START YOUR SCHOOL YEAR OFF RIGHT!

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.

Classic Metal

MondayS 7:00pm-9:00pm

Classic Metal is widely regarded as ranging from the late 1960s Proto-Metal sound of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin up until the mid 1980s, when Thrash Metal reigned supreme with bands like the ‘big four’ (Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer) and Hair Metal was still a blip on the horizon. Full of guitar wizardry and riffs galore, Classic Metal’s explosion in the 1970s and early '80s would set the tone for a generation of Metal bands to come and leave an indelible impression on the music industry. This show will trace the roots of metal, from the late '70s hard rock, Ronnie James Dio fronted bands like Black Sabbath and Rainbow and to metal’s big break in the '80s with bands like Metallica and Megadeth. If you’re looking to sharpen your shredding skills on guitar and bass, speed up your chops on the drums, or hone your high range vocals - the Classic Metal show is for you!

Funk And R&B

Tuesdays 6:30pm-8:30pm

Funk and R&B have a rich history of influence on many styles of music that followed. From the enormous impact of R&B on the British Invasion bands like The Beatles and Rolling Stones to the Funk influenced Disco music of the '70s, these two genres have made an indelible mark on popular music. The set list features all of the classic artists (Aretha, Diana, Marvin, Stevie, The Jackson 5) and crowd-pleasing soul anthems from the '60s and beyond. Beginner students will thrive with the straightforward arrangements of early R&B and Motown while intermediate and advanced players will dig into the nuances of the funk grooves. The Funk and R&B Show is an excellent show for vocalists and keyboard players. The groove-oriented style of these genres are also excellent for teaching bassists and drummers to work together as a cohesive rhythm section.

Led Zeppelin

Wednesdays 6:30pm-8:30pm

Led Zeppelin has been synonymous with being the innovators of the Hard Rock genre. Formed originally as a new version of the British Invasion group The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin quickly took shape to become the most popular rock band in the world, filling arenas and selling millions of albums. The mastermind behind it all was Jimmy Page. As a studio musician, producer, and songwriter, Page recruited Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass), and John Bonham (drums), and began a decade-long journey of prolific songwriting. Songs like “Stairway to Heaven”, “Black Dog”, “Good Times Bad Times”, and “The Ocean” have become rock standards and rights of passage for aspiring musicians. Led Zeppelin’s blend of Hard Rock, Blues, and Folk has remained the primary inspiration for many of today’s rock bands. Any student participating in this show is sure to gain a wealth of musical knowledge and advancement. The Led Zeppelin show has challenges for every skill level - it will turn beginners into intermediates and will transform intermediate players into advanced rockers!

KISS

Thursdays 5:00pm-7:00pm

Parental Advisory: Some lyrical content in this show may not be appropriate for all students.

KISS rose to prominence in the 1970s with a string of hard rock hits and live shows that generated a thrilling visual experience, becoming one of the biggest-selling bands in rock history. While the blood spitting, fire breathing, and extreme marketing sometimes overshadowed the music, behind the face paint KISS were four talented musicians with a gift for writing great, catchy rock and roll songs. Many rock bands of today cite KISS as a main influence and inspiration to pursue the life of a touring musician. Beyond the visual spectacle, KISS is a band with a surprisingly diverse catalog that requires some serious musicianship. For guitarists, the KISS show will incorporate several approaches to rock soloing, as KISS had 5 different lead guitarists throughout their career. Gene Simmons’ bass playing will certainly challenge students' ability to play melodic riffs and simultaneously maintain groove. Drum students will love the many rocking drum breaks and big fills within KISS’ 50-year catalog of material. This is a show the whole family will have fun singing along to, featuring hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “Beth”, and “Shout It Out Loud”. 

Queen

Saturdays 2:30pm-4:30pm

Queen formed in London, England, in 1970, a time when heavy Rock and Roll was reaching mainstream audiences and record companies were looking everywhere for the “Next Big Thing”. . The band achieved global success in no small part due to the charisma and supernatural talent of lead singer/keyboard player Freddie Mercury. The band also featured Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), and John Deacon (bass) - all virtuosos on their respective instruments. Queen is known as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time who also pushed artistic boundaries, a unique and enviable combination in the music industry. Their first album, the self-titled Queen, was released in July 1973, and was well-received by critics, including king-maker Rolling Stone, who would eventually rank “Keep Yourself Alive” as the 31st greatest “Guitar Song” of all-time. Following several more albums, Queen began work in 1975 on what would be their pièce de résistance, A Night At The Opera. The album brought together all of the band’s interests and influences and incorporated a wide range of musical styles, from hard rock to theatrical ballads. The album’s centerpiece was the audacious and operatic “Bohemian Rhapsody”, one of Rock’s most celebrated masterpieces and Queen’s first Number One hit. Queen continued their dominance of the airwaves in the '80s with The Game, which produced the chart-topping songs “Another One Bites the Dust” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. Despite Mercury’s untimely death in 1991, Queen remains one of Rock’s most influential and enduring acts. Queen is a fantastic show for all students and will provide endless educational opportunities and steep challenges for every experience level.