Fort Wayne
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Fort Wayne

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School of Rock Fort Wayne
9006 Coldwater Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
(260) 497-7625

Location Specifics

On the corner of Coldwater & Wallen, right across the street from the Lassus Handy Dandy.

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Hours
  • Monday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

Upcoming Special Hours:

  • 01/01/2025: Closed

Music programs at School of Rock Fort Wayne combine one-on-one lessons with group band practices

School of Rock Fort Wayne is proud to serve Fort Wayne and surrounding communities in New Haven, Auburn, Columbia City, and Huntington with quality music lessons from real, practicing musicians. We teach everything from the classics of singing to piano playing, bass guitar, drums, and more. At School of Rock, students can jam together, perform live music, and develop their skills in a supportive and encouraging learning environment. Our students perform at community-based events like Three Rivers Festival and BBQ Ribfest, and regularly play at local venues like Piere's Entertainment Center and Baker Street Centre! Come join the band and visit School of Rock Fort Wayne today!

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in Fort Wayne for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 8-13

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Fort Wayne'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 Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Fort Wayne 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 music program for teens in Fort Wayne
Performance
Ages 8-18

The Performance Program at School of Rock Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne Performance Program students take the stage and play at local Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne'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 Fort Wayne music venue.

Rookies music program for children in Fort Wayne
Rookies
Ages 6-7

At School of Rock Fort Wayne, 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 Fort Wayne, 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 music program for toddlers and preschoolers in Fort Wayne
Little Wing
Ages 4-5

At School of Rock Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne, 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 Fort Wayne, 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 Fort Wayne is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Fort Wayne 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.

Remote student playing guitar
Online
All Ages

At School of Rock Fort Wayne, our students can take online, one-on-one music instruction from the comfort of their homes. We call this program School of Rock Remote. This online music program contains weekly one-on-one instruction conducted by our expert School of Rock instructors in a safe virtual lesson room.
 
Students will receive their training using our proprietary education program, The School of Rock Method™, which couples live video lessons with our proprietary Method App™, SongFirst Approach™ and Method Books™. 

What To Expect
  • ONE WEEKLY 1-ON-1 LESSON
  • LESSONS CONDUCTED USING SECURE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

THE PATH TO TAKE THE STAGE

All of our music programs for kids, teens, and adults are designed to help students gain amazing musical proficiency. School of Rock’s online music lesson program is no exception. Online guitar lessons, online piano lessons, online drum lessons, online singing lessons and online bass guitar lessons are all offered through the School of Rock Remote online program.

Adult music program in Fort Wayne for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Fort Wayne'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 Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne.

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 Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne.

House Band program for gigging at local venues in Fort Wayne
House Band
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne's House Band. Once selected, House Band members become leaders in their School of Rock community and perform live shows at IN 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 Fort Wayne and the rest of IN. 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.

The AllStars national tour features the best child and teen musicians
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.

Music Lessons in Fort Wayne

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Fort Wayne

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock Fort Wayne, we offer beginner guitar lessons for kids. Our expert guitar instructors guide your child from start to finish with private instruction and weekly group band rehearsals. Every instructor at School of Rock Fort Wayne is an experienced musician, and they emphasize foundational music theory and technique when teaching guitar lessons to kids. Unlike other Fort Wayne guitar lessons and programs, School of Rock is designed to get students performing in a band.

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Adults

It’s never too late to learn to play the guitar. Similar to our kids guitar lessons, School of Rock Fort Wayne's beginner guitar lessons for adults utilizes a performance-based curriculum. Our experienced instructors teach adult students through popular rock songs, and teach students to play guitar in a way that’s challenging and fun. We believe the best way to learn is by doing, which is why we combine weekly private guitar lessons with group band rehearsals. At School of Rock Fort Wayne, we teach beginner guitar lessons for adults in our Adult Program. This program gets students performing onstage at a local Fort Wayne venue.

Key Concepts
  • Technique
  • Solos
  • Chords
  • Theory

Intermediate to Advanced Guitar Lessons

As students gain skills and experience, we move them along to more challenging programs at higher skill levels. Intermediate and advanced students take the skills they learned in beginner guitar lessons, and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. School of Rock Fort Wayne offers advanced guitar lessons for kids and adults that teach by playing challenging classic rock songs and emphasize playing the guitar in a real music venue. Our Fort Wayne guitar teachers will work with each student to develop a custom learning plan.

