It Builds Confidence.
My son has learned so much about music and what it takes to put on a show. By performing in a band on stage he has boosted his confidence and stage presence. Thank you to all the hard-working staff!
Rock 101
Ages 8-13
Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Somerville's top programs for kids and beginners. Students have one weekly group rehearsal where they learn to play classic rock songs that have been simplified for beginner musicians. Additionally, Rock 101 students in Somerville have a weekly private music lesson with an instructor who helps them learn the concepts and skills behind their performance songs.
What To Expect
- 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
- 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL
The Path to Take the Stage
Our music programs for kids in Somerville are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Somerville who have participated in the Rookies program can move to our Rock 101 music program once they’re ready. Additionally, students (typically ages 8 to 13-years-old) can begin Rock 101 without any prior experience. The goal of this rock program is to quickly develop a basic competence on students’ chosen instruments before moving on to our famous Performance Program.
Performance
Ages 8-18
The Performance Program at School of Rock Somerville is our hallmark music program, where tens of thousands of students enroll each year. It consists of a weekly group rehearsal where kids and teens learn by playing rock music's most iconic songs with a band composed of their peers. Students are assigned songs and parts that are tailored to them based on their age, experience and ability to learn new skills and concepts. Students then work through their parts in weekly private music lessons, refining the skills and concepts that those songs introduce. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare kids and teens for live performances. Every few months, School of Rock Somerville Performance Program students take the stage and play at local Somerville music venues in front of a live audience.
What To Expect
- 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
- 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL
The Path to Take the Stage
School of Rock Somerville's music programs for kids and teens are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing. All of our other music education programs focus on readying students for our famous Performance Program. This is where students develop incredible musical skills. Performance Program students have often gone through our Rock 101 program first or have some previous basic music experience. These young musicians will have custom development plans outlined by their instructors with key concepts reinforced during private lessons and group rehearsals, all with the goal of performing live at a Somerville music venue.
Rookies
Ages 6-7
At School of Rock Somerville, our music program for children with no previous musical experience (typically ages 6 to 7-years-old) is called Rookies. Rookies students have one weekly group music lesson where they learn fundamentals like chords, rhythm and song structure. Kids get to learn and experiment with multiple instruments so they can later decide which one they ultimately want to continue pursuing in Rock 101.
What To Expect
- 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
- USE OF SIMPLIFIED ROCK INSTRUMENTS TO TEACH KIDS TO PLAY MUSIC
The Path to Take the Stage
All of our music programs are designed to inspire students to learn and develop a strong musical proficiency. At School of Rock Somerville, younger students who are not ready for a more comprehensive program like Rock 101 can start in Rookies. Additionally, students who have completed the Little Wing program will progress into the Rookies music program. No prior musical experience is needed for Rookies. Once your child is ready for private music lessons (typically older than first or second graders), they will graduate into our Rock 101 program.
Little Wing
Ages 4-5
At School of Rock Somerville our Little Wing music program for preschoolers and toddlers teaches students foundational music skills by playing games and participating in other interactive musical activities. Little Wing students have one weekly group music lesson in which they use classic rock songs to learn about rhythm, song structure, melody and dynamics through play.
What To Expect
- 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
- USE HAND PERCUSSION & OTHER TOOLS TO LEARN RHYTHM PATTERNS & MUSIC SYNTAX
The Path to Take the Stage
The Little Wing music program is the first step in a young musician's journey. At School of Rock Somerville, toddlers and preschoolers who show an interest in music should start with Little Wing. As they get older, they will progress into the Rookies program, followed by Rock 101 and the Performance Program.
Songwriting
Age 12 and over
Our Songwriting program for kids and teens teaches the fundamentals of songwriting, arrangement and music theory, and helps students compose original works. At School of Rock Somerville, songwriting students receive one weekly private lesson where they learn concepts, technique and theory on an instrument of their choice. These principles are then applied in a weekly group lesson where students work together on songwriting exercises and lyrical workshops. Every few months, Songwriting students take the stage to perform or band together to record their original songs.
What to Expect
- 1 weekly private lesson
- 1 weekly group lesson
The Path to Take the Stage
Our Songwriting program for kids and teens in Somerville is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Somerville who have completed our Rock 101 program can move to our Songwriting program once they’re ready. Additionally, new students who have prior experience with and basic knowledge of an instrument can also begin Songwriting. The program culminates with a live showcase where students perform their original compositions in bands at a local music venue. Students taking the Songwriting Program online will remotely record their original songs to produce a demo of the class's music.
Adult Program
Ages 18+
School of Rock Somerville's Adult Program is for students over 18 years old who are looking to either improve their musical proficiency or pick up an instrument with no prior musical experience. As with most School of Rock music programs, the Adult Program uses a performance-based music education approach. This means the curriculum focuses on learning music concepts and applying them in a live performance setting. Our Adult Music Program includes one weekly private music lesson and a weekly group rehearsal. Every student at School of Rock Somerville is placed in a band of fellow adults and then assigned specific songs as a way of learning key music concepts and skills. Adult students then take the stage to play at a live show in Somerville.
What To Expect
- 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
- 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL
The Path to Take the Stage
All of our music programs are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency along the way. The School of Rock Somerville Adult Program is open to all experience levels and each student will follow a customized learning plan developed by their instructor. Adult students will work together during rehearsal to prepare for a live performance at a real rock venue in Somerville.
House Band
Age 17 and Under
The School of Rock Somerville House Band music program gives students under 18 the opportunity to join a gigging band composed of fellow musicians from their school. These students perform additional live shows throughout the year. All students in the Performance Program have the opportunity to audition for a spot in School of Rock Somerville's House Band. Once selected, House Band members become leaders in their School of Rock community and perform live shows at NJ rock venues throughout the year.
What To Expect
- A GIGGING MUSICIAN'S EXPERIENCE
- FREQUENT LIVE PERFORMANCES IN COMMUNITY
The Path to Take the Stage
Performance is the core of School of Rock's educational approach. Therefore, we create additional opportunities for students to perform on stages throughout Somerville and the rest of NJ. The House Band music program allows each school's most talented students the opportunity to join a band and play routinely in front of live audiences. Once a member, students will gain real music experience associated with gigging musicians and will become leaders and mentors inside the School of Rock community.
AllStars
Age 17 and Under
The School of Rock AllStars Tour takes the very best students from around the world and sends them on a nationwide summer tour across the United States. Less than 1% of School of Rock students are selected each year to represent School of Rock as an AllStar. All Performance Program students are eligible to audition for this prestigious program. The intensive audition process starts off with video submissions followed by live auditions. Once selected, AllStar students will have an authentic touring experience including traveling on a tour bus, doing tour publicity and starring in nightly performances at famous venues and festivals during a two-week tour.
What To Expect
- A MULTI-CITY, COUNTRY-WIDE MUSIC TOUR EXPERIENCE
- PERFORMING ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST FAMOUS STAGES IN THE WORLD
The Path to Take the Stage
Becoming an AllStar is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student. They play on legendary stages large and small, including The Knitting Factory, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Troubadour and Lollapalooza. AllStar students often go on to have accomplished careers in the music industry. Former AllStars have gone on to become touring artists, star in Broadway musicals, get signed to record deals, become finalists on talent competitions like "The Voice" and "American Idol" and have other notable roles in the music industry.