West LA
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

West LA

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School of Rock West LA
12020 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 442-7625

Location Specifics

Located across from Ralph's.

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Hours
  • Monday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM - 6 PM

Upcoming Special Hours:

  • 11/28/2024: Closed
  • 11/30/2024: Closed
  • 12/24/2024 - 12/26/2024: Closed
  • 12/28/2024 - 01/01/2025: Closed

Music programs at School of Rock West LA combine one-on-one lessons with group band practices

Sharpen your music skills at School of Rock West LA, proudly serving West Los Angeles including residents of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and Santa Monica with quality music lessons taught by real, practicing musicians. Here, students are taught instruments like guitar, vocals, drums, piano, and more in a variety of different styles. Located on the sunset strip, we are in the prime location for students to immerse themselves in the music culture of Los Angeles. With enough practice, students may even one day be able to play at one of many local venues in the city, a great spot for budding artists looking for their big break.

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in Los Angeles for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 8-13

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock West LA's top programs for kids and beginners. Students have one weekly group rehearsal where they learn to play classic rock songs that have been simplified for beginner musicians. Additionally, Rock 101 students in West LA have a weekly private music lesson with an instructor who helps them learn the concepts and skills behind their performance songs.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

Our music programs for kids in Los Angeles are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock West LA who have participated in the Rookies program can move to our Rock 101 music program once they’re ready. Additionally, students (typically ages 8 to 13-years-old) can begin Rock 101 without any prior experience. The goal of this rock program is to quickly develop a basic competence on students’ chosen instruments before moving on to our famous Performance Program.

Performance music program for teens in Los Angeles
Performance
Ages 8-18

The Performance Program at School of Rock West LA is our hallmark music program, where tens of thousands of students enroll each year. It 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, refining 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, School of Rock West LA Performance Program students take the stage and play at local Los Angeles music venues in front of a live audience.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

School of Rock West LA's music programs for kids and teens are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing. All of our other music education programs focus on readying students for our famous Performance Program. This is where students develop incredible musical skills. Performance Program students have often gone through our Rock 101 program first or have some previous basic music experience. These young musicians will have custom development plans outlined by their instructors with key concepts reinforced during private lessons and group rehearsals, all with the goal of performing live at a Los Angeles music venue.

Rookies music program for children in Los Angeles
Rookies
Ages 6-7

At School of Rock West LA, our music program for children with no previous musical experience (typically ages 6 to 7-years-old) is called Rookies. Rookies students have one weekly group music lesson where they learn fundamentals like chords, rhythm and song structure. Kids get to learn and experiment with multiple instruments so they can later decide which one they ultimately want to continue pursuing in Rock 101.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
  • USE OF SIMPLIFIED ROCK INSTRUMENTS TO TEACH KIDS TO PLAY MUSIC

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire students to learn and develop a strong musical proficiency. At School of Rock West LA, younger students who are not ready for a more comprehensive program like Rock 101 can start in Rookies. Additionally, students who have completed the Little Wing program will progress into the Rookies music program. No prior musical experience is needed for Rookies. Once your child is ready for private music lessons (typically older than first or second graders), they will graduate into our Rock 101 program.

Little Wing music program for toddlers and preschoolers in Los Angeles
Little Wing
Ages 4-5

At School of Rock West LA our Little Wing music program for preschoolers and toddlers teaches students foundational music skills by playing games and participating in other interactive musical activities. Little Wing students have one weekly group music lesson in which they use classic rock songs to learn about rhythm, song structure, melody and dynamics through play.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
  • USE HAND PERCUSSION & OTHER TOOLS TO LEARN RHYTHM PATTERNS & MUSIC SYNTAX

The Path to Take the Stage

The Little Wing music program is the first step in a young musician's journey. At School of Rock West LA, toddlers and preschoolers who show an interest in music should start with Little Wing. As they get older, they will progress into the Rookies program, followed by Rock 101 and the Performance Program.

Songwriting
Age 12 and over

Our Songwriting program for kids and teens teaches the fundamentals of songwriting, arrangement and music theory, and helps students compose original works.  At School of Rock West LA, songwriting students receive one weekly private lesson where they learn concepts, technique and theory on an instrument of their choice. These principles are then applied in a weekly group lesson where students work together on songwriting exercises and lyrical workshops.  Every few months, Songwriting students take the stage to perform or band together to record their original songs.