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Fort Wayne

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Fort Wayne is the best option for anyone looking to learn the drums. Our beginner drum lessons get kids behind the drum kit and on their way to taking the stage. That’s why at School of Rock Fort Wayne we combine private drum lessons for beginners with weekly band rehearsals—it prepares students to perform live. With years of experience teaching drums in Fort Wayne, our drum instructors teach beginner drum students core techniques, including how to groove, play rudiments and more.

Beginner Drum Lessons for Adults

Our drum lessons for adults are designed to accommodate all skill levels. At School of Rock Fort Wayne, our beginner drum lessons for adults are built for musicians with little to no experience. We teach adults using the same core performance-based education philosophy as our drum lessons for kids—performing with a band accelerates the learning process. Adult students will perform live at a venue in Fort Wayne. Unlike other Fort Wayne drum lessons for beginners, School of Rock combines private drum lessons with weekly band rehearsals so students are ready to play in front of real, live audiences.

Key Concepts
  • RUDIMENTS
  • TIME SIGNATURES
  • TECHNIQUE
  • GROOVE

Intermediate to Advanced Drum Lessons

More experienced to advanced drum students need a drum lesson curriculum that builds upon foundational skills and continues to grow musical proficiency. That’s why at School of Rock Fort Wayne, our drum lessons are customized for each student and his or her goals. Our Fort Wayne drum instructors integrate more complex techniques and concepts—intermediary grooves, shifts, meters and more—into a student's individual lessons and group band rehearsal, and will also select more difficult songs for his or her live performances.

 

Kid learns to sing at School of Rock Fort Wayne

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Fort Wayne offers beginner singing lessons for kids. Our unique, performance-based approach develops students' musical proficiency by preparing them to perform live. At School of Rock Fort Wayne, our vocal coaches are practicing musicians who integrate key music fundamentals—breathing, posture and more—into a curriculum based on performing with a band. Each week, beginner singing students participate in a private singing lesson and a band rehearsal.

Beginner Singing Lessons for Adults

School of Rock Fort Wayne teaches adults how to sing in our innovative Adult Program. Students develop vocal skills at a challenging pace designed to help you see results with every singing lesson. Adult vocalists learn how to keep tempo, stay on-key and master advanced vocal techniques for a powerful and healthy voice. Our curriculum teaches students how to sing by using popular rock songs that emphasize key concepts. Each week, Adult Program students have a private singing lesson for beginners and group band rehearsal.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • HARMONY
  • POWER
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Singing Lessons

At School of Rock Fort Wayne, our singing lessons for kids and adults are designed to help our students reach a high degree of musical proficiency. Intermediate and advanced singers take skills learned from previous singing lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. Our advanced singing lessons teach students to sing by performing popular rock songs that illustrate a specific vocal concept or technique. We pair weekly private singing lessons with weekly band rehearsals with the goal of getting musicians to perform live in Fort Wayne.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Fort Wayne

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Fort Wayne offers beginner bass guitar lessons for kids that blend weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. This performance-based approach results in a high level of musical proficiency because it engages and inspires students. Every School of Rock bass instructor is a practicing musician in Fort Wayne and teaches bass lessons for kids that get great results. Beginners learn to play bass guitar by using popular rock songs that illustrate key concepts and techniques.

Beginner Bass Lessons for Adults

Adults looking to learn bass guitar can enroll in School of Rock’s Adult Program. No experience is necessary in our beginner bass guitar lessons for adults. At School of Rock Fort Wayne, our experienced, local bass guitar instructors have the patience and skills to help adult students gain musical proficiency. As with all School of Rock music programs, our bass guitar lessons for adults ciriculum is performance-based, and include both weekly private instruction and weekly band rehearsals.

