HOUSE BAND

What is the House Band?


House Band is a band made up of our school’s most talented and motivated students. In addition to participating in our regular Performance Program, students in House Band learn and rehearse other advanced songs, and then perform them at a variety of shows throughout the year. These shows include street fairs and festivals, charity fundraisers, opening slots for touring artists, park district events, block parties, live streams, and more. Beyond the gigs, House Band students are expected to be leaders, role models, and mentors within the school.

AUDITION DETAILS

• Dates: 27 March 2025
• Location: School of Rock Bella Vista
• Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 PM

Who can audition for House Band? 

Auditions are open to anyone enrolled in the school performance program who meets the following criteria:

• You must be at least 12 years old.
• You must have completed at least one School of Rock show season.
• You must be willing to commit to attending rehearsals and gigs throughout the season. If you have other commitments that take up most of your time, please do not audition. 

How much does House Band cost? 

House Band is included in the school’s normal tuition; there is no extra charge. Some events may require travel expenses, and attendance for family and friends at some events may require a ticket or entrance fee. 

What kind of commitment does House Band INVOLVE? 

House Band is a big commitment, especially in the summer. But even in the winter season, there are frequent gigs and weekly rehearsals. While it’s expected that there will be occasional absences, House Band absolutely has to be a top priority for any student. Students are expected to learn their songs quickly, learn sub-songs on short notice, act professionally at gigs, and be responsible for communicating absences promptly. Students are also expected to embrace their roles as leaders and mentors in the school and are encouraged to volunteer to help out with camps, Rock 101 and Rookies classes, and other school projects.

HOUSE BAND AUDITION INFORMATION

House Band auditions will be held at the school on THURSDAY MARCH 27 from 4:30-6:30 pm. If you can’t make it, you may request a makeup audition during the week prior. 

In order to audition, you MUST RSVP by 8 PM on MONDAY MARCH 17. No exceptions. Use this form to RSVP.

We will choose the audition order randomly by picking names out of a hat. Students should be prepared to remain at the school for the entire audition time, though after you audition you are welcome to leave. Each audition will take between 6-8 minutes. The auditions will be open only to the judges and students who are auditioning. 

The teaching staff will not help you choose or prepare your songs – we want to see how well you do on your own. All students will be offered constructive feedback on their auditions after the results are announced 

The audition will be divided into three sections. You are scored on: proficiency on your instrument, accuracy of your performance, tone, feel, and stage presence. 

PART 1: Each student will prepare 1 minute of any song by one of the following artists: Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, The Who, Black Sabbath, Janis Joplin, Queen, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, or Jimi Hendrix

No backing bands or accompanists are allowed, however you may perform along with a backing track or accompany yourself (e.g., guitar and vocals). Backing track must be on a small device with a headphone out, such as a phone or iPod. Bring a dongle if your device requires one. Vocalists must use a karaoke track (i.e., no lead vocal present in the recording).

Do not perform a song you’ve done in a previous School of Rock show or audition. 

PART 2: Each auditioning student will perform 1 minute of a piece of his or her choice. This can be any song in existence, although we recommend it not be too obscure. You may also accompany yourself on an instrument if you are singing, however, no one else may accompany you and you may not use a backing track. 

Do not perform a song you’ve done in a previous School of Rock show or audition. 

PART 3: Each student will be asked questions to demonstrate knowledge of music theory, their instrument, and/or the ability to improvise. This section showcases your overall musicianship and ability to perform on the fly. 

Please note: Effect pedals, pedal boards, double kick pedals, and other outside gear (aside from instruments, mics, etc.) are not permitted for any part of the audition. We will be using the gear in the main rehearsal room.

GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO THE FOLLOWING BEFORE YOU SIGN UP TO AUDITION:

• House Band is a big commitment! We rehearse every week, on Thursday evenings from 4:30-6:30 pm. There are typically 2-4 gigs per month, and in the summer there may be more than twice that! If you have other commitments to school, sports, camps, or travel that take up most of your time, don’t audition.
• You might not make House Band! Auditions are a part of life as a musician, and you have to be willing to accept and learn from whatever the outcome is. If you are going to quit SoR because you didn’t make House Band, we’d much prefer you didn’t audition at all. Students will be offered constructive feedback on their auditions after the results are announced.
• Make sure it’s cool with your parents. They’ll be driving you to rehearsals and gigs, talk to them and make sure they support this. 
• How quickly can you learn songs? You need to show up to rehearsals and gigs with your parts ready to go! Rehearsals run at a fast pace, and unpreparedness is not tolerated. 

I was already selected for House Band, do I need to audition again? 

Yes, we hold fresh auditions each year. Some new students have become eligible for House Band since the last audition, and other students have been working hard. It is only fair to level the playing field. That said, if you were on House Band previously, you have an advantage in experience. However, House Band is not a legacy program – you must constantly challenge yourself and earn your spot each time. No spot is guaranteed - this program is incredibly competitive, and many students have not been selected for House Band after previously being on it, sometimes even for multiple seasons.

If I play more than one instrument, which should I audition on? 

You should audition for whatever you feel will be most impressive. Put your best foot forward. If you feel that being a multi-instrumentalist is one of your real strengths then show us. Don’t assume we already know. However, make sure any instruments you audition with will add to your audition, and not detract from it! Your entire audition is taken into account in our decision. 

What are you looking for in the auditions? 

Preparation, initiative, proficiency, accuracy, tone, feel, confidence, and stage presence. If you come to the audition only half knowing your song or ignore parts of the audition requirements then we can only assume you’ll do the same in House Band. We are also looking for well-behaved, respected leaders in our regular programs who will take their role as mentors and ambassadors of School of Rock seriously.

Can my instructor help me with my audition? 

Teachers can not help students beyond general advice that would be helpful for any audition. There can be NO HELP with choosing or practicing your specific audition songs – it will automatically disqualify you from House Band. 

How do I audition? 

Read the audition requirements and RSVP by Monday MARCH 17th. Show up at your assigned time on Thursday. If you can’t make it on the audition dates you may request a makeup audition sometime that prior week. 

I have more questions, who do I ask? 

Please email the school at bellavista@schoolofrock.com with any questions.