What to Expect
  • 1 weekly private lesson
  • 1 weekly group lesson

The Path to Take the Stage

Our Songwriting program for kids and teens in Los Angeles is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock West LA who have completed our Rock 101 program can move to our Songwriting program once they’re ready. Additionally, new students who have prior experience with and basic knowledge of an instrument can also begin Songwriting. The program culminates with a live showcase where students perform their original compositions in bands at a local music venue. Students taking the Songwriting Program online will remotely record their original songs to produce a demo of the class's music.

Remote student playing guitar
Online
All Ages

At School of Rock West LA, our students can take online, one-on-one music instruction from the comfort of their homes. We call this program School of Rock Remote. This online music program contains weekly one-on-one instruction conducted by our expert School of Rock instructors in a safe virtual lesson room.
 
Students will receive their training using our proprietary education program, The School of Rock Method™, which couples live video lessons with our proprietary Method App™, SongFirst Approach™ and Method Books™. 

What To Expect
  • ONE WEEKLY 1-ON-1 LESSON
  • LESSONS CONDUCTED USING SECURE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

THE PATH TO TAKE THE STAGE

All of our music programs for kids, teens, and adults are designed to help students gain amazing musical proficiency. School of Rock’s online music lesson program is no exception. Online guitar lessons, online piano lessons, online drum lessons, online singing lessons and online bass guitar lessons are all offered through the School of Rock Remote online program.

Adult music program in Los Angeles for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock West LA's Adult Program is for students over 18 years old who are looking to either improve their musical proficiency or pick up an instrument with no prior musical experience. As with most School of Rock music programs, the Adult Program uses a performance-based music education approach. This means the curriculum focuses on learning music concepts and applying them in a live performance setting. Our Adult Music Program includes one weekly private music lesson and a weekly group rehearsal. Every student at School of Rock West LA is placed in a band of fellow adults and then assigned specific songs as a way of learning key music concepts and skills. Adult students then take the stage to play at a live show in Los Angeles.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency along the way. The School of Rock West LA Adult Program is open to all experience levels and each student will follow a customized learning plan developed by their instructor. Adult students will work together during rehearsal to prepare for a live performance at a real rock venue in Los Angeles.

House Band program for gigging at local venues in Los Angeles
House Band
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock West LA House Band music program gives students under 18 the opportunity to join a gigging band composed of fellow musicians from their school. These students perform additional live shows throughout the year. All students in the Performance Program have the opportunity to audition for a spot in School of Rock West LA's House Band. Once selected, House Band members become leaders in their School of Rock community and perform live shows at CA rock venues throughout the year.

What To Expect
  • A GIGGING MUSICIAN'S EXPERIENCE
  • FREQUENT LIVE PERFORMANCES IN COMMUNITY

The Path to Take the Stage

Performance is the core of School of Rock's educational approach. Therefore, we create additional opportunities for students to perform on stages throughout Los Angeles and the rest of CA. The House Band music program allows each school's most talented students the opportunity to join a band and play routinely in front of live audiences. Once a member, students will gain real music experience associated with gigging musicians and will become leaders and mentors inside the School of Rock community.

The AllStars national tour features the best child and teen musicians
AllStars
Age 17 and Under

The School of Rock AllStars Tour takes the very best students from around the world and sends them on a nationwide summer tour across the United States. Less than 1% of School of Rock students are selected each year to represent School of Rock as an AllStar. All Performance Program students are eligible to audition for this prestigious program. The intensive audition process starts off with video submissions followed by live auditions. Once selected, AllStar students will have an authentic touring experience including traveling on a tour bus, doing tour publicity and starring in nightly performances at famous venues and festivals during a two-week tour.

What To Expect
  • A MULTI-CITY, COUNTRY-WIDE MUSIC TOUR EXPERIENCE
  • PERFORMING ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST FAMOUS STAGES IN THE WORLD

The Path to Take the Stage

Becoming an AllStar is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student. They play on legendary stages large and small, including The Knitting Factory, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Troubadour and Lollapalooza. AllStar students often go on to have accomplished careers in the music industry. Former AllStars have gone on to become touring artists, star in Broadway musicals, get signed to record deals, become finalists on talent competitions like "The Voice" and "American Idol" and have other notable roles in the music industry.

