FALL SEASON 2024
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
The Performance Program is School of Rock's hallmark music program, where tens of thousands of students enroll each year. Utilizing the patented School of Rock Method, Performance Program 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, and refine 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, Performance Program students take the stage and play at local music venues in front of a live audience.
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: POP PUNK
AGES 13-17 | TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS, 6:00PM-8:00PM
In the 1990s, artists such as Green Day and Blink-182 achieved success by blending punk attitudes and influences with a more polished, melodic, commercially appealing sound than their often raw predecessors. By the 2000s, Pop Punk and its Emo offshoot were fully entrenched in the mainstream music world, with bands such as Jimmy Eat World, All American Rejects, Good Charlotte, Rancid and New Found Glory topping the charts and selling out shows. Of course, this music is still incredibly popular and influential today. A fun show that can be musically challenging but also teaches solid fundamental skills, Pop Punk is sure to appeal to all levels of students and will entertain any crowd!
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: 70s Hard Rock
AGES 13-17 | THURSDAYS, 6:00PM-8:00PM
Hard rock in the 1970s was a subgenre of rock and roll that was often made for arena audiences and featured powerful vocals, distorted guitars, and thunderous drums. Hard rock bands like Boston, Rainbow and Styx created epic-scaled music, while others, like Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith kept their blues roots. Hard rock vocals were often raspy, growling, or involved screaming or wailing, sometimes in a high range or even falsetto. Hard rock paved the way for the metal genre, which would continue to evolve in the decades to come. Bands like Kiss and Deep Purple pioneered a heavier sound, which was louder and faster than hard rock, with tempos of around 120 bpm. Heavy metal riffs also often functioned as stand-alone melodies, while hard rock riffs tended to outline chord progressions in their hooks.
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM: Grunge
AGES 13-17 | WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 6:00PM-8:00PM
When Nirvana’s song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became an international sensation in late 1991, major record labels began searching feverishly for similar artists who could further capitalize on the massive interest in this new “alternative” sound. The result was an abrupt shift away from the formulaic Pop and Hair Metal anthems of the 1980s to the gritty and dynamic music of Grunge. Since the music industry wasn’t quite sure what would capture the public’s attention in this new landscape, major labels began signing and promoting all sorts of artists with idiosyncratic and unique sounds to serve as an “alternative” to what had previously captured mainstream popularity. Bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Hole and Smashing Pumpkins drew from the influence of the underground rock and punk scene of the 1980s, and found quick success with music fans who were eager for new sounds and styles. Students of all instruments and experience levels can expect good challenges in this fun show full of interesting and catchy music.
ROCK 101 AND ROCK 102
Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Briarcliff Manor's top programs for kids and beginners. Students have one weekly group rehearsal where they learn to play classic and modern rock songs that have been simplified for beginner musicians. Additionally, Rock 101 students have a weekly private music lesson with an instructor who helps them learn the concepts and skills behind their performance songs. After passing Rock 101 graduation requirements, students move into Rock 102.
ROCK 101
AGES 7-12 | MONDAYS, THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS, 4:30-6:00PM
ROCK 101 (Taylor's Version) - A Rock 101 dedicated to the music of Taylor Swift!
AGES 7-12 | WEDNESDAYS 4:30-6:00PM
ROCK 102
AGES 9-13 | MONDAYS, 6:00-7:30PM | FRIDAYS, 5:30PM-7:00PM
ROOKIES AND LITTLE WING
ROOKIES
AGES 5-8 | MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, 4:30-5:30PM
At School of Rock Briarcliff Manor, 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.
LITTLE WING
AGES 3-5 | SUNDAYS, 10:30-11:15AM
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.
ADULT BAND
AGES 18+| TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 8:15-10:15PM
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 Briarcliff Manor 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!