At School of Rock Queens, we don't teach music to put on shows - we put on shows to teach music. Students are assigned songs selected to develop them as musicians, and work on them in private lessons with their instructors, as well as in weekly rehearsals with groups made up of their peers. The season culminates with a performance at our seasonal showcase, where they can show you everything they've been working on throughout the season!
See the end of this article for important dates, and ways to sign up for the new season!
DECADES OF AWESOME
ROCK 101 | AGES 7-10 | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 4:30 PM - 6 PM OR THURSDAYS, 4:30 PM - 6 PM
Fire up the time machine and get ready to rock through the ages! Rock 101’s Decades of Awesome takes young musicians on an epic journey through the greatest eras of rock and roll — from the groovy ‘60s to the electrifying ‘90s and beyond. Students ages 7–10 will explore the iconic sounds that shaped music history, performing songs from legendary artists like The Rolling Stones, Journey, Nirvana, and Paramore. Each rehearsal brings a new decade, new energy, and new opportunities to shine — whether they’re powering through a ‘70s guitar riff, locking in a ‘80s drum groove, or singing their hearts out to a ‘90s anthem. Packed with fun, learning, and nonstop jams, this show celebrates how every generation keeps rock alive. So grab your instrument, channel your inner rock star, and let’s make every decade awesome!
Check out the preview playlist!
SOUTHERN ROCK
ROCK 102 | AGES 10-13 | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 5:15 PM - 7:15 PMTHURSDAYS, 6:45 PM - 8:45 PM OR SUNDAYS, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Southern Rock encompasses more than just music generated by bands south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
It’s a vibe and emotion that stems from a long painful history of racism, oppression, economic hardship, and classism. However the very spirit of Southern Rock is one of healing and reconciliation.
Rock and Roll has deep roots in the South, and this show will feature the best of Southern Rock through the years – from early artists such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, to bluesy southern rockers like The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Bonnie Raitt, to modern practitioners like Gary Clark Jr., Carrie Underwood, and The Black Crowes. The Southern Rock show will thrust guitar players to the forefront with guitar harmonies and advanced soloing based on the pentatonic scale. Bass players will dig deep into groove playing. Drummers will learn to play through different feels like shuffles, boogies, and half-time and double-time transitions. Keyboardists will be challenged with new styles as they utilize diverse sounds ranging from piano to Hammond organ to Rhodes electric piano. Vocalists will gain an understanding of Southern-style harmony and emotive singing. This show offers many challenges for ambitious and experienced players!
Check out the preview playlist!
90S ALTERNATIVE
ROCK 103 | ages 13-hs senior | rehearses tuesdays, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
When Nirvana’s song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became an international sensation in late 1991, major record labels began searching feverishly for similar artists who could further capitalize on the massive interest in this new “alternative” sound. The result was an abrupt shift away from the formulaic Pop and Hair Metal anthems of the 1980s to the gritty and dynamic music of Grunge. Since the music industry wasn’t quite sure what would capture the public’s attention in this new landscape, major labels began signing and promoting all sorts of artists with idiosyncratic and unique sounds to serve as an “alternative” to what had previously captured mainstream popularity. Bands such as Pavement, Beck, Hole, Cake, Radiohead, Blur, Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, and Belly drew from the influence of the underground rock and punk scene of the 1980s, and found quick success with music fans who were eager for new sounds and styles. Students of all instruments and experience levels can expect good challenges in this fun show full of interesting and catchy music.
Check out the preview playlist!
left of the dial
rock 103 | AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES SUNDAYS, 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Alternative rock from a time before “alternative” was a genre, Left of the Dial refers to the underground rock featured on many college radio stations in the 1980s and early 1990s, before Grunge swept alternative music into the mainstream. These college stations often broadcast at lower frequencies, which were located on the far left side of the analog FM radio dial. The term “Left of the Dial” was coined in a song by The Replacements, and an eventual compilation album by Rhino Records further cemented the phrase as a nickname for this era of music. A few of the bands and artists from this era found mainstream success, but all of them began as DIY underdogs and were incredibly influential in the evolution of the Grunge and Indie Rock that defined rock music in the 90s and 2000s. Left of the Dial is known for its wide variety of musical styles and unique personalities, including artists like Sonic Youth, REM, The Pixies, Depeche Mode, Meat Puppets, Kate Bush, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, The Smiths, and Dinosaur Jr. Students of all instruments and experience levels can expect good challenges playing these songs that often still sound innovative, even today.
Check out the preview playlist!
BLUES LEGENDS
GRAD SCHOOL | AGES 18+ | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 7:15 PM - 9:15 PM
The Blues is a genre that transcends time and cultural boundaries, and has influenced, in some capacity, nearly every song that has come since its original inception. This show is a crash course in the great blues players over the years and within its setlist, it shows how the torch was passed throughout the years. From the original blues pioneers to the '80s blues revival and beyond, this show is not only a great lesson in instrument improvisation, but also why the blues will never fade away! Traditional artists like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, and Albert King will be showcased, along with more contemporary blues masters like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, and Gary Clark Jr. Throughout the many changes in blues music over the years, it still remains the most influential genre from which all modern rock is derived. One of the greatest aspects of the genre is the way it remembers its creators, innovators, and pioneers. It truly is music that will continue to stand the test of time as we celebrate those that we call “Blues Legends”.
OUR NEW SEASON STARTS THE WEEK OF JANUARY 12TH! SAVE YOUR SPOT IN THE BAND TODAY.
SPRING 2026 - IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOW
TENTATIVE SHOW DATES
The show dates listed above are tentatively confirmed and are expected to be accurate. Please add these dates to your calander. In the rare event that any show dates need to be adjusted due to venue availability, we will provide as much notice as possible.
how to sign up
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CURRENTLY ENROLLED SCHOOL OF ROCK FAMILIES
- ROCK 101/102: Fill out the Rehearsal Scheduling Survey available on the Parent Portal.
- ROCK 103/GRAD SCHOOL: Fill out the Rehearsal Scheduling Survey available on the Parent Portal, then discuss your options with your instructor between Monday, November 10 and Sunday, November 23.
- SOON TO BE SCHOOL OF ROCK FAMILIES
- Call us at 516-234-7625, email us at queens@schoolofrock.com, or fill out the form below to get started!
- Call us at 516-234-7625, email us at queens@schoolofrock.com, or fill out the form below to get started!
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.