Music Lessons in West LA

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Los Angeles

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock West LA, we offer beginner guitar lessons for kids. Our expert guitar instructors guide your child from start to finish with private instruction and weekly group band rehearsals. Every instructor at School of Rock West LA is an experienced musician, and they emphasize foundational music theory and technique when teaching guitar lessons to kids. Unlike other Los Angeles guitar lessons and programs, School of Rock is designed to get students performing in a band.

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Adults

It’s never too late to learn to play the guitar. Similar to our kids guitar lessons, School of Rock West LA's beginner guitar lessons for adults utilizes a performance-based curriculum. Our experienced instructors teach adult students through popular rock songs, and teach students to play guitar in a way that’s challenging and fun. We believe the best way to learn is by doing, which is why we combine weekly private guitar lessons with group band rehearsals. At School of Rock West LA, we teach beginner guitar lessons for adults in our Adult Program. This program gets students performing onstage at a local Los Angeles venue.

Key Concepts
  • Technique
  • Solos
  • Chords
  • Theory

Intermediate to Advanced Guitar Lessons

As students gain skills and experience, we move them along to more challenging programs at higher skill levels. Intermediate and advanced students take the skills they learned in beginner guitar lessons, and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. School of Rock West LA offers advanced guitar lessons for kids and adults that teach by playing challenging classic rock songs and emphasize playing the guitar in a real music venue. Our Los Angeles guitar teachers will work with each student to develop a custom learning plan.

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Los Angeles

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

School of Rock West LA is the best option for anyone looking to learn the drums. Our beginner drum lessons get kids behind the drum kit and on their way to taking the stage. That’s why at School of Rock West LA we combine private drum lessons for beginners with weekly band rehearsals—it prepares students to perform live. With years of experience teaching drums in Los Angeles, our drum instructors teach beginner drum students core techniques, including how to groove, play rudiments and more.

Beginner Drum Lessons for Adults

Our drum lessons for adults are designed to accommodate all skill levels. At School of Rock West LA, our beginner drum lessons for adults are built for musicians with little to no experience. We teach adults using the same core performance-based education philosophy as our drum lessons for kids—performing with a band accelerates the learning process. Adult students will perform live at a venue in Los Angeles. Unlike other Los Angeles drum lessons for beginners, School of Rock combines private drum lessons with weekly band rehearsals so students are ready to play in front of real, live audiences.

Key Concepts
  • RUDIMENTS
  • TIME SIGNATURES
  • TECHNIQUE
  • GROOVE

Intermediate to Advanced Drum Lessons

More experienced to advanced drum students need a drum lesson curriculum that builds upon foundational skills and continues to grow musical proficiency. That’s why at School of Rock West LA, our drum lessons are customized for each student and his or her goals. Our Los Angeles drum instructors integrate more complex techniques and concepts—intermediary grooves, shifts, meters and more—into a student's individual lessons and group band rehearsal, and will also select more difficult songs for his or her live performances.

 

Kid learns to sing at School of Rock Los Angeles

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock West LA offers beginner singing lessons for kids. Our unique, performance-based approach develops students' musical proficiency by preparing them to perform live. At School of Rock West LA, our vocal coaches are practicing musicians who integrate key music fundamentals—breathing, posture and more—into a curriculum based on performing with a band. Each week, beginner singing students participate in a private singing lesson and a band rehearsal.

Beginner Singing Lessons for Adults

School of Rock West LA teaches adults how to sing in our innovative Adult Program. Students develop vocal skills at a challenging pace designed to help you see results with every singing lesson. Adult vocalists learn how to keep tempo, stay on-key and master advanced vocal techniques for a powerful and healthy voice. Our curriculum teaches students how to sing by using popular rock songs that emphasize key concepts. Each week, Adult Program students have a private singing lesson for beginners and group band rehearsal.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • HARMONY
  • POWER
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Singing Lessons

At School of Rock West LA, our singing lessons for kids and adults are designed to help our students reach a high degree of musical proficiency. Intermediate and advanced singers take skills learned from previous singing lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. Our advanced singing lessons teach students to sing by performing popular rock songs that illustrate a specific vocal concept or technique. We pair weekly private singing lessons with weekly band rehearsals with the goal of getting musicians to perform live in Los Angeles.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Los Angeles

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock West LA offers beginner bass guitar lessons for kids that blend weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. This performance-based approach results in a high level of musical proficiency because it engages and inspires students. Every School of Rock bass instructor is a practicing musician in Los Angeles and teaches bass lessons for kids that get great results. Beginners learn to play bass guitar by using popular rock songs that illustrate key concepts and techniques.