Key Concepts
  • GROOVE
  • TECHNIQUE
  • THEORY
  • TONE

Intermediate to Advanced Bass Lessons

Our intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons teach Fort Wayne students the skills they need to become the backbone of a band. Students take skills from previous bass lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. At School of Rock Fort Wayne, our bass instructors use popular rock songs as a way of teaching students advanced concepts and techniques. We pair weekly private bass lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Kid learns to play piano at School of Rock Fort Wayne

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in Fort Wayne. Our curriculum is performance-based, meaning that we prepare students to perform. Our piano lessons for beginners combine weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock Fort Wayne, our beginner keyboard lessons for kids take key concepts and music fundamentals—finger placement, scales, key differentiation and more—and teach them through popular rock songs. This approach inspires and engages students, which results in attaining a high level of musical proficiency. Our piano teachers have years of experience teaching music in the Fort Wayne area, and know how to coach and motivate students of any skill level to play the keyboard.

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Adults

The School of Rock Fort Wayne Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the Fort Wayne area learn to play piano through a combination of weekly private beginner piano lessons and weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock, our piano lessons give adult students the chance to perform in a band at local Fort Wayne music venues, taking them out of the classroom and onto the stage.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • TONE
  • THEORY
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Keyboard Lessons

At School of Rock Fort Wayne, our keyboard lessons for kids and adults are designed to help students get results. Intermediate and advanced students take skills learned from beginner keyboard lessons and layer on more advanced piano techniques with concepts. Our local keyboard instructors are all practicing musicians in Fort Wayne, and use popular rock songs as a way of teaching complex skills. We pair weekly private piano lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Our Experienced Music Teachers

All of School of Rock Fort Wayne’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.

Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Sam Stephens
Sam Stephens
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Sam has been immersed in a life of music for over a decade. When he was 13 years old, his uncle gifted Sam his first guitar. This sparked a lifelong passion for learning, teaching, and performing. In his first few years of playing, Sam took lessons from local guitar instructor Michael Patterson, establishing a foundation of theory and improv. From there, he continued to educate himself using online resources and teachers, namely Tomo Fujita.

In 2015, Sam became an instructor at School of Rock in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has been teaching here ever since. These years have helped him to refine his craft of teaching and to continue to learn and grow as a musician personally.

The main musical influences in Sam’s life are varied and have fluctuated greatly over time. The style he gravitated to initially was '80s classic metal such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, and his deepest guitar inspiration, Randy Rhoads. Over time, exposure to other styles expanded his scope of musical possibilities. Bands that have had a profound impact on Sam’s style and taste include the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Tool, System of a Down, and Radiohead.

Sam has been in several bands over the years spanning many genres. From the melodic death metal band Death on Fire, and the psychedelic jam band Dead Man’s Dance, to the modern hard rock band Our Name is Taken, which released their debut album, Reflections, in 2022.

Being an instructor is a role that Sam takes great pride in. He is acutely aware of the power of music and the effect it has had on his own life. His greatest aspiration as a teacher is to help each student discover their own unique voice and become the best version of themselves they can be.
Bass Guitar Teacher JBrent Olds
JBrent Olds
Bass Guitar Teacher
Fort Wayne-based musician JBrent Olds began playing the electric bass as a teenager growing up in Indianapolis, Indiana. His first professional gig was playing in a cover band for a birthday party in 1986. JBrent then attended Anderson University and studied with first-call session bassist Randy Melson. When he transferred his studies to the University of Cincinnati, he went to many influential shows at Bogart's in the Clifton neighborhood.

Throughout his career, JBrent has played in many influential bands in the Midwest. From punk rock/hardcore (Forward NRG), ska (Johnny Socko), and alt-rock (Poi Dog Pondering) to hip hop/jazz (ISWHAT?!), JBrent has a reputation for performing onstage with energy, musicianship, and passion, regardless of genre. From an early age, he viewed all music as just that: music. He didn’t realize there were different kinds of music and that stuck with him until it was too late to do anything about it. It was easy for JBrent to play in a punk band one day and then switch gears and do a pick-up jazz gig the next. He has had the mentality to honor the music, no matter what kind of music it was. JBrent feels playing the bass helped with this because the bass sound is consistent throughout so many types of music.

His latest release is entitled "Something In The Water" and released under his pseudonym, .::STOCKBOY::.. In addition to his solo work, he currently plays with various groups including The Cliftones, ISWHAT?!, Shannon Garcia, and Gee Your Band Smells Terrific. JBrent Olds also shares his talents with the students at School of Rock in Fort Wayne and loves watching the sport of cycling.
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher David Persley
David Persley
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
David is the youngest son of world-class boxer, Arthur Brown Persley. and also the nephew of the Montecillo Sisters, a vocal trio hailing from Cebu, Philippines dubbed as the Supremes of the Orient by Billboard. Coming from an entertainment family and growing up in Los Angeles, David was introduced to the world of entertainment at an early age. He first started playing the violin at 9, but soon gravitated to the piano at 11, before discovering voice at 13.

