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Sign-up Form Due:
Sunday, August 3rd
Casts Announced:
Week of August 18th
Rehearsals Start:
Week of Wednesday, September 3rd
Show Dates:
December 5/6/7th & 12/13/14th
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
David Bowie & Friends
Rehearsals - Mondays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - Sunday 12/7 (1-2:15pm) & Friday 12/12 (7:30-8:45pm)
Born David Robert Jones in South London in 1947, Bowie started out playing with a string of R&B-based outfits in London with little success and he considered leaving the music business to become a mime. On July 11th, 1969, Bowie released his first single in 2 years, “Space Oddity”. It blew up, and following it’s success, Bowie assembled the group that would help shoot him to stardom. Initially called ‘Hype’, bassist Tony Visconti, guitarist Mick Ronson, and drummer Woody Woodmansey joined Bowie for the recording of The Man Who Sold The World (1970) and agreed to become his backing band. By 1972, Glam Rock had become the dominant sub genre in the UK rock scene, led by Marc Bolan and T. Rex. With outrageous costumes and dyed red hair, Bowie debuted his new persona, Ziggy Stardust, in wild concerts that preceded the release of his fifth album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Following the release of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie reinvented himself with every subsequent album–from Aladdin Sane through Station To Station. As the '80s began, Bowie saw equal success from his releases - mainly from teaming up with Queen to record “Under Pressure.” The '90s saw Bowie delve deeper into electronic music embracing the Industrial genre on albums like Earthling (1997) and Hours (1999). In 1996, Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His final album, Blackstar, was famously released just two days before his passing. David Bowie influenced generations of rockers with his theatrical style, constant reinvention, and sonic exploration. Bowie also collaborated with the likes of John Lennon, Queen, Iggy Pop, Bing Crosby, TIna Turner, Trent Reznor, and Brian Eno. With over 100 Million albums sold worldwide, he remains one of the most successful and popular stars in music history. This show features all of our standard School of Rock instrumentation, with potential extra opportunities for keyboardists, percussion, horns and string players.
Classic R&B
Rehearsals - Mondays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - 12/6 (3:30-4:45pm) & 12/14 (1-2:15pm)
Rhythm and Blues music was foundational to the evolution of rock and roll! Originating with jazz and blues in the 1940s, R&B music was predominantly created by black musicians for black audiences until the 1950s, when artists such as Etta James, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Ike & Tina Turner began to achieve crossover success with white audiences as well. By the early 1960s, record labels like Motown and Stax were churning out legendary hits by Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Supremes, and Otis Redding, which influenced virtually all of the Rock and Roll and Pop music that came after. The Classic R&B show features groove-oriented music with dynamic arrangements and standout vocal performances. Students participating in this show will have an opportunity to hone their rhythmic skills and broaden their repertoire of music styles by focusing on the music that inspired artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, and which continues to be relevant today with its influence on modern Pop stars such as Adele and John Legend. Classic R&B is one of the most educational shows that School of Rock offers!
Bedroom Pop
Rehearsals - Wednesdays 4:15-6:15
Show Dates/Times - 12/6 (2-3:15pm) & 12/13 (11am-12:15pm)
This is one that’s been asked for by countless students! Bedroom Pop is a music genre and aesthetic defined by its DIY ethos, intimate sound, and lo-fi production—often created by young artists recording in their bedrooms using minimal equipment. It blends elements of indie pop, dream pop, electronic, and R&B, characterized by soft vocals, nostalgic tones, and emotionally vulnerable lyrics. The genre rose to prominence in the late 2010s, driven by platforms like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and YouTube, where artists bypassed traditional studios and labels to connect directly with fans. Its charm lies in its raw authenticity and homemade feel, which often gives listeners a sense of personal closeness to the artist. Famous Bedroom Pop artists as well as artists in adjacent genres or that incorporate elements of Bedroom Pop include Clairo, Dreamer Boy, girl in red, Beabadoobee, Steve Lacy, Cavetown, Dayglow, Wallows, Rex Orange Country, Chloe Moriondo, Still Woozy, Boy Pablo, Faye Webster and more.