Beginner Bass Lessons for Adults

Adults looking to learn bass guitar can enroll in School of Rock’s Adult Program. No experience is necessary in our beginner bass guitar lessons for adults. At School of Rock West LA, our experienced, local bass guitar instructors have the patience and skills to help adult students gain musical proficiency. As with all School of Rock music programs, our bass guitar lessons for adults ciriculum is performance-based, and include both weekly private instruction and weekly band rehearsals.

Key Concepts
  • GROOVE
  • TECHNIQUE
  • THEORY
  • TONE

Intermediate to Advanced Bass Lessons

Our intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons teach Los Angeles students the skills they need to become the backbone of a band. Students take skills from previous bass lessons and layer on more difficult techniques and concepts. At School of Rock West LA, our bass instructors use popular rock songs as a way of teaching students advanced concepts and techniques. We pair weekly private bass lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Kid learns to play piano at School of Rock Los Angeles

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in Los Angeles. Our curriculum is performance-based, meaning that we prepare students to perform. Our piano lessons for beginners combine weekly private instruction with weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock West LA, our beginner keyboard lessons for kids take key concepts and music fundamentals—finger placement, scales, key differentiation and more—and teach them through popular rock songs. This approach inspires and engages students, which results in attaining a high level of musical proficiency. Our piano teachers have years of experience teaching music in the Los Angeles area, and know how to coach and motivate students of any skill level to play the keyboard.

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Adults

The School of Rock West LA Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the Los Angeles area learn to play piano through a combination of weekly private beginner piano lessons and weekly band rehearsals. At School of Rock, our piano lessons give adult students the chance to perform in a band at local Los Angeles music venues, taking them out of the classroom and onto the stage.

Key Concepts
  • TECHNIQUE
  • TONE
  • THEORY
  • READING

Intermediate to Advanced Keyboard Lessons

At School of Rock West LA, our keyboard lessons for kids and adults are designed to help students get results. Intermediate and advanced students take skills learned from beginner keyboard lessons and layer on more advanced piano techniques with concepts. Our local keyboard instructors are all practicing musicians in Los Angeles, and use popular rock songs as a way of teaching complex skills. We pair weekly private piano lessons with weekly band rehearsals to inspire and engage students throughout the learning process.

Our Experienced Music Teachers

All of School of Rock West LA’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.

Ryan Schiff
District Manager
Born and raised in Long Island, NY, Ryan began playing guitar at age 13 after seeing the movie "La Bamba" about rock legend Ritchie Valens. He studied with Grammy-nominated guitarist Steve Briody for several years before starting his own projects and soon became an instructor himself. While still in New York, his band Code Anchor independently released several EPs and one full-length album, "Rosada," while touring extensively nationwide from 2005-2009. A co-writer in the band, Ryan also played lead and rhythm guitar while singing lead and backup vocals. Memorable stages include the Vans Warped Tour at Nassau Coliseum and headlining bills at some of New York City's greatest venues like CBGBs and The Knitting Factory. It was during this time that Ryan began teaching at School of Rock in Melville, NY. Hungry to pursue new musical ventures, Ryan departed from Code Anchor and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. Since then, he's been busy writing, producing and performing with his newest project, Lou Pine. As a Sony/ATV artist, Lou Pine’s music has been featured on television shows like “Chicago Fire,” “Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word,” and “Food Paradise." Ryan enjoys playing every genre including jazz, funk, country and folk, but credits the blues and rock n' roll as his main influences.
Regional Manager, General Manager Justin Salmons
Justin Salmons
Regional Manager, General Manager
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but raised in Dallas, Texas, Justin has been a music aficionado since elementary school. Inspired by his cousin's ability to riff on a Les Paul as a kid, Justin finally picked up the guitar himself at the age of 13. Initially a rocker, his thirst for a deeper understanding of the inner workings of guitar and music led him to a more diverse repertoire and a greater knowledge of music theory.

