At School of Rock Roslyn, 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: ROOTS TO ROCKSTARS - A Decade-by-Decade Journey Through Rock and Roll
AGES 7-10 | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 6P-7:30P OR WEDNESDAYS, 5P-6:30P
From the classics to today, Rock 101 covers it all! This show, perfect for students ages 7-10, will cover the entire rock and roll spectrum. Throughout this season, students on guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and vocals will learn essential skills to start their musical journey, while being inspired by the artists that started rock and roll, and every artist and band that has made it the awesome genre it is today!
rock 102: best of the 80's
ages 10-13 | rehearses tuesdays, 5p-7p
In the Best of the '80s show, School of Rock will travel back in time to an era of fluorescent clothes, poofy hair, and the best synth-driven pop anthems you will ever hear. On August 1, 1981, music fans were catapulted into the '80s music era by the debut of a cultural phenomenon: MTV. This new music format - the music video - gave old and new artists alike the chance to reach unimaginable numbers of diverse audiences and sell millions of records and cassette tapes. The '80s would not have had its soundtrack without Michael Jackson. Jackson began the '80s on a sonic high that carried over from 1979’s “Off the Wall”, but he struck gold with the worldwide phenomenon that was Thriller. Also making a huge impact on the '80s were super-star Pop acts like Madonna, Prince, and all-girl band The Go- Gos. Gender became less binary and static in the '80s with wildly popular artists like Boy George of Culture Club, Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics, Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders and every hair metal act challenging perceptions of what is acceptable attire or behavior for “male” and “female.” Although pop acts reigned supreme in the '80s, rock bands like Guns N’ Roses, Journey, and Bon Jovi reaped the benefits from the ‘decade of excess’. The Best of the '80s show will feature a diverse mix of styles and artists, and is a challenging and fun experience for students of any instrument or experience level.
rock 103: 21st century indie rock
AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES THURSDAYS, 5P-7P
While “Indie Rock” began as an underground DIY movement in rock and roll in the late 1970s and 1980s, the term began to be used more broadly in the aftermath of Nirvana’s success in the early 90s to refer to any music that fell outside of mainstream tastes - a synonym to the more well-known “alternative” label. By the turn of the millennium, Indie Rock was mainstream, and became defined by the hard-driving garage-influenced sounds of bands like The Strokes, The Walkmen, Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, Dead Weather, and The Killers. As the 2000s unfolded, Indie Rock evolved to incorporate more varied influences, such as Folk (Grizzly Bear, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers), Space Rock (Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, King Gizzard & The Wizard Lizard), World Music (Vampire Weekend, Florence + The Machine, Arcade Fire) and Electronica (Imagine Dragons, MGMT, St. Vincent). This show celebrates all of the varied sounds of Indie Rock in the 21st Century, and is a great option for students of all instruments and experience levels.
GRAD SCHOOL: LED ZEPPELIN
AGES 18+ | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 7:30P-9:30P AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY
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!
GRAD SCHOOL REHEARSES AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY, 180 MICHAEL DRIVE, SYOSSET NY 11791
GRAD SCHOOL: THE BEATLES VS. ROLLING STONES
AGES 18+ | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 7:15-9:15P AT SCHOOL OF ROCK SYOSSET/OYSTER BAY
Witness the ultimate rock 'n' roll showdown as The Beatles take on The Rolling Stones! Experience the musical genius of The Beatles, from their early raucous three-chord rockers to their late sixties era technical masterpieces. Drummers will master Ringo’s artistry, bassists will be inspired by Paul’s melodic bass lines, guitarists will explore John and George’s sophisticated skills, and vocalists will appreciate their brilliant harmonies.
On the other side, The Rolling Stones, dubbed 'The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World', have rocked for nearly 60 years, incorporating Rock, Country, Blues, Punk, and Disco into their sound. Guitarists will learn from Keith Richards' rhythmic prowess, drummers will explore percussion like bongos and congas, and vocalists will study Mick Jagger’s iconic stage moves. Keys players will dive into the styles of legendary musicians like Ian Stewart and Nicky Hopkins.
Join us for an epic musical journey that pits The Beatles' artistry against The Rolling Stones' raw rock 'n' roll spirit. This show is a must for musicians of all instruments and skill levels!
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE FALL SEASON
- CURRENT 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, July 29 and Sunday, August 11th.
- SOON-TO-BE SCHOOL OF ROCK FAMILIES
- Call us at 516-234-7625, email us at roslyn@schoolofrock.com, or fill out the form below to get started!
A NOTE ABOUT SONG 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.