At School of Rock Rockville Centre, 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!

ROCK N ROLL KARAOKE

rock 101 | AGES 7-10 | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 4 PM - 5:30 PM OR THURSDAYS, 5 PM - 6:30 PM

Step up to the mic and get ready to be the star of the show! Rock 101’s Rock n Roll Karaoke gives young musicians ages 7–10 the ultimate chance to shine center stage — no spotlight sharing required. In this fun and confidence-boosting program, students will learn and perform classic rock anthems and modern hits in a karaoke-style format, taking turns as both lead singers and backing band members. From belting out Queen and The Beatles to jamming along with Green Day and Imagine Dragons, every rehearsal helps students build stage presence, teamwork, and musical skills in a supportive, high-energy environment. Whether they’re shredding a solo or singing their favorite chorus, Rock n Roll Karaoke is all about having fun, finding your voice, and rocking out together. Grab the mic — your moment to shine is here!

Check out the preview playlist!

left of the dial

rock 102 | AGES 10-13 | REHEARSES TUESDAYS, 5:15 PM - 7:15 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!

BRITISH INVASION

ROCK 102 | Ages 10-13 | Rehearses Thursdays, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

The mid-1960s cultural phenomenon known as “The British Invasion” refers to the sudden and ubiquitous popularity of British rock and roll among the American youth of the time. The catalog of music created by these artists - including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks among others - propelled Rock & Roll music to the mainstream of cultural relevance where it remains to this day. The British Invasion bands took inspiration from Blues, Folk, and early Rock & Roll and combined these influences in an exciting way that can teach both our students and audiences the foundation of modern pop and rock music. British Invasion is a prime show choice for all instruments and experience levels to learn the foundations of Rock music, and especially perfect for emerging players who are looking to take the next step in widening their musical repertoire. Some notable song selections may include The Beatles’ “Twist And Shout”, The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”, and The Yardbirds’ “For Your Love”.

Check out the preview playlist!

BEST OF THE 2010S

ROCK 102 | AGES 10-13 | REHEARSES SATURDAYS, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

School of Rock pays tribute to the past decade of Rock and Roll! The 2010s proved that rock and roll is alive and well, with diverse artists such as Adele, Imagine Dragons, Tame Impala, H.E.R., and St. Vincent all rising to prominence in the music world. These current artists combine modern production techniques with retro-sounding riffs and song structures, resulting in today's chart topping hits. While the music itself has generally evolved somewhat from decades past - less guitar solos, more keyboards, and more influence from Hip Hop and R&B - the spirit of Rock and Roll remains as vital as ever. This show will be a stylistically diverse recap of the best music from the decade, featuring modern takes on Punk (Green Day, My Chemical Romance), Blues (Gary Clark Jr., Black Keys), Pop (Taylor Swift, Katy Perry), Rock and Roll (Greta Van Fleet, The Dead Weather), and more! A great show for students of any instrument and experience level.

Check out the preview playlist!

70S HARD ROCK

ROCK 103 | AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM

The dominant rock and roll genre in the 1970s, Hard Rock evolved out of the heavy blues favored by bands like Cream, Blue Cheer, and Iron Butterfly in the 1960s. By the early ‘70s, bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, and Black Sabbath had achieved superstar status. Soon, a slew of artists would find mainstream success with the Hard Rock formula: distorted guitar riffs, soaring solos, amped up boogie in the rhythm section, and wailing lead vocals. AC/DC, KISS, Aerosmith, Heart, Queen, Alice Cooper, and Van Halen were just a few of the many bands that rose to stardom during this era. While Hard Rock was generally guitar focused, piano and organ played a prominent role in bands like Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, and Mott The Hoople. The ‘70s Hard Rock show is a great opportunity for all instruments to build chops by learning some of the most classic songs in rock and roll history.

Check out the preview playlist!

BEST OF THE '80S

ROCK 103 | AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES TUESDAYS, 7:15 PM - 9:15 PM

BEST OF THE 80'S IS THE SPRING 2026 FEATURED SHOW!

