SPRING IS IN BLOOM WITH ALL NEW SHOWS!

Our Performance Program is what School of Rock is all about! Students are placed in shows and assigned songs to build musical proficiency. The student and the instructor work on individual parts in private lessons, and bring the songs back to the group rehearsal, where they learn about teamwork, collaboration, and playing in a band.  This all culminates with an end-of-season performance at a rock venue.  Signups for our new season begin now!

ROCK 101: DECADES OF AWESOME

AGES 7-10 | REHEARSALS, WEDNESDAYS, 4:00PM-5:30PM OR THURSDAYS, 5:00PM-6:30PM

From the classics to today, Rock 101 covers it all!  This show, perfect for students ages 7-10, will take our students on a journey through all of music history to bring everyone the best hits through the years!

ROCK 102: ROLLING STONES VS. THE BEATLES

ages 10-13 | rehearsals, thursdays, 6:30pm-8:30pm or saturdays, 10:30am-12:30pm

The Rolling Stones and The Beatles were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form.  In other words, they made being in a band “cool”.  By the mid 1960’s, both bands achieved international stardom, leading the British Invasion of the United States pop market and breaking numerous sales records.  The music created by both groups has been cherished ever since it’s release, and is regarded as some of the most influential art of all time (no big deal). Listen to:  “Hey Jude”, “Come Together”, “Paint it Black”, and “Satisfaction”.

rock 103: best of the 2010s

ages 13-hs senior | rehearsals: mondays, 5:15pm-7:15pm

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.

rock 103: indie rock

AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSALS: TUESDAYS, 5:15PM-7:15PM

Indie Rock emerged as a genre in the 1980s as a response to the highly polished music of the '70s and '80s. The origin of the Indie movement can be traced back to the year of 1977 when the Buzzcocks self-published their Spiral Scratch EP. The band’s rejection of the typically major label-generated approach to the recording and distribution of music earned them their independent, or “indie”, status. As other bands adopted the Buzzcocks’ DIY ethos, the movement grew, and Indie Rock came to describe a particular sound that came from small post-punk labels of the early 1980s. In the '80s, bands like REM, The Pixies, and The Meat Puppets were known for putting musical experimentation before commercial goals, and gained popularity through college radio. In contrast with the synth-heavy pop music of the day, those Indie bands continued the emphasis on guitar that earlier Rock and Punk music popularized. In the '90s, the influence of Grunge helped usher in an era of commercialization in the Alternative genre. After many influential Indie acts achieved great commercial success, “Indie” soon began to describe artists who clung to their independent status and refused to sell-out. The music industry began to market any music that embraced a retro, guitar-centric sound as “Indie” as well. Through the 2000s, groups like the White Stripes, Jet, and The Strokes released garage-twinged music that received a massive amount of radioplay. The Indie Rock Show will give guitar players a look into unconventional chord voicings and manipulating guitar sounds with effects.  Keyboardists, too, will enjoy applying more sound patches into the songs’ soundscapes.  The rhythm section of bassists and drummers will be challenged by the diversity of playing styles of which Indie Rock is known for. This fun and musically varied show is a great choice for all experience levels.

ROCK 103: RUSH

AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSALS: WEDNESDAYS, 5:30PM-7:30PM

Rush was a Canadian rock band which formed in the late 60s and gained their popularity in the mid-70s and early 80s. The band’s classic lineup of Geddy Lee (bass, keys, vocals), Alex Lifeson (guitar), and Neil Peart (drums) went on to release 20 studio albums of heavy, progressive rock music that solidified them as one of the most prolific and proficient music acts in history. The band’s songs often utilized odd time signatures and non-traditional arrangements, with lyrics venturing into science fiction and fantasy. Classic songs like Tom Sawyer, The Spirit of Radio, Closer to the Heart, and Free Will helped Rush sell millions of records, earning their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Any student participating in the Rush show will be faced with performing some of the most complex music the SoR curriculum has to offer. Vocalists will stretch their ranges with Geddy Lee’s dynamic vocals, and bass players will be challenged by his unique, melodic style. Alex Lifeson’s guitar parts venture further from straight pentatonic riffs to modal playing. Drummers will have the challenging task of attempting some of the most complex drum parts in music history. Keyboard players will receive an education in innovative synth techniques. This show is sure to be an exciting, educational musical experience for all students intermediate and above!

ROCK 103: NIRVANA

AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSALS: FRIDAYS, 5:15PM-7:15PM

Nirvana was formed in Aberdeen Washington in 1987 by friends Kurt Cobain (vocals and guitar) and Krist Novovselic (bass). After a succession of drummers including the Melvins’ Dale Crover, Chad Channing joined and they released their first 7” single “Love Buzz” on the fledgling label Sub Pop in 1988. Combining elements of Punk, Metal, and Pop, Nirvana channeled teen angst into Rock’s last sweeping mainstream movement. In 1989 the band recorded their first full-length record “Bleach”, which was a hit on college radio. As their tour to support their LP progressed, Cobain and Novoselic became frustrated with Channing’s drumming, and Channing left the group. Buzz Osborne of Mudhoney introduced the band to Dave Grohl, providing the missing piece of the puzzle. Nirvana went on to record what is known as the pinnacle of the Grunge movement, Nevermind.  With tracks like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Come As You Are”, and “In Bloom”, Nirvana skyrocketed into mainstream success, crowning them the kings of Grunge. While the band’s career was cut short by Cobain’s untimely death in 1994, Nirvana have remained prominent music legends due to their innovative sound and their influence on countless bands who came after them. Beginner and intermediate guitar players will learn power chords and melodic lead guitar in this show, while any drum student will be challenged by David Grohl’s powerful, technical drumming. The Nirvana show is a solid show for all levels of playing and is packed with crowd-pleasing '90s anthems.

ROCK 103: MODERN METAL

AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSALS: SATURDAYS, 12:30PM-2:30PM

The Modern Metal show traces the evolution of metal music from the turn of the century to the present day, and focuses on bands who kept the virtuosic spirit of metal alive while incorporating more contemporary techniques into their sound, such as an emphasis on melody and harmony, and modern studio production. Artists such as Disturbed and Slipknot rose to prominence with the popularity of Nu-Metal, while Metalcore bands such as Killswitch Engage and The Dillinger Escape Plan brought the genre into the 2010s. The Modern Metal show will celebrate this next generation of metal artists - including Avenged Sevenfold, Tool, Baroness, Gojira, System of a Down, Lamb of God, Mastodon, and more! This is a super challenging show for all instruments, as the speed and precision of this music requires quite a bit of proficiency to master.

GRAD SCHOOL: CLASSIC ROCK

AGES 18+| REHEARSALS: MONDAYS, 7:30PM-9:30PM

REHEARSALS FOR GRAD SCHOOL TAKE PLACE AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY - 180 MICHAEL DRIVE, SYOSSET, NY 11791

The Classic Rock show is the perfect show for School of Rock students of all ages, instruments, and experience levels! Focusing heavily on music from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, there's bands that will be featured that everyone will enjoy!  Be prepared to play hits by bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Doors, The Who, Pink Floyd, Boston, Talking Heads and more.

GRAD SCHOOL: KISS

AGES 18+| REHEARSALS: WEDNESDAYS, 7:15PM-9:15PM

REHEARSALS FOR GRAD SCHOOL TAKE PLACE AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY - 180 MICHAEL DRIVE, SYOSSET, NY 11791

ADVISORY - SOME LYRICAL CONTENT IN THIS SHOW MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL STUDENTS

KISS rose to prominence in the 1970s with a string of hard rock hits and live shows that generated a thrilling visual experience, becoming one of the biggest-selling bands in rock history. While the blood spitting, fire breathing, and extreme marketing sometimes overshadowed the music, behind the face paint KISS were four talented musicians with a gift for writing great, catchy rock and roll songs. Many rock bands of today cite KISS as a main influence and inspiration to pursue the life of a touring musician. Beyond the visual spectacle, KISS is a band with a surprisingly diverse catalog that requires some serious musicianship. For guitarists, the KISS show will incorporate several approaches to rock soloing, as KISS had 5 different lead guitarists throughout their career. Gene Simmons’ bass playing will certainly challenge students' ability to play melodic riffs and simultaneously maintain groove. Drum students will love the many rocking drum breaks and big fills within KISS’ 50-year catalog of material. This is a show the whole family will have fun singing along to, featuring hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “Beth”, and “Shout It Out Loud”.