Working toward and experiencing live performance is the core of our curriculum. Our students grow as individuals by taking the stage with others. When our students work with bandmates, they learn broader life skills like collaboration, compromise and courage. We call this revolutionary approach to music education The School of Rock Method™. The School of Rock Method builds musical proficiency through our proprietary Method App, Method Book collection, SongFirst approach, and Performance Based Music Education. Our Method has been awarded a patent making our teaching system available nowhere else.

Our two introductory programs for kids with no or limited prior experience are Rookies and Rock 101. Rookies is a music program designed for kids ages 6-7 with no previous musical experience. Students have one weekly group lesson where they learn music fundamentals like chords, rhythm and song structure. Rookies students also learn and experiment with multiple instruments so they are then able to decide which one they ultimately want to continue pursuing in Rock 101.

Rock 101, for kids ages 8-13, offers a weekly group rehearsal where they learn classic rock songs that have been arranged and simplified specifically for beginner musicians. These rehearsals are all about getting young musicians to learn the fundamentals of their instrument and playing with a band in a positive and fun atmosphere. Students also have a weekly private music lesson where they learn foundational music and instrument skills and concepts.

The Performance Program, for kids ages 8 to 18, is School of Rock's hallmark music program. It consists of a weekly group rehearsal where students work with a band composed of their peers to play through rock music's most iconic songs. Students are assigned songs and parts that are tailored to them based on their age, experience, and opportunity to learn new skills and concepts. Students then work through their parts in weekly private music lessons to refine the skills and concepts that those songs introduce. The goal of this curriculum is to prepare students for live performances. Every few months, Performance Program students take the stage and play at local music venues in front of a real audience.

West Hartford's 2023 Summer Performance Program Show lineup, in addition to Rookies & Rock 101, includes:

Joan Jett/Pat Benatar
Joan Jett and Pat Benatar - these iconic rockers both rose to prominence in the late 1970s, and became international superstars in the early 1980s. Their styles are different but complement each other well - both are grounded in classic guitar rock. Joan Jett embraces more of a punk aesthetic while Pat Benatar employs a more Hard Rock edge. Joan Jett’s initial entry into the music scene was as a guitarist for the all-girl group, The Runaways. Flanked by fellow guitarist Lita Ford, The Runaways created a following in the mid '70s as a Hard Rock/Punk band. Jett decided to branch off on her own to form Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. In 1981, The Blackhearts released the mega-hit “I Love Rock and Roll” and cemented their place in '80s rock culture. Pat Benatar's first major LP "In The Heat Of The Night" was released in 1979, and included her breakthrough single “Heartbreaker” which reached the Billboard Top 25 in the US. Benatar continued to produce chart-topping hits in the '80s and inspired many female-fronted bands to become prominent in the music industry. This is a great show for up-and-coming players, but there are definitely challenges for advanced students here, particularly with some of Pat Benatar’s tricky song arrangements.  

One Hit Wonders
One Hit Wonders is a super fun show that students and parents will love!  What constitutes a One-Hit Wonder? The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders defines the term as a musical act that registers on the Billboard Pop Top 40 chart once in their career. While there have been One Hit Wonders since the beginning of the Rock and Roll era, this show contains a heavy dose of ‘80s hits like “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners, “I Ran (So Far Away)” by Flock of Seagulls, and “Take On Me” by a-ha. There are also some ‘70s gems, such as “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight, and '90s favorites such as Semisonic’s “Closing Time” and Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping”. While these artists might not be household names, the One Hit Wonders show presents a musical journey through some of Rock’s most infectiously memorable tunes. This show is great for all instruments and skill levels, and will put a smile on every Rock fan’s face!

The Clash
The Clash’s unique sound, rebellious lyrics, and energetic live shows influenced generations of Punk rockers. This show will highlight the band’s mix of Rock, Reggae, Rockabilly, Soul, and Funk which set them apart from their Punk Rock peers in the 1970s and '80s. The Clash were originally a five piece band with three guitar players, featuring Joe Strummer (Guitar, Vocals), Mick Jones (Guitar, Vocals), Paul Simonon (Bass, Vocals), Keith Levene (Guitar) and Terry Chimes (Drums). Chimes would leave before the release of their first album and was replaced by new drummer, Nicky “Topper” Headon, who was a great fit and would remain in the band for years to come. The Clash show is educational and one of the most fun shows in the School of Rock curriculum, accessible for beginners but challenging for experienced players as well, especially on guitar, bass and drums. Students will enjoy performing material from their debut album The Clash to their most commercially successful release Combat Rock, including Punk anthems like “London Calling”, “Career Opportunities”, “Safe European Home”, “Train In Vain”, and “Rock The Casbah”.

Aretha Franklin
Perhaps the greatest vocalist of the modern era of music, Aretha Franklin - hailed as “The Queen of Soul” - possessed a powerful voice capable of expressing emotion like few others. She was a gifted interpreter of other people’s work, often putting unique soul, funk, and gospel spins onto songs originally done by rock artists. Aretha’s bands were legendary, and this music is as educational as anything School of Rock offers. Aretha was also an amazing songwriter in her own right, as well as an underrated piano player. Beyond her musical talents, Aretha was an advocate for civil rights and an inspiration as a woman who forged her own path to the absolute height of artistic success. This show is an important and challenging theme for all instrumentalists, as Aretha Franklin’s performances featured some of the most in-demand players in the business, including the famous Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Song selections such as “Respect”, “Chain Of Fools”, “(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman”, and “Think” will show students why Aretha Franklin is considered the best of the best.

Fall Out Boy
Kings of pop-punk, Fall Out Boy left nothing behind as they carved through the rock scene in the 2000s and 2010s. From driving drum beats, forceful guitar and bass lines, and utterly powerful vocals this band is not for the delicate rocker. Pulling from metalcore, grindcore, and hardcore punk scenes in the 2000s suburban Chicago scene, each member of Fall Out Boy brought a different variety of hard rock to bear. Early hits like "Growing Up" and "Dead on Arrival" alerted the world to the future influence this band would have on the pop-punk and pop-rock scenes. Continuing to create hits like "Sugar, We’re Going Down" and "Centuries" all the way to today, Fall Out Boy will scratch the itch of rockers of any age. This show will force true band cohesion with tight lines and fast rhythms. Drummers, bassists, keyboardists,and guitarists will be challenged to act as one unit while vocalists will be confronted with soaring and emotional lead lines.
 
Steve Miller Band
"Fly Like An Eagle". "Rock’n Me". "The Joker". Classic tunes from a classic band. The Steve Miller Band embodies simple Rock and Roll edging into the psychedelic sounds of the 70’s rock era. Catching his big break as the backing band leader for Chuck Berry in the late 60’s, Steve Miller began his ensemble and took off with a string of hit singles solidifying their name as a legendary rock group. Parts range from simple and groovy to complex and technical across the full spectrum of instrumentation. This show is fun and rewarding for anyone looking to open the book on the Classic Rock genre as it ebbed and flowed in the 70s. Look out for the sounds of the blues, psychedelic rock, and southern rock in this setlist.