Taking advantage of the immense blues, jazz, country, and R&B culture that Texas had to offer, Justin broadened his influences and musical understanding, quickly becoming an old soul in a young body. This led to performing and recording with artists such as Nokie Edwards of The Ventures and Dave Bartholomew, songwriter for Fats Domino, as well as hip-hop legend the D.O.C., and Texas country legends The Light Crust Doughboys, which eventually led to a Grammy nomination in Southern Gospel.

After graduating from the University of North Texas in 2007 and feeling the limitations of Texas, Justin relocated to Los Angeles in 2010. Justin began teaching at School of Rock West LA in 2011 and was promoted to Music Director in 2014. Justin was promoted again to General Manager in 2018 and continues to be dedicated to enriching lives through performance-based music education.
Maureen Davis
Vocal Teacher
Maureen is a master vocal coach and a top innovative teacher, featured in the national publication "Music Connection Magazine" and on Fox News for her "story-first" and "speech-singing" techniques. She also incorporates yoga methods for natural breath control, stamina and vocal health. Having Broadway theatre credits, Maureen has trained young singer/dancers for Broadway, TV and film, and works with future performers on safe microphone technique and stage presence. Students can also work on songwriting with her. Maureen has placed over 200 songs in TV and film and has three albums out. When she is not teaching, you can catch Maureen with her rockabilly band, Maureen and the Mercury 5, performing at Disneyland, opening for bands including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Dick Dale or playing with all-stars from the bands Cheap Trick, Quiet Riot, The Sweet and Kiss at the Ultimate Jam Night at The Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip.
Stefano Ashbridge
Drum Teacher
Stefano Ashbridge began teaching the drums almost 20 years ago when his teacher at the time asked him to fill in. That allowed Stefano to pass on his love of the drums and music at a relatively early age, making it easy for him to relate to his students' frustrations and passion for drumming. Since then, he has gone on to teach hundreds of private and group students of all ages and skill levels. He has developed a teaching method that allows each student to reach their musical goals, while having fun learning the music they love. He is also involved with Hudson Music's Teacher Integration Program. Stefano has studied with noted drummers Zoro (Lenny Kravitz, New Edition) and Mark Schulman (Cher, Pink). He is located in the Los Angeles area, where he is also involved in the music scene there as a session and live drummer. He has played and toured with such artists as Brad Wilson of Stone and Grammy nominee Derek Jordan. He was also awarded Electronica Drummer of the Year at the L.A. Music Awards.
David Abrams
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Born in Northern California but raised in Dallas, Texas, David started out playing violin in middle school, but when he discovered the music of Jimi Hendrix and bands like Van Halen, Nirvana, Pantera and Metallica, he quickly switched to electric guitar. He began to learn riffs of his favorite bands and sought out other friends who played instruments to start rock bands in garages, playing covers and originals. As David progressed and discovered players like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, he became more interested in learning theory and developing technique. As a result, David took it upon himself to practice several hours a day everyday. This led to a desire to further his studies in college, and David went on to receive a Bachelors of Music from the University of North Texas, where he studied Jazz and Classical Guitar. During this time David also played in his own rock bands, taught lessons and played freelance gigs around the DFW Metroplex in a variety of styles. David then moved to Los Angeles to study briefly at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. He currently resides in L.A., teaching and doing gigs and session work for artists. He's toured extensively as a guitarist with guitar legend Guitar Shorty as well as with the smash hit musical "American Idiot." In addition, he plays in a rock band with the sons of R & B singer Brian Mcknight called, BRKN RBTZ. At School of Rock he teaches guitar, bass and beginner keys lessons as well as directs the Rock 101 classes.
Ed Yeo
Guitar Teacher
Ed Yeo has been playing guitar since he was a teenager when he first heard Clapton, Page and Beck. He spent his early years figuring out classic rock guitar lines from listening to LP records. About 10 years later his former father-in-law taught him music theory and set him up with lessons with his friend, swing jazz guitarist George Allen. Ed later took bebop jazz and classical guitar lessons with Rob Curtis, which is when he decided he needed a more modern jazz guitar approach. Since then he has been building his repertoire, working on left and right hand technique and integrating said jazz and classical techniques into rock music to aid his guitar students. He started teaching about 15 years ago at two local music stores. 10 years ago he started teaching guitar and directing shows at School of Rock Chicago. He now teaches at School of Rock Venice and School of Rock West LA and is a guitar teacher.
Music Director, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Jason Berk
Jason Berk
Music Director, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Jason Berk started playing guitar and singing at the age of 8 and hasn't stopped! Along the way, he picked up piano, bass, and a handful of others, eventually receiving a music degree in media composition from California State University Northridge, one of the world’s finest music schools.

