At School of Rock Roslyn, 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 MONDAYS, 6 pm - 7:30 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!
BRITISH INVASION
ROCK 102 | AGES 10-13 | REHEARSES TUESDAYS, 5 PM - 7 PM OR WEDNESDAYS, 5 PM - 7 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!
NIRVANA
ROCK 103 | AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 7 PM - 9 PM
Nirvana was formed in Aberdeen Washington in 1987 by friends Kurt Cobain (vocals and guitar) and Krist Novoselic (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 The Melvins 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.
Check out the preview playlist!
BEST OF THE '80S
ROCK 103 | AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES THURSDAYS, 5 PM - 7 PM
BEST OF THE '80S IS THE SPRING 2026 SCHOOL OF ROCK 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!
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!
OUR SPRING SEASON BEGINS MONDAY, JANUARY 12! 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
- 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 roslyn@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.