At 14, David appeared in the first west coast premiere of the musical Diamond Studs at the Marquis Theatre which was part of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. He attended the Performing Arts Program at Hollywood High School and studied Fine Arts and Theatre alongside classmates such as Sharon Catherine Brown, a two-time Tony Award winner, who would be a continuing source of inspiration to him even into adulthood.

David graduated from Hollywood High School and then went on to study voice at Los Angeles City College with tenor Wesley Abbott and jazz artist Dini Clark. While studying Music at LACC, he would continue to study alongside future entertainers like jazz legend Diane Reeves and music artist Jermaine Stewart before transferring to the School of Music at Arizona State University. In the Music Theatre and Opera program, David studied under Silvia Debenport, Warren Hoffer, and Dr. Kenneth Siepp and earned his BM in Music Performance (Music Theatre) & Music Therapy.

While studying Music and Composition, David performed in historic local jazz clubs in Los Angeles such as Marla Gibb's Memory Lane Club in Inglewood and the Gardena Club in West Hollywood. He also performed in several stage productions for the Black Theater Troupe of Phoenix, AZ, such as Stompin' At The Savoy and All Night Strut at the Herberger Theatre.

After earning his dual BM degrees from ASU, David returned to Los Angeles where he was the frontman for his older brother's hard rock band Chronic Gene. When Chronic Gene disbanded in 2007, David began writing his own songs and pursued a solo recording career; he signed with the label Famous Records in 2017.

David left LA and relocated eastward and currently sings the first tenor with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Choir where he is in his fourth season with the organization.
Drum Teacher Curtis Rash
Curtis Rash
Drum Teacher
Curtis Rash is a performance mentor and percussionist who currently resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is one of the drum instructors at School of Rock Fort Wayne and has been playing drums for over 50 years.

Curtis attended North Adams Community Schools where he attended and graduated from Bellmont High School. The beginning of his musical journey started when he bought his first drum kit in the eighth grade from paper route money and joined a fledgling jazz band. For all four years of high school, he was first chair and section leader and he anchored the jazz band and Bellmont’s show choir, the Brave Generation. He also taught privately beginning in his sophomore year.

Curtis studied with Jerry Franks at Grace College during his sophomore year. Jerry was a trumpet player and percussionist and he led Grace’s music/jazz program. Jerry was also a bandmate of Doc Severinsen. During this time, Curtis also studied with Neal Graham, head of percussion at Indiana Purdue University and owner of the Percussion Center in Fort Wayne.

Curtis attended IPFW pursuing a degree in Music Education where he made the Dean’s List and aced all of his performance juries his freshman year. He continued teaching during his time at IPFW where he also performed with their wind ensemble and practiced with their jazz ensemble.

Curtis fully expected to be a band director and to play in bands. After his sophomore year at IPFW, graduates were coming back not able to find jobs. He changed his major and tried to stay in the business. However, with no regrets today, he married, had a family, and pulled away from the business. In 2021, he decided to see if he could get back into the business. He found a very good teacher in Kent Klee and studied with him for four months to see if he still had his “hands.” Curtis got back into teaching in February 2023 with Connor Brite’s Wildflowers, a nonprofit in Decatur, Indiana.

Some of Curtis’s biggest influences include Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck, Deep Purple, and Maynard Ferguson. Bands that Curtis has performed in include Dead-End Street Gang (Beatles tribute band), Rooty Toot (1970s classic rock band), Pathway (contemporary Christian band), Decatur Community Band and Jazz Band, St. Marks UMC Praise Band, and Gypsy Moon (from 2022 to May 2023). He currently performs with Spudd and the Tater Totts.