In the Best of the '80s show, School of Rock will travel back in time to an era of fluorescent clothes, poofy hair, and the best synth-driven pop anthems you will ever hear. On August 1, 1981, music fans were catapulted into the '80s music era by the debut of a cultural phenomenon: MTV. This new music format - the music video - gave old and new artists alike the chance to reach unimaginable numbers of diverse audiences and sell millions of records and cassette tapes. The '80s would not have had its soundtrack without Michael Jackson. Jackson began the '80s on a sonic high that carried over from 1979’s “Off the Wall”, but he struck gold with the worldwide phenomenon that was Thriller. Also making a huge impact on the '80s were super-star Pop acts like Madonna, Prince, and all-girl band The Go- Gos. Gender became less binary and static in the '80s with wildly popular artists like Boy George of Culture Club, Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics, Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders and every hair metal act challenging perceptions of what is acceptable attire or behavior for “male” and “female.” Although pop acts reigned supreme in the '80s, rock bands like Guns N’ Roses, Journey, and Bon Jovi reaped the benefits from the ‘decade of excess’. The Best of the '80s show will feature a diverse mix of styles and artists, and is a challenging and fun experience for students of any instrument or experience level.

Check out the preview playlist!

blues legends

rock 103 | AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 5:30 PM - 7:30 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”.

Check out the preview playlist!

ROCK N GROHL

ROCK 103 | AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES FRIDAYS, 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM

Rock 'n' Grohl (aka The Dave Grohl Show) is a killer show that covers quite a lot of musical ground on all instruments, featuring Grohl’s work with Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Queens Of The Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Probot, and more. This music is centered in the Hard Rock aesthetic but ranges from Grunge to Punk to Metal to Prog. Best known for his work in Foo Fighters and Nirvana, Dave Grohl is unanimously admired throughout the entertainment industry and continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the modern music scene. The Rock ‘n’ Grohl show is ideal for guitarists of every experience level, in that it encompasses a wide range of skills and techniques - from Nirvana’s rhythmic yet aggressive strumming to the Foo Fighters’ melodic and driving octaves to Queens of The Stone Age’s heavy but quirky leads and solos. Dave Grohl is especially well-known for his prowess behind the kit throughout his career, making this show a favorite for drummers. For vocalists, Foo Fighters songs provide great examples of the belting and chest voice techniques, and intermediate vocalists will be challenged by frequent dynamic changes and two-part harmonies.

Check out the preview playlist!

CBGB

GRAD SCHOOL | AGES 18+ | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

REHEARSALS TAKE PLACE AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY - 180 MICHAEL DRIVE, SYOSSET

The CBGB show is an overview of the early New Wave bands who got their break at the legendary NYC club. When CBGB opened in 1973, no one had any idea that a Bowery dive bar would become known as the birthplace of Punk. The official name was CBGB & OMFUG: Country, Bluegrass, Blues & and Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers. While the Ramones generally get credit for starting the Punk scene, Television was actually the first band in this scene to play at CBGBs, on March 31, 1974. Soon artists like Blondie, Talking Heads, and Patti Smith set up residence at CBGBs, along with British bands like The Police and Elvis Costello who made CBGB their stateside hangout. As the Punk scene grew and took hold, other bands such as Cleveland transplants the Dead Boys and New Jersey’s Misfits became CBGB mainstays. The CBGB show offers a diverse and highly educational mix of ridiculously cool artists that can challenge students on any instrument at all experience levels.

Check out the preview playlist!

ac/dc

grad school | ages 18+ | rehearses wednesdays, 7:15 pm - 9:15 pm

REHEARSALS TAKE PLACE AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY - 180 MICHAEL DRIVE, SYOSSET

Few rock bands have had the longevity and commercial success of AC/DC. Formed in Sydney, Australia, in the early '70s, the band - led by guitarist brothers Angus and Malcolm Young - quickly began their rise to Hard Rock’ superstardom with the release of their albums High Voltage, T.N.T., and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. With Bon Scott at the vocal helm, AC/DC gained world-wide fame. After Scott’s untimely passing in 1980, Brian Johnson took over as vocalist and recorded one of the greatest, most influential albums in modern rock: Back In Black, featuring classic songs like “Hells Bells”, “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Shoot To Thrill”, and of course “Back In Black”. After almost 50 years, AC/DC continues to be a favorite band for generations of fans. This is a perfect show for budding lead guitarists and vocalists, and also provides valuable lessons for bassists and drummers on playing tight grooves in the service of the song. For beginner and intermediate students looking to take their playing to the next level, the AC/DC show is the one!

Check out the preview playlist!

SPRING 2026 - IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

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

• 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 rockvillecentre@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.