At School of Rock Rockville Centre, 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: ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
AGES 7-10 | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 4 PM - 5:30 PM OR THURSDAYS, 5 PM - 6:30 PM
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show is the perfect show for School of Rock students of all ages, instruments, and experience levels! Established in 1983, the Rock Hall documents the history of rock music and the artists, producers, engineers, and other notable figures and personnel who have influenced its development. This show will pay homage to the artists who have been enshrined in the museum, and will teach us the history of Rock and Roll!
ROCK 102: cbgb
AGES 10-13 | REHEARSES THURDAYS, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM OR SATURDAYS, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
The CBGB show is an overview of the early New Wave bands who got their break at the legendary NYC club. When CBGB opened in 1973, no one had any idea that a Bowery dive bar would become known as the birthplace of Punk. The official name was CBGB & OMFUG: Country, Bluegrass, Blues & and Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers. While the Ramones generally get credit for starting the Punk scene, Television was actually the first band in this scene to play at CBGBs, on March 31, 1974. Soon artists like Blondie, Talking Heads, and Patti Smith set up residence at CBGBs, along with British bands like The Police and Elvis Costello who made CBGB their stateside hangout. As the Punk scene grew and took hold, other bands such as Cleveland transplants the Dead Boys and New Jersey’s Misfits became CBGB mainstays. The CBGB show offers a diverse and highly educational mix of ridiculously cool artists that can challenge students on any instrument at all experience levels.
ROCK 103: BRITISH INVASION
AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
The mid-1960s cultural phenomenon known as “The British Invasion” refers to the sudden and ubiquitous popularity of British rock and roll among the American youth of the time. The catalog of music created by these artists - including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks among others - propelled Rock & Roll music to the mainstream of cultural relevance where it remains to this day. The British Invasion bands took inspiration from Blues, Folk, and early Rock & Roll and combined these influences in an exciting way that can teach both our students and audiences the foundation of modern pop and rock music. British Invasion is a prime show choice for all instruments and experience levels to learn the foundations of Rock music, and especially perfect for emerging players who are looking to take the next step in widening their musical repertoire. Some notable song selections may include The Beatles’ “Twist And Shout”, The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”, and The Yardbirds’ “For Your Love”.
ROCK 103: IRON MAIDEN VS. JUDAS PRIEST
AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES TUESDAYS, 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Iron Maiden and Judas Priest - no two bands better represent the epitome of 1980s Heavy Metal. While each act has their own unique sound, what they share in common is power, precision, technical mastery, and unrelenting energy. In the late 1960s, the earliest version of Judas Priest had begun performing on a regular basis. After several years and many lineup changes, the core band of Ian Hill, Rob Halford, KK Downing, and Glenn Tipton would sign their first record deal, resulting in Rocka Rolla being released in 1974. Throughout the rest of the decade, Judas Priest would steadily grow their fanbase worldwide. Influential albums such as Sad Wings of Destiny, Sin After Sin, Stained Class, and the live masterpiece Unleashed in the East would win over new fans at every turn. As Judas Priest was tearing it up on the road, a young Steve Harris was in the early stages of forming what would become Iron Maiden by enlisting singer Paul Di’Anno (later replaced by Bruce Dickinson), guitarists Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton (later replaced by Adrian Smith), and drummer Clive Burr (later replaced by Nicko McBrain). With their self-titled debut album in 1980, Iron Maiden began a decade which would earn them worldwide acclaim. Following the release of Iron Maiden, albums like Piece Of Mind, Number Of The Beast and Powerslave have cemented the band’s place as a legendary Metal band. Iron Maiden and Judas Priest continue to record and tour to this day. While there may have been some obstacles along the way, both acts have successfully made the transition from hot, new acts to elder statesmen of Metal. Their catalogs leave behind a legacy of music that will inspire musicians around the globe for generations to come. The Iron Maiden vs Judas Priest show will challenge even the most seasoned School of Rock students with the technical demands of the music, while encouraging fledgling players to up their game learning fundamentals of the Metal genre.
ROCK 103: WHITE STRIPES VS. BLACK KEYS
AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 5:30 PM - 7:30 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: southern rock
ages 13-hs senior | rehearses fridays, 5:15 pm - 7:15 pm
Southern Rock encompasses more than just music generated by bands south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
It’s a vibe and emotion that stems from a long painful history of racism, oppression, economic hardship, and classism. However the very spirit of Southern Rock is one of healing and reconciliation.
Rock and Roll has deep roots in the South, and this show will feature the best of Southern Rock through the years – from early artists such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, to bluesy southern rockers like The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Bonnie Raitt, to modern practitioners like Gary Clark Jr., Carrie Underwood, and The Black Crowes. The Southern Rock show will thrust guitar players to the forefront with guitar harmonies and advanced soloing based on the pentatonic scale. Bass players will dig deep into groove playing. Drummers will learn to play through different feels like shuffles, boogies, and half-time and double-time transitions. Keyboardists will be challenged with new styles as they utilize diverse sounds ranging from piano to Hammond organ to Rhodes electric piano. Vocalists will gain an understanding of Southern-style harmony and emotive singing. This show offers many challenges for ambitious and experienced players!
rock 103: left of the dial
ages 13-hs senior | rehearses saturdays, 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Alternative rock from a time before “alternative” was a genre, Left of the Dial refers to the underground rock featured on many college radio stations in the 1980s and early 1990s, before Grunge swept alternative music into the mainstream. These college stations often broadcast at lower frequencies, which were located on the far left side of the analog FM radio dial. The term “Left of the Dial” was coined in a song by The Replacements, and an eventual compilation album by Rhino Records further cemented the phrase as a nickname for this era of music. A few of the bands and artists from this era found mainstream success, but all of them began as DIY underdogs and were incredibly influential in the evolution of the Grunge and Indie Rock that defined rock music in the 90s and 2000s. Left of the Dial is known for its wide variety of musical styles and unique personalities, including artists like Sonic Youth, REM, The Pixies, Depeche Mode, Meat Puppets, Kate Bush, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, The Smiths, and Dinosaur Jr. Students of all instruments and experience levels can expect good challenges playing these songs that often still sound innovative, even today.
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, 7:15 pm - 9:15 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!
SPRING 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 Midseason Live Stream and Best of Season Showcase dates are confirmed.
how to sign up
- CURRENT SCHOOL OF ROCK FAMILIES:
- ROCK 101 & ROCK 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 rockvillecentre@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.