Curtis wants to expand his teaching for experience and continue giving back. He strives to continue sharing his knowledge and experience with others. He is always seeking to expand his skills and knowledge by performing with other live musicians who are serious about their craft.
Music Director, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Nick Tamez
Music Director, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Nick's musical journey began at the age of 11, and by 14, he was already gigging, fueled by an undeniable love for the stage and the craft. Specializing in the rhythm section on bass and drums, his versatility and skill have made him a sought-after player. He has traversed the United States extensively and performed internationally in countries like Germany and Mexico, continually driven by a thirst for growth both as a musician and a professional.

Currently, Nick serves as the Music Director and drummer for Nashville-based artist Brent Underwood, with whom he actively tours and performs. Locally, he lends his talent to groups such as Night to Remember, The Y's Guys, Quincy Sanders, The Illegals, among others, and frequently fills in for various acts.

In addition to his performance endeavors, Nick is an active recording engineer, boasting approximately five albums under his belt with groups like Autum Nicholas, Eye's & Teeth, and Dirty Kin. His drumming credits span across numerous artists, showcasing his prowess on both sides of the glass.

Nick's journey has led him full circle to the doorstep of School of Rock. Notably, one of his former students, Zack Grooves, has risen to prominence as a major YouTuber with over 402k subscribers and 60 million video views. Nick's connections within the drumming community extend to influencers such as Casey Cooper, rDavidr, and The LA Drummer, reflecting his deep engagement and commitment to the musical community.
Lars Ertl
Keyboard Teacher
Lars started playing the piano at an early age, but really became interested in piano while listening to the music in his favorite video games. A few years later, he became interested in Rock Bands such as The White Stripes, The Strokes, and The Beatles. He decided to start writing and recording his own music in high school and dedicated himself to self-producing during that time.

In college, Lars decided to follow his passion for music by getting a Bachelors of Science in audio production From Middle Tennessee State University.

Nowadays, Lars considers him a jack of all trades when it comes to music: In addition to being a multi-instrumentalist, he does everything from songwriting to recording, mixing, composing, and arranging original music. Last year, Lars added teaching music at School of Rock to his repertoire. He enjoys teaching students and sharing his passion for music.
Drum Teacher Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith
Drum Teacher
Kyle Smith is a serious musician who makes serious music without taking himself too seriously. This is how Ryan Getz (of the music blog Tuned Up) once described Kyle's indie rock project, Girl Colors, and Kyle has taken that as a motto for himself ever since.

Kyle plays drums and percussion and has a passion for music education. He has taught drums and performance to students of all ages at the School of Rock in Fort Wayne, Indiana since it opened in Fall 2015. Kyle hopes to communicate joy and humor through serious musicianship. He is always working to be a studious keeper of groove behind the drum kit but is not above throwing on a costume and facepaint in the name of rock and roll.

In addition to drumming and teaching, Kyle is involved in many areas of music: writing original music, reviewing new music releases for the music blog Tuned Up, creating DIY band merchandise, and building and restoring custom drums. Outside of music, Kyle enjoys reading good fantasy and science fiction, drinking strong coffee, and spending time with his wife Erin, and their cat Willow.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Matthew Stalnaker
Matthew Stalnaker
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Matt Stalnaker was born in Littleton, Colorado, where he began his musical journey on piano. He played soprano and tenor sax in middle school before falling in love with guitar and banjo in high school.

Matt double majored in bluegrass music and creative writing at Denison University. Highlights from his time playing with the Denison Bluegrass Ensemble included opening for Ricky Skaggs and performing at the International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Matt has taught at the Guitar Center in Columbus, Ohio, and was the lead instructor at the Guitar Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Presently, Matt is playing and recording with his band The Hillbilly Lizardmen. Besides Americana and bluegrass, Matt’s musical tastes are wide and eclectic. He’s passionate about helping students of all ages and skill levels on their musical journeys!
School of Rock is where music and learning come together

For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.

Reviews

It has given my child confidence!

I like that the kids get the onstage experience. My daughter got the confidence boost she needed to continue playing the guitar! Their encouragement for the kids is tremendous!

I love the kids' self-confidence!

The knowledge of every facet of music and being bandmates and friends is incredible for them. The staff are amazing and personable too!

My son loves his School of Rock family.

He loves attending the camps and performance-based sessions. School of Rock has helped build his confidence and grow his music skills too.

The collaborative aspect is the best part.

Having bandmates motivates me to practice more so I don't let them down, and it's encouraging to watch my bandmates grow week to week as well.

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