Jason has performed and recorded with artists such as The Lovin’ Spoonful, Micky Dolenz (The Monkees), Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report), David Marks (The Beach Boys), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Tom Kenny (SpongeBob Squarepants), Jakob Dylan, Marshall Crenshaw, Sondre Lerche, Noël Wells and many more, as well as being a longtime member of blue-eyed soul legend Evie Sands’s band. He is also a prolific solo artist with multiple studio albums to his own name, as well as an in-demand session player and mix engineer.
Studio Manager Hetty Pasquazzi
Hetty Pasquazzi
Studio Manager
Hetty Pasquazzi is a writer, actor, and stand-up comic from Narragansett, Rhode Island, and an alum of Emerson College. Through her comedy, Hetty seeks to juxtapose dark circumstances with unprecedented joy and light. She hosts and produces a monthly musical comedy show called Cabaret Sauvignon as well as a staged reading series called Play Date.

Musically, Hetty writes song lyrics regularly and has an infatuation with her theremin. Her favorite bands and musicians include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Killers, Lucius, John Mayer, My Chemical Romance, Tom Misch, Tenacious D, and Deafheaven.
Duncan MacEachern Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Duncan MacEachern
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Duncan was born and raised in Portland, OR, always surrounded by music. He was in school plays, after hours garage bands, played piano, saxophone, and guitar all throughout his youth. As time went on he focused more on guitar and began teaching himself the fundamentals of song-writing, production, and mixing, soon forming multiple bands playing various shows. He moved to Los Angeles April 2021 with his current band, Bad DMs, eventually getting signed to a music label and is now recording new music to soon be released. Duncan believes anyone can play music, all you need to do is have an interest, desire, and passion to learn new things.
Drum Teacher Triko Chavez
Triko Chavez
Drum Teacher
After moving to Los Angeles from Raleigh, North Carolina, Tríko began playing drums at age 15 and quickly discovered that the drums were his calling. He is one of School of Rock’s very own, as he began taking lessons at West LA under Kevin Katich, and went through the program until graduating in 2019. After high school, Triko began playing gigs extensively with his bands, OTTTO and Feed The Beast, and touring in the midwest and on the west coast. His bands have opened for bands such as Suicidal Tendencies and they have played festivals such as Lollapoolaza Chile, Bottlerock, Welcome to Rockville, Navajo Nations Metal Fest, and Sonic Temple. Tríko now attends the Musicians Institute and is incredibly excited to give back to the amazing program that helped him become the drummer he is today.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher Paxton McMurray
Paxton McMurray
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Paxton grew up around jazz and blues music in New Orleans, Louisiana. He began on the piano at four years old and continued his training on drums, bass, guitar, and harmonica. In addition to his jazz training, Paxton attended NOCCA and the Colburn School for classical music, and later studied recording and mixing at the Musicians Institute.

Paxton plays in several bands around LA as a multi-instrumentalist and continues to write and record his own material. He is also a former School of Rock student. Paxton started on keyboards at School of Rock Burbank and began playing around town with the school at 10 years old. The school helped him discover his passion for drums and guitar as well, which he studied with School of Rock for several years.

Paxton is excited to continue to be a part of School of Rock, and hopes to share his experiences with this growing community of young musicians.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Harrison Flynn
Harrison Flynn
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, Harrison picked up the guitar at the age of 12. Upon entering high school, he began sitting in with older blues artists and bands and making a name for himself in the Bay Area blues scene. Early influences for Harrison that informed his sound and style were classic blues artists such as Muddy Waters, B. B. King, and Robert Johnson and rock and roll bands like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and the Allman Brothers.

Later on, the songwriting of Bob Dylan, the jazz improvisation of John Coltrane, and world music influences such as Indian, Celtic, and Hawaiian music broadened Harrison's tastes and approach to music. Now living in Los Angeles, Harrison currently fronts his own band playing shows throughout Southern California as well as playing lead guitar for Americana artist Cole Gallagher. Harrison is highly passionate about teaching and sharing his love of music with others.
Guitar Teacher Ben Taylor
Ben Taylor
Guitar Teacher
Ben Taylor is a guitarist, composer, producer, and educator originally from Greenville, South Carolina. Ben first picked up the guitar at 8 years old, inspired by the legendary rock guitarists of the '70s and '80s. He spent most of his youth playing in several bands in his hometown and throughout the state of South Carolina, covering everything from rock, blues, jazz, country, gospel, R&B, pop, and everything in between.

Ben received his degree from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in jazz guitar performance in 2022 and is currently pursuing his master's degree in studio guitar performance from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. He has already performed with high-profile artists such as Latin-pop star Evaluna Montaner and Michelle Williams from Destiny's Child, as well as with many other high-profile musicians such as Christian McBride, Etienne Charles, Todd Galberth, Martin Smith, Aodhan King, Troy Roberts, Chuck Loeb, and Maria Schneider.

Ben is currently a teaching assistant for the Music Technology department at the Thornton School of Music, teaching undergraduate-level courses in music production and recording. He is also a facilitator for the Thornton Community Engagement Program, assisting in high-school-level music production classes and middle school-level introductory guitar classes during the academic school year.

Ben’s goal as an educator is to inspire students through fun and engaging music that will help students achieve their individual goals.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher Michael Mazzocco
Michael Mazzocco
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Mike encompasses a passion for music that has spanned over a decade. He has dedicated himself to honing his craft and creating captivating melodies that resonate with music goers.

Growing up in a musical household, Mike's love for music was instilled at a young age by his father and older brother. They introduced him to a wide range of genres, cultivating his appreciation for the art form. It was during his formative years that he discovered his favorite instrument, the bass, and felt an instant connection to its deep, rhythmic tones.

Mike draws inspiration from blues, funk, and indie music—anything that makes people dance.
Drum Teacher Ezra Martin-Rosenthal
Ezra Martin-Rosenthal
Drum Teacher
Ezra Martin-Rosenthal is an LA-based drummer, producer, and educator, originally hailing from Maryland, specializing in funk, rock, and hip-hop.

With a keen ear and intense dedication to supporting and elevating other artists, Ezra inspires fellow musicians to give their best performances, enhancing their music with his steady, funky groove. He is a founding member of the Mary Orji Visionaries Collective, with whom he has recorded two albums: Conception (2022) and Perception (2023).

As a producer, Ezra specializes in taking a basic melody, layering in genre-bending tracks and sample-based beats, and creating a professional quality piece with texture and musical interest well beyond the original tune.

Ezra is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied Electronic Production and Design with a dedicated focus on drumming. He is a drum teacher at School of Rock West LA and loves coaching ensembles.
Assistant Music Director, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher Olivia Malbran
Olivia Malbran
Assistant Music Director, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher
Olivia is a versatile musician of Argentine origin who carries a rich international tapestry within her musical journey. As a dedicated professional music educator with a decade of experience, Olivia's teaching expertise matches her impressive artistry. Having lived throughout Europe for two years, she taught and performed music, immersing herself in diverse cultural landscapes.

In addition to her global adventures, Olivia has opened for renowned artists like Tenacious D and Weird Al. Her extraordinary talents were recognized by the legendary Brian Wilson, leading to a Grammy nomination for her cover of The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Her debut single "Mirror" was released in 2020, marking the beginning of a promising musical career.

Having a prominent history of extensive touring, Olivia's path continues to shine brightly with her forthcoming albums and shows.
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Taylor Schonbuch
Taylor Schonbuch
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Taylor grew up listening to everything from classic rock to heavy metal to jazz. She joined School of Rock West LA at 10 years old, which entirely changed her life both as a musician and a person, through lessons, performance programs, House Band, and making lifelong friends. Taylor developed a strong sense of self and confidence and became skilled at working with others. With School of Rock, Taylor had the opportunity to play at legendary venues like the Whisky a Go Go and the Troubadour and share the stage with one of her music idols, Rock and Rock Hall of Fame member Jackson Browne.

Taylor continued her music education in college by earning her BA in Popular Music Studies from the University of Oregon, where she studied popular and classical voice and piano, songwriting, digital and analog recording, and performed throughout the Eugene area with several bands and genres, including neo-soul, jazz, classical, and being the lead singer of a wedding band. During high school and college, Taylor worked with younger vocal students, tutoring, coaching, and giving masterclasses, while developing a passion for teaching and working with children and teens and in vocal instruction.

Taylor recently returned to Los Angeles where she continues to write and release new songs and perform under the name of Taylor Jules. She is honored to return to her old stomping grounds to give the same love, identity, passion, and foundation to the next generation of aspiring musicians in the very place that started it all.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Jess Fuller
Jess Fuller
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Jess was born and raised in Los Angeles and grew up in a family of artists, musicians, and actors. Pursuing a music career was always expected and preferred. She began taking piano lessons as a child and trained both in classical and jazz music under the influence of her uncles and grandfather, all professional jazz pianists and producers. There was always music, art, and film in the house throughout her childhood and her initial introduction to music consisted of classic rock, blues, and punk from her dad and world music, jazz, R&B, and soul from her mom.

Influenced by bands like Radiohead, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Stevie Wonder, Jess began writing and gigging as a teenager and has continued to write, record, and release music in recent years. She gigs professionally with her band and recently released her first EP called Alchemy. With a degree in music composition from Los Angeles College of Music, her love for songwriting, piano playing, and singing shines strong through her passion for teaching.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Joe Yuhre
Joe Yuhre
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Joe Yuhre has been playing guitar and writing songs since he was 15 years old. His influences are John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Joe received his AA in both music and music industry studies from Diablo Valley College. While part of the San Francisco music scene, Joe played venues such as Bottom of the Hill, Hotel Utah, and Brick & Mortar.

Joe moved to Los Angeles in 2021 to continue his music career and has been involved with multiple projects including the Kirsty and Joe Band, Sunday Brunch Collective, Reptilia (A Tribute to The Strokes), and his own original music. He has played at several Los Angeles venues including Hotel Café, Trip, The Viper Room, and El Cid. Joe’s passion for playing live music carries over in his teaching and looks forward to passing his knowledge to other aspiring musicians.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Paulina Aguirre
Paulina Aguirre
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Paulina Aguirre is a guitarist and composer from Medellin, Colombia currently based in Los Angeles. She first picked up the guitar at 8 years old and has only continued to grow as a musician.

Paulina was a student of School of Rock West Broward in South Florida from middle school and throughout high school. She was part of the House Band for several years and participated in several tours across the country. This program inspired her to pursue a music career which led to her graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2021 with a degree in contemporary writing and production.

Since graduating, Paulina has been building her portfolio as an upcoming film composer writing music for advertisements as well as assisting Pierre Charles, co-composer of Netflix’s Inventing Anna and They Cloned Tyrone. As a composer and guitarist, Paulina's influences range from classical and orchestral music such as Igor Stravinsky, PI Tchaikovsky, and Gustav Mahler, which she implements into her own compositions. Her influences also include contemporary artists such as Radiohead, Big Thief, Hiatus Kaiyote, Louis Cole, Thundercat, Bill Evans, and Charles Mingus.
Ryan Mangalindan - Drum Teacher
Ryan Mangalindan
Drum Teacher
Ryan was first introduced to music as a kid learning classical piano but found his calling in drums at the age of 10. Eager to pursue his passion for music, he attended the Orange County High School of the Arts specializing in the Commercial Music program as a drummer.

During his time there, Ryan honed his skills in drumming, collaborated with teachers and musicians, and picked up the guitar and bass. Since then, he has worked as a drum teacher and live session drummer while attending UCLA, playing in venues such as Pauley Pavilion at UCLA, The Peppermint Club, Whisky a Go Go, The Troubadour, and more.

Eager to give back and engage with the music community, Ryan’s goal as a teacher is to fuel his student’s love for music, tailoring his teaching approach to meet their individual needs, and giving them the tools to develop their own unique style and make the most out of their musical aspirations.
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Alex Vincent
Alex Vincent
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Alex Vincent was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. With both parents being working musicians, he was always surrounded by various instruments and the sounds of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and classical music. Alex played piano at an early age, but really connected to music upon learning the cello. After being exposed to Muse and The Strokes, rock music became his primary focus in high school, and Alex subsequently learned drums, bass, and guitar. His influences expanded to artists such as Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queens of the Stone Age, and Rage Against the Machine.

While attending CSUN, Alex began teaching elementary school music and quickly developed a knack and passion for the job. Since 2016, he has been focusing on inspiring his students and honing their musical skills, all while performing in bands around Los Angeles and going on several tours. He looks forward to sharing the joy of music with the next generation of rock n’ rollers.
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