At School of Rock Huntington, we don't teach music to put on shows - we put on shows to teach music. Students are assigned songs selected to develop them as musicians, and work on them in private lessons with their instructors, as well as in weekly rehearsals with groups made up of their peers. The season culminates with a performance at our seasonal showcase, where they can show you everything they've been working on throughout the season!
See the end of this article for important dates, and ways to sign up for the new season!
rock 101: ccr & friends
aGES 7-10 | REHEARSES THURSDAYS, 5 PM - 6:30 PM
Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of those bands that you can’t help but crack a smile while listening to. A staple of classic rock radio, their music has transcended generations and remains just as powerful today as it was back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Inspired by the roots rock of the mid to late ’50s, CCR would release a string of hits within a short 4-year period from 1968-1972, including “Proud Mary”, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Fortunate Son”, and “Down on the Corner.” This show will explore the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival, as well as the bands and artists that influenced, and were influenced by, the band.
rock 102: white stripes vs. black keys
ages 10-13 | rehearses thursdays, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The White Stripes vs Black Keys show is one of the School of Rock shows that gives a nod to more contemporary bands who have forged their name in the music industry and become inspirations to others. Both bands rely heavily on Blues-based riffs and a Garage Rock sound, each with a stripped-down lineup of only two band members. The White Stripes are a lesson in simplicity and are the standout leaders of the early 2000’s Garage-Rock revival movement. While Jack White champions traditions of the past to peddle his reinterpretations of Blues, the Black Keys are a lesson in evolving into the new internet-age music era. Both Jack White and Dan Auerbach are known as some of the most influential modern-day rock guitarists. Aspiring guitarists can learn a soulful approach to playing in this show. Although these artists are not known as technical virtuosos on their instruments, achieving their feel is a task for any level player. To serve the songs, drummers will be playing in the pocket and maintaining driving rhythms. This is a great show for vocalists at all levels, as both bands feature catchy and emotive melodies that heavily influenced modern Rock music.
rock 103: arena rock
ages 13-hs senior | rehearses mondays, 5:15 pm - 7:15 pm
SPRING 2025'S FEATURED SHOW!
Arena Rock is virtually impossible to indelibly encapsulate into an absolute genre or band list. However, the Arena Rock Show at School of Rock can be definitively stamped as a conglomeration of catchy music that is meant to be turned up loud with the windows down, filled with hard-hitting parts that feel good to air-guitar or air-drum along with at home. As FM radio developed into the mainstream music medium in the '70s, bands began performing at larger venues in order to accommodate their huge fanbases. One can subjectively argue that any artist who has achieved superstardom to the extent of performing in arenas and stadiums could be included. To that end, this show may include acts ranging from Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Kansas to Meat Loaf, Foreigner, Toto, Pat Benatar and Cheap Trick. No matter the bands, the songs of the Arena Rock show are the true stars, and anyone who’s had the joy to sing along with this music in its intended environment will surely agree. Guitarists will have challenging parts lurking around every corner. Keyboard players will be showcased heavily throughout. Vocalists will be challenged with belting leads and rich harmonies. Drummers will learn the true meaning of bombastic, showy performances. Bass players will be exposed to melodic bass lines which compliment their 6-string counterparts. This is a great show for all instruments!
WHAT IS THE FEATURED SHOW?
Starting in Fall 2024, School of Rock offers a new concept called a Featured Show, which will present some unique opportunities and experiences for our students!
Beginning in Fall, each season the School of Rock system will feature one of our most educational show themes, with special experiences, cool custom merch, and new educational content. The Featured Show will serve as just one of the several diverse themes we always offer each season, but we hope that by rallying around a certain theme each season with other schools around the world, we can create a great experience for students that instills a sense of the larger community they are a part of.
rock 103: pop punk & emo
ages 13-hs senior | rehearses wednesdays, 5:15 pm - 7:15 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!
GRAD SCHOOL: GRUNGE
AGES 18+ | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
GRAD SCHOOL REHEARSES AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY, LOCATED AT 180 MICHAEL DRIVE, SYOSSET NY 11791
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock genre and subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. The style became known as a hybrid of punk and metal. The early grunge movement revolved around Seattle's independent record label Sub Pop and the region's underground music scene. The owners of Sub Pop marketed the style shrewdly and the media was encouraged to describe it as "grunge". By the early 1990s, its popularity had spread, with grunge bands appearing in California, then emerging in other parts of the United States and in Australia, building strong followings and signing major record deals. Grunge was commercially successful in the early to mid-1990s, due to releases such as Nirvana's Nevermind, Pearl Jam's Ten, Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, Alice in Chains' Dirt and Stone Temple Pilots' Core. The success of these bands boosted the popularity of alternative rock and made grunge the most popular form of rock music at the time.
GRAD SCHOOL: YACHT ROCK
AGES 18+ | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
GRAD SCHOOL REHEARSES AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY, LOCATED AT 180 MICHAEL DRIVE, SYOSSET NY 11791
Easy Listening. Dad Rock. The West Coast Sound. Whatever nomenclature you choose, Yacht Rock music has survived the test of time and has made an explosive, full-steam-ahead resurgence in today’s popular music. Mostly emerging from the late 70s to early 80s, Yacht Rock’s mellow moods and relaxing vibes overshadow the sublime musicianship and songwriting skills of artists like Steely Dan, Toto, Hall and Oates, The Doobie Brothers, Carole King, and many more. Steeped in jazz, R&B, and dense harmony theory, these songs feature collaborations between some of the best studio musicians in history. These enduring songs will surprise and challenge even the most advanced SoR student. There are multi-layered vocal harmonies for singers, jazz-inspired guitar parts and solos, legendary grooves for bassists and drummers, and intricate keyboard parts utilizing what were, at the time, innovative electric pianos and synthesizers. This is one of the most challenging shows in the School of Rock curriculum!
SPRNG SEASON 2025 - IMPORTANT DATES
TENTATIVE SHOW DATES
The show dates listed above are tentatively confirmed and are expected to be accurate. Please add these dates to your calander. In the rare event that any show dates need to be adjusted due to venue availability, we will provide as much notice as possible. The livestream and Best of Season Showcase dates are confirmed.
HOW TO SIGN UP:
- CURRENTLY ENROLLED SCHOOL OF ROCK FAMILIES:
- ROCK 101/102: Fill out the Show Scheduling Survey available on the Parent Portal.
- ROCK 103/GRAD SCHOOL: Fill out the Show Scheduling Survey available on the Parent Portal, then discuss your options with your instructor between Monday, November 18 and Sunday, December 8
- SOON TO BE SCHOOL OF ROCK FAMILIES:
- Call us at 516-234-7625, email us at huntington@schoolofrock.com, or fill out the form below to get started!
A NOTE ABOUT SHOW CASTING
We strive for well-balanced shows where all of our students are challenged and get equal opportunity for parts. Please understand that factors such as attendance at rehearsals, behavior at rehearsals, and musical preparation for rehearsals can affect the number of songs a student is assigned. The School of Rock method is merit based. While a show’s first casting is as equitable as possible, in subsequent castings we reward commitment, hard work, and steady improvement.
We know many students have talents beyond the instruments they study at School of Rock. We do our best to encourage (and show off) all of our students’ abilities! However, students who take lessons on an instrument at School of Rock get priority casting on that instrument in shows. Students are guaranteed to be assigned parts only on instruments they are actively taking lessons on at SoR. Depending on the makeup of the show’s cast, we may not be able to accommodate students who wish to perform on an instrument (including vocals) that they do not study at SoR. If your student is interested in studying an additional instrument, please reach out to us to discuss options.