Roots of Rock & Roll
Rehearsals - Wednesdays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - 12/7 (11:30am-12:45pm) & 12/13 (3:30-4:45pm)
The Roots of Rock & Roll show covers seminal rock/pop acts from the ‘50s and early ‘60s, including Chuck Berry, Sun Records artists such as Elvis and Carl Perkins, early rockabilly, and early pop like The Beach Boys and Phil Spector-produced acts. This material is the foundation for everything that came after it, and its educational importance can’t be overstated. Rock & Roll really started to develop around 1953-1954 when iconic songs like “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton and “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley were released. By 1955 the floodgates started to break open and artists such as Little Richard were making huge names for themselves with hits like “Tutti Frutti.” Around this time a truck driver in Memphis, Tennessee, by the name of Elvis Presley started tearing up the south with his adrenaline pumped “Rock-a-billy” covers of R&B and Country songs. Presley would go on to define his sound in its signature style with hits like “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Heartbreak Hotel.” The mid-1950s were a cultural Big Bang that - through the talent and brilliance of many artists such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, The Ronettes, Ritchie Valens, Elvis Presley, and more - transcended social boundaries and created a music movement that youth from all walks of life could feel like they were a part of. Rock & Roll is the ultimate freedom in musical expression and changed our entire world forever, and this show explores where it all began.
Black Sabbath
Rehearsals - Wednesdays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - Friday 12/5 (7:30-8:45pm) & Sunday 12/14 (11:30am-12:45pm)
While the phrase “Heavy Metal” had been thrown about during the '60s, it took the arrival of Black Sabbath to fully realize the genre. Considered the pioneers of heavy metal, Black Sabbath are rock and roll legends. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward created some of the heaviest music of the 1960s and '70s, and have influenced practically every metal band who have emerged in their wake, including Metallica, Slayer, System of a Down, Slipknot, and Soundgarden. After 50+ years, despite lineup changes (Ronnie James Dio as vocalist being the most notable), band names (including both the Polka Tuck Blues Band and Earth), and inter-band personality conflicts, Black Sabbath have still emerged as the first and most influential heavy metal band in rock history. Major musical concepts employed by Black Sabbath that the students will learn include alternate tunings, changes in tempo and feel, and improvisation. This show is sure to be incredibly fun for your student rocker, and will greatly help with their development to the next musical level! UPDATE: With Ozzy’s tragic passing this week, this show is even more relevant and timely than ever! We will honor him the best way we know how–with a show full of his love and art.
Weird Rock
Rehearsals - Thursdays 4:15-6:15
Show Dates/Times - Friday 12/5 (6-7:15pm) & Sunday 12/14 (4-5:15pm)
Things are about to get weird at School of Rock! This brand new show will let loose with some of the stranger acts (said with all love) in rock and roll throughout the decades. The genre of “Weird Rock” isn’t formal, but it captures a specific vibe that cuts across decades and subgenres. At its core, it’s rock music that deliberately breaks rules–musically, lyrically, or aesthetically–to create something unexpected, off-kilter, or surreal. Unusual song forms, abrupt tempo changes, theatricality, experimentation and absurdity are all welcome in this category. All instruments will get some love in this show, and there may be room for auxiliary instruments like violin, trumpet, saxophone, melodica–and heck–maybe even kazoo! Let your freak flag fly with artists that easily could include: Thomas Dolby, Danny Elfman / Oingo Boingo, Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Weird Al, Frank Zappa, Bjork, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Captain Beefheart, Brian Eno, Primus, B-25s, Yoko Ono, They Might Be Giants, Ween, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, FIshbone, William Onyeabor, and more!
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Rehearsals - Thursdays 4:15-6:15
Show Dates/Times - Sunday 12/7 (10-11:15am) & Saturday 12/13 (2-3:15pm)
Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of those bands that you can’t help but crack a smile while listening to, but they were also a band with a message. A staple of classic rock radio, their music has transcended generations and remains just as powerful today as it was back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. While not explicitly a protest band in the same vein as some contemporaries, their songs, especially "Fortunate Son," became anthems for anti-war and anti-establishment sentiment during the Vietnam War era. Inspired by the roots rock of the mid to late ’50s, CCR would release a string of hits within a short 4-year period from 1968-1972, including “Proud Mary”, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Fortunate Son”, and “Down on the Corner.” There are few shows School of Rock offers that are as purely educational as this one. Every song is a master class on rhythm-section groove, economical lead guitar, and vocal expressiveness. CCR is accessible enough for beginners but can challenge even advanced players - and the songs are super fun!
Pop Punk & Emo
Rehearsals - Thursdays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - Saturday 12/6 (11am-12:15pm) & Friday 12/12 (6-7:15pm)
In the 1990s, artists such as Green Day, Offspring, and Blink-182 achieved success by blending punk attitudes and influences with a more polished, melodic, commercially appealing sound than their often raw predecessors. By the 2000s, Pop Punk and its Emo offshoot (featuring lyrics that touch on emotional and confessional topics) were fully entrenched in the mainstream music world, with bands such as Fall Out Boy, Paramore, My Chemical Romance, and Panic! At the Disco topping the charts and selling out arenas. Of course, this music is still incredibly popular and influential today. A fun show that can be musically challenging but also teaches solid fundamental skills, Pop Punk & Emo is sure to appeal to all levels of students and will entertain any crowd!
