, Harold and Maude, and The Hunger.”
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher Wayan
Wayan
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Wayan has been making music for most of his life, starting on guitar before grade school, and picking up bass, drums, and keyboards along the way. He majored in jazz performance at Lewis & Clark College and has studied with Dan Balmer, Jojo Mayer, and Joe Russo. Wayan toured the country as a guitarist with The Funk Ark and as a tour manager for Nerve. He has multiple albums out on Ropeadope Records and has previously worked as a production manager at Brooklyn Bowl (NY) and Assistant Editor at Relix Magazine.

Wayan has been teaching for over 20 years and has numerous former students touring in bands. These days he mostly listens to instrumental music spanning the spectrum from Butcher Brown to Chon and spends the bulk of his free time figuring out how to play the hybrid bass/guitar he got from Charlie Hunter.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher  Zach
Zach
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Zach has been a devoted musician since he was a teenager when he began playing rock guitar. Those early years consisted of everything from learning, practicing, and rehearsing to performing, writing, and recording music with various groups. Holden is a graduate of SOR who then attended Portland State University, earning a Bachelor of Music degree and further developing his musical ability and identity through his education in jazz and classical styles. During his education and thereafter, Zach has continued to write music, perform in bands and in the “pit” for staged musical productions in Portland, and has begun educating others about music as well. Zach is also an avid cook, a history and geography nerd, and a burgeoning language enthusiast who is currently studying Italian.
School of Rock is where music and learning come together

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Reviews

Be part of an Inspiring Community.

School of Rock is amazing! The instructors are not only fantastic teachers and caring people but great musicians. How they so expertly bring together kids of different ages and skill levels to put on such amazing shows is beyond me.

School of Rock makes learning music fun!

All the people involved with School of Rock make this a fantastic program. The staff, instructors, parents and kids make up a band family. There is a sense of community and an acceptance that is hard to find now.

Best Youth Music program in the City.

School of Rock is all-inclusive, has dedicated instructors and staff, a vibrant atmosphere, and most importantly, it's fun! My 8-year-old has grown leaps and bounds in skill and personal confidence in the three years he's been a part of School of Rock.

My kid loves School of Rock!

My kid is on a journey with School Rock and is having the time of his life. The group at the school are very supportive, friendly, talented and enthusiastic. Everyone takes care of each other and they all help one another out both in rehearsals and at shows.

Definitely would recommend to others

The School of Rock Rocks! At the very last minute, we inquired about lessons and extra curricular activities for my son and they were so flexible with online lessons and registration process. He loves the school and instructors - definitely would recommend to others.

The structure of the program is cool!

Great, caring instructors. The programs are well-organized and the staff does a good job of communicating with families and students. The structure of the program--with individual lessons and group shows--is very cool.

The School of Rock team does a phenomenal job.

The SOR team has done a phenomenal job of making this difficult time with Covid a smooth transition for the kids & parents via Zoom.

I feel safe sending my son to School of Rock.

Diverse musicians and music. Found a way to still make classes work during Covid. I feel safe sending my son there and feel the staff really care about him and supporting his musical passion.

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