Student Spotlight: Distance Finds HER Voice Through Music

For 14-year-old Distance, music has been part of life for as long as she can remember.

Distance began playing piano at just three years old and has now been making music for more than a decade. Over the years, that early interest grew into a passion for singing, guitar, and exploring the heavier styles of music that speak to them most.

“I was always interested in music,” Distance says. “I was also really musically inclined. And then I was like, ‘Wait, I can sing and play.’”

That ability to combine vocals and instruments opened up a whole new way for Distance to express herself.

Finding a Sound of Her Own

Distance gravitates toward grunge, metal, and screamo. She proudly describes themselves as a screamo vocalist. As part of School of Rock, she chooses the songs she connects with, learns to sing and play them, and takes those songs out to perform.

As a member of the Nirvana band, Distance gets to explore that passion even further.

“I love Nirvana,” Distance says.

Being part of the performance program has also introduced Distance to music she may not have discovered on their own. Students are matched with songs that complement their voices while still challenging them to grow.

“It is awesome trying to learn new things and learn new songs that I haven’t heard before and expand on my vocal range,” Distance says.

Turning Up the Guitar

Although guitar was always around, Distance’s connection with the instrument took some time to click.

Her dad has played guitar throughout his life and gave Distance a guitar when she was six. At the time, Distance wasn’t particularly interested. Years later, she picked one up again at School of Rock Rancho Santa Margarita—and everything changed.

“I just fell in love with it,” Distance says.

She began learning songs they genuinely enjoyed, experimenting with different styles of guitar, and eventually combining her playing with vocals.

That willingness to revisit something, discover it on her own terms, and make it personal has become an important part of Distance’s musical journey; and it’s core to our teaching at School of Rock.

Learning to Use Her Voice Differently

Some of Distance’s biggest growth has come through her vocal lessons.

While they once considered themselves primarily a “clean” singer, that style didn’t fully match the grunge, metal, and screamo music they wanted to perform. Through lessons, Distance began learning techniques that helped them bring more texture, gravel, and aggression into their vocals.

“I like learning new things about my voice,” they say. “I like expanding my range and finding new styles that I can sing in.”

Learning those techniques has given Distance another outlet for expression.

“It’s very, very fun being able to express that in the music.”

Always Learning Something New

For Distance, School of Rock isn’t limited to mastering one instrument or one style.

During the interview, Distance had even spent part of the day learning drums.

“I was learning new things. It was really fun.”

That curiosity is supported by instructors who Distance says make learning new skills approachable and enjoyable.

“I love all the teachers here,” Distance says. “They’re all really amazing. They’re all super nice to me. They also are really good at explaining things, especially when I’m trying to learn something new.”

Whether they’re expanding their vocal range, experimenting with a new instrument, learning a Nirvana song, or combining guitar and vocals, Distance continues to find new ways to push their musicianship forward.

And at 14, with more than a decade of music already behind them, she's only getting started.