90s Rock
Rehearsals - Thursdays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - Saturday 12/6 (12:30-1:45pm) & Sunday 12/14 (2:30-3:45pm)
The ‘90s Rock show is arguably one of the most popular School of Rock shows in our collection. Packed with a plethora of what are now known as ‘classic rock’ songs, the stylistic spectrum of this show is wide enough to excite any student rocker! Hard Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Alternative and Indie encompass this decade of music that many parents grew up on! While some connect the era of ‘90s Rock to the Seattle-area Grunge scene with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, this show expands to also feature acts like Weezer, Hole, Oasis, No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, Gin Blossoms and Green Day. Every instrument School of Rock teaches will have opportunities to grow and shine in this show, as the 90s were a bit of a Wild West of Rock music! It will stretch any students’ musical progress while delighting and creating nostalgia for their parents (and many of our instructors)!
50 Years of U2
Rehearsals - Saturdays 10:15-12:15
Show Dates/Times - Sunday 12/7 (4-5:15pm) & Sunday 12/14 (10-11:15am)
Coming out of the 80s New Wave scene, U2 formed in Dublin, Ireland, and first made their mark on popular music with a lean, energetic sound built around singer Bono’s soulful voice and often politically-charged lyrics. Guitarist The Edge used effects in new and creative ways, and his dotted-eighth-note delay had a huge role in shaping U2’s unique sound. U2’s Joshua Tree album refined their sound and turned them into international superstars. Not complacent to coast on their fame, U2 continually sought new musical ground, incorporating electronic music and new technologies into their sound and stage show in the 90s and 2000s on albums like Achtung Baby and Zooropa while remaining successful pop icons. One of the top-selling bands of all time, U2 was deservedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. This fun and challenging show will teach students of all instruments and experience levels new skills while also providing an education in songcraft and how to utilize guitar effects and keyboard synths to create unique sounds.
Folk Rock
Rehearsals - Saturdays 10:15-12:15
Show Dates/Times - Sunday 12/7 (2:30-3:45pm) & Saturday 12/13 (12:30-1:45pm)
Folk Rock is a wide umbrella that encompasses protest songs of the 1960s, laid-back tunes of the 1970s, confessional ballads of the 1980s and '90s, melodic “indie-folk” anthems of the 2000s, and much more. The hallmarks of the Folk Rock sound are intricate guitar playing, evocative lyrics, vocal harmonies, and nods to early 20th-century music forms including Gospel, Appalachian Folk, Country, Blues, and Bluegrass. Folk music influences were an integral part of the evolving Rock scene of the 1960s, with Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Mamas and The Papas all finding success. These acts pushed the genre in different directions, amping up the roots of Rock and Roll by adding drums and electric instruments. . The 1970s were rich with new forms of the Folk sound from familiar faces like Neil Young and Paul Simon, as well as commercial newcomers like the British multi-instrumentalist Cat Stevens. Folk Rock influences continue to be found in more contemporary artists, such as Tom Petty, Tracy Chapman, Indigo Girls, The Jayhawks, Beck, and Brandi Carlile. Many of the greatest songwriters of all time - including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Huddie Ledbetter, and Paul Simon - are represented in this show, which is filled with classic songs and popular hits that will educate students of all experience levels.
Songwriting Studio
Rehearsals - Fridays 6:45-8:45
Showcase Date - End-of-season showcase December 12 @ 7:00pm
Our Songwriting Studio course (Ages 12 and up!) is a program designed to get students writing and recording songs in a collaborative workshop environment. You will learn collaborative writing techniques–from cool chord progressions to better lyrics and beyond–and then record songs with other musicians! Learn some tracking, mixing, and pre and post-production basics. These are skills that will get you started in developing and producing your own material. And in what we’re told is the “best addition since sliced bread”, each season now includes a full-day field trip to a brand new, state-of-the-art professional studio in Lemont, IL, where some of the material being worked on in class will be recorded as if it were a truly professional band’s studio day. The group’s finished songs are presented in a listening party and showcase at the end of the season.
