At School of Rock Syosset/Oyster Bay 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 TUESDAYS, 5:30 PM - 7 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: POP LEGENDS
AGES 10-13 | REHEARSES THURSDAYS, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM OR 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Before there was Rock and Roll, there was Pop. Short for Popular, Pop music was whatever was popular at that moment. The Pop Legends show will celebrate the impact that acclaimed artists have made on the music industry. It will encompass a vast timeline of Pop Music ranging from the 60s through today, including artists such as Carol King, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Adele and many more. This show is a great challenge for “Rock” guitar players who want to work on new chord shapes and voicings. Bass players will be able to work on very challenging melodic parts in support of drummers who will learn limb independence on many of the parts. Vocalists’ skills will be pushed with the level of singing and performing required in this show, while keyboardists will be heavily represented in these well-known arrangements.
ROCK 103: NIRVANA
AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES TUESDAYS, 7:15 PM - 9:15 PM
Nirvana was formed in Aberdeen Washington in 1987 by friends Kurt Cobain (vocals and guitar) and Krist Novoselic (bass). After a succession of drummers including the Melvins’ Dale Crover, Chad Channing joined and they released their first 7” single “Love Buzz” on the fledgling label Sub Pop in 1988. Combining elements of Punk, Metal, and Pop, Nirvana channeled teen angst into Rock’s last sweeping mainstream movement. In 1989 the band recorded their first full-length record “Bleach”, which was a hit on college radio. As their tour to support their LP progressed, Cobain and Novoselic became frustrated with Channing’s drumming, and Channing left the group. Buzz Osborne of Mudhoney introduced the band to Dave Grohl, providing the missing piece of the puzzle. Nirvana went on to record what is known as the pinnacle of the Grunge movement, Nevermind. With tracks like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Come As You Are”, and “In Bloom”, Nirvana skyrocketed into mainstream success, crowning them the kings of Grunge. While the band’s career was cut short by Cobain’s untimely death in 1994, Nirvana have remained prominent music legends due to their innovative sound and their influence on countless bands who came after them. Beginner and intermediate guitar players will learn power chords and melodic lead guitar in this show, while any drum student will be challenged by David Grohl’s powerful, technical drumming. The Nirvana show is a solid show for all levels of playing and is packed with crowd-pleasing '90s anthems.
ROCK 103: THE WHO
AGES 13-HS SENIOR | REHEARSES WEDNESDAYS, 5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
One of the heavyweight bands born from the British Invasion, The Who forged a sound and style that would change Rock & Roll. The Who were one of the first, if not THE first, bands to gain recognition for producing Rock Operas in their music catalogs. Most notably Tommy, which sold millions of units with the hit single “Pinball Wizard”, helped establish The Who as one of the top bands of the era. Tommy has since been re-interpreted into a ballet, a Broadway show, and a symphony production. The Who are clearly one of the most legendary bands in rock and roll history, composed of four amazing musicians who somehow still exceeded the sum of their parts. Pete Townsend’s unique guitar style and masterful songwriting allowed space for bassist John Entwistle, drummer Keith Moon and vocalist Roger Daltrey to shine. The Who is a killer show for bass players and drummers to develop serious chops, offers complex parts for guitar players, and has surprisingly complex vocal harmonies.
GRAD SCHOOL: GRUNGE
AGES 18+ | REHEARSES MONDAYS, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
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
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 syossetoysterbay@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.