Pop Punk & Emo
Thursdays 6 - 8 pm
In the 1990s, artists such as Green Day, Offspring, 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 (featuring lyrics that touch on emotional and confessional topics) were fully entrenched in the mainstream music world, with bands such as Fall Out Boy, Paramore, My Chemical Romance, and Panic! At the Disco topping the charts and selling out arenas. 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 & Emo is sure to appeal to all levels of students and will entertain any crowd!
U2
Saturdays 10 -12
Coming out of the 80s New Wave scene, U2 formed in Dublin, Ireland, and first made their mark on popular music with a lean, energetic sound built around singer Bono’s soulful voice and often politically-charged lyrics. Guitarist The Edge used effects in new and creative ways, and his dotted-eighth-note delay had a huge role in shaping U2’s unique sound. U2’s Joshua Tree album refined their sound and turned them into international superstars. Not complacent to coast on their fame, U2 continually sought new musical ground, incorporating electronic music and new technologies into their sound and stage show in the 90s and 2000s on albums like Achtung Baby and Zooropa while remaining successful pop icons. One of the top-selling bands of all time, U2 was deservedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. This fun and challenging show will teach students of all instruments and experience levels new skills while also providing an education in songcraft and how to utilize guitar effects and keyboard synths to create unique sounds.
School of Rock Featured Show "Classic R&B"
Saturdays 3 - 5
Rhythm and Blues music was foundational to the evolution of rock and roll! Originating with jazz and blues in the 1940s, R&B music was predominantly created by black musicians for black audiences until the 1950s, when artists such as Etta James, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Ike & Tina Turner began to achieve crossover success with white audiences as well. By the early 1960s, record labels like Motown and Stax were churning out legendary hits by Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Supremes, and Otis Redding, which influenced virtually all of the Rock and Roll and Pop music that came after. The Classic R&B show features groove-oriented music with dynamic arrangements and standout vocal performances. Students participating in this show will have an opportunity to hone their rhythmic skills and broaden their repertoire of music styles by focusing on the music that inspired artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, and which continues to be relevant today with its influence on modern Pop stars such as Adele and John Legend. Classic R&B is one of the most educational shows that School of Rock offers!
Folk Rock
Sundays 2 - 4
Folk Rock is a wide umbrella that encompasses protest songs of the 1960s, laid-back tunes of the 1970s, confessional ballads of the 1980s and '90s, melodic “indie-folk” anthems of the 2000s, and much more. The hallmarks of the Folk Rock sound are intricate guitar playing, evocative lyrics, vocal harmonies, and nods to early 20th-century music forms including Gospel, Appalachian Folk, Country, Blues, and Bluegrass. Folk music influences were an integral part of the evolving Rock scene of the 1960s, with Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Mamas and The Papas all finding success. These acts pushed the genre in different directions, amping up the roots of Rock and Roll by adding drums and electric instruments. . The 1970s were rich with new forms of the Folk sound from familiar faces like Neil Young and Paul Simon, as well as commercial newcomers like the British multi-instrumentalist Cat Stevens. Folk Rock influences continue to be found in more contemporary artists, such as Tom Petty, Tracy Chapman, Indigo Girls, The Jayhawks, Beck, and Brandi Carlile. Many of the greatest songwriters of all time - including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Huddie Ledbetter, and Paul Simon - are represented in this show, which is filled with classic songs and popular hits that will educate students of all experience levels.
For Students Age 7 - 12
No Experience Needed
Rock 101 students will master the basics while playing actual rock music, before jumping into live shows. Songs in Rock 101 are chosen to highlight the skills needed to build a strong foundation on a respective student’s musical instrument. This is primarily for beginners new to their instrument and the group format. It consists of a 90 minute group rehearsal and a private session (either 30 or 45 minutes) once per week.
For Students Age 18 & UP
Wednesdays 7 - 8:30 & Fridays 6:30 - 8
Our adult programs offers a chance for students of all skill levels to meet weekly and rehearse in a group setting similar to our Rock 101 & Performance programs in addition to their weekly 45 or 30 minute lessons. Our adult programs perform seasonally with our other classes.