Performance Season Info
IMPORTANT DATES
Sign-up Form Due:
Sunday, August 3rd
Casts Announced:
Week of August 18th
Rehearsals Start:
Week of Wednesday, September 3rd
Show Dates:
December 5/6/7th & 12/13/14th
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
David Bowie & Friends
Rehearsals - Mondays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - Sunday 12/7 (1-2:15pm) & Friday 12/12 (7:30-8:45pm)
Born David Robert Jones in South London in 1947, Bowie started out playing with a string of R&B-based outfits in London with little success and he considered leaving the music business to become a mime. On July 11th, 1969, Bowie released his first single in 2 years, “Space Oddity”. It blew up, and following it’s success, Bowie assembled the group that would help shoot him to stardom. Initially called ‘Hype’, bassist Tony Visconti, guitarist Mick Ronson, and drummer Woody Woodmansey joined Bowie for the recording of The Man Who Sold The World (1970) and agreed to become his backing band. By 1972, Glam Rock had become the dominant sub genre in the UK rock scene, led by Marc Bolan and T. Rex. With outrageous costumes and dyed red hair, Bowie debuted his new persona, Ziggy Stardust, in wild concerts that preceded the release of his fifth album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Following the release of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie reinvented himself with every subsequent album–from Aladdin Sane through Station To Station. As the '80s began, Bowie saw equal success from his releases - mainly from teaming up with Queen to record “Under Pressure.” The '90s saw Bowie delve deeper into electronic music embracing the Industrial genre on albums like Earthling (1997) and Hours (1999). In 1996, Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His final album, Blackstar, was famously released just two days before his passing. David Bowie influenced generations of rockers with his theatrical style, constant reinvention, and sonic exploration. Bowie also collaborated with the likes of John Lennon, Queen, Iggy Pop, Bing Crosby, TIna Turner, Trent Reznor, and Brian Eno. With over 100 Million albums sold worldwide, he remains one of the most successful and popular stars in music history. This show features all of our standard School of Rock instrumentation, with potential extra opportunities for keyboardists, percussion, horns and string players.
Classic R&B
Rehearsals - Mondays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - 12/6 (3:30-4:45pm) & 12/14 (1-2:15pm)
Rhythm and Blues music was foundational to the evolution of rock and roll! Originating with jazz and blues in the 1940s, R&B music was predominantly created by black musicians for black audiences until the 1950s, when artists such as Etta James, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Ike & Tina Turner began to achieve crossover success with white audiences as well. By the early 1960s, record labels like Motown and Stax were churning out legendary hits by Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Supremes, and Otis Redding, which influenced virtually all of the Rock and Roll and Pop music that came after. The Classic R&B show features groove-oriented music with dynamic arrangements and standout vocal performances. Students participating in this show will have an opportunity to hone their rhythmic skills and broaden their repertoire of music styles by focusing on the music that inspired artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, and which continues to be relevant today with its influence on modern Pop stars such as Adele and John Legend. Classic R&B is one of the most educational shows that School of Rock offers!
Bedroom Pop
Rehearsals - Wednesdays 4:15-6:15
Show Dates/Times - 12/6 (2-3:15pm) & 12/13 (11am-12:15pm)
This is one that’s been asked for by countless students! Bedroom Pop is a music genre and aesthetic defined by its DIY ethos, intimate sound, and lo-fi production—often created by young artists recording in their bedrooms using minimal equipment. It blends elements of indie pop, dream pop, electronic, and R&B, characterized by soft vocals, nostalgic tones, and emotionally vulnerable lyrics. The genre rose to prominence in the late 2010s, driven by platforms like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and YouTube, where artists bypassed traditional studios and labels to connect directly with fans. Its charm lies in its raw authenticity and homemade feel, which often gives listeners a sense of personal closeness to the artist. Famous Bedroom Pop artists as well as artists in adjacent genres or that incorporate elements of Bedroom Pop include Clairo, Dreamer Boy, girl in red, Beabadoobee, Steve Lacy, Cavetown, Dayglow, Wallows, Rex Orange Country, Chloe Moriondo, Still Woozy, Boy Pablo, Faye Webster and more.
Roots of Rock & Roll
Rehearsals - Wednesdays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - 12/7 (11:30am-12:45pm) & 12/13 (3:30-4:45pm)
The Roots of Rock & Roll show covers seminal rock/pop acts from the ‘50s and early ‘60s, including Chuck Berry, Sun Records artists such as Elvis and Carl Perkins, early rockabilly, and early pop like The Beach Boys and Phil Spector-produced acts. This material is the foundation for everything that came after it, and its educational importance can’t be overstated. Rock & Roll really started to develop around 1953-1954 when iconic songs like “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton and “Rock Around The Clock” by Bill Haley were released. By 1955 the floodgates started to break open and artists such as Little Richard were making huge names for themselves with hits like “Tutti Frutti.” Around this time a truck driver in Memphis, Tennessee, by the name of Elvis Presley started tearing up the south with his adrenaline pumped “Rock-a-billy” covers of R&B and Country songs. Presley would go on to define his sound in its signature style with hits like “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Heartbreak Hotel.” The mid-1950s were a cultural Big Bang that - through the talent and brilliance of many artists such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, The Ronettes, Ritchie Valens, Elvis Presley, and more - transcended social boundaries and created a music movement that youth from all walks of life could feel like they were a part of. Rock & Roll is the ultimate freedom in musical expression and changed our entire world forever, and this show explores where it all began.
Black Sabbath
Rehearsals - Wednesdays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - Friday 12/5 (7:30-8:45pm) & Sunday 12/14 (11:30am-12:45pm)
While the phrase “Heavy Metal” had been thrown about during the '60s, it took the arrival of Black Sabbath to fully realize the genre. Considered the pioneers of heavy metal, Black Sabbath are rock and roll legends. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward created some of the heaviest music of the 1960s and '70s, and have influenced practically every metal band who have emerged in their wake, including Metallica, Slayer, System of a Down, Slipknot, and Soundgarden. After 50+ years, despite lineup changes (Ronnie James Dio as vocalist being the most notable), band names (including both the Polka Tuck Blues Band and Earth), and inter-band personality conflicts, Black Sabbath have still emerged as the first and most influential heavy metal band in rock history. Major musical concepts employed by Black Sabbath that the students will learn include alternate tunings, changes in tempo and feel, and improvisation. This show is sure to be incredibly fun for your student rocker, and will greatly help with their development to the next musical level! UPDATE: With Ozzy’s tragic passing this week, this show is even more relevant and timely than ever! We will honor him the best way we know how–with a show full of his love and art.
Weird Rock
Rehearsals - Thursdays 4:15-6:15
Show Dates/Times - Friday 12/5 (6-7:15pm) & Sunday 12/14 (4-5:15pm)
Things are about to get weird at School of Rock! This brand new show will let loose with some of the stranger acts (said with all love) in rock and roll throughout the decades. The genre of “Weird Rock” isn’t formal, but it captures a specific vibe that cuts across decades and subgenres. At its core, it’s rock music that deliberately breaks rules–musically, lyrically, or aesthetically–to create something unexpected, off-kilter, or surreal. Unusual song forms, abrupt tempo changes, theatricality, experimentation and absurdity are all welcome in this category. All instruments will get some love in this show, and there may be room for auxiliary instruments like violin, trumpet, saxophone, melodica–and heck–maybe even kazoo! Let your freak flag fly with artists that easily could include: Thomas Dolby, Danny Elfman / Oingo Boingo, Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Weird Al, Frank Zappa, Bjork, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Captain Beefheart, Brian Eno, Primus, B-25s, Yoko Ono, They Might Be Giants, Ween, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, FIshbone, William Onyeabor, and more!
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Rehearsals - Thursdays 4:15-6:15
Show Dates/Times - Sunday 12/7 (10-11:15am) & Saturday 12/13 (2-3:15pm)
Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of those bands that you can’t help but crack a smile while listening to, but they were also a band with a message. A staple of classic rock radio, their music has transcended generations and remains just as powerful today as it was back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. While not explicitly a protest band in the same vein as some contemporaries, their songs, especially "Fortunate Son," became anthems for anti-war and anti-establishment sentiment during the Vietnam War era. Inspired by the roots rock of the mid to late ’50s, CCR would release a string of hits within a short 4-year period from 1968-1972, including “Proud Mary”, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Fortunate Son”, and “Down on the Corner.” There are few shows School of Rock offers that are as purely educational as this one. Every song is a master class on rhythm-section groove, economical lead guitar, and vocal expressiveness. CCR is accessible enough for beginners but can challenge even advanced players - and the songs are super fun!
Pop Punk & Emo
Rehearsals - Thursdays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - Saturday 12/6 (11am-12:15pm) & Friday 12/12 (6-7:15pm)
In the 1990s, artists such as Green Day, Offspring, and Blink-182 achieved success by blending punk attitudes and influences with a more polished, melodic, commercially appealing sound than their often raw predecessors. By the 2000s, Pop Punk and its Emo offshoot (featuring lyrics that touch on emotional and confessional topics) were fully entrenched in the mainstream music world, with bands such as Fall Out Boy, Paramore, My Chemical Romance, and Panic! At the Disco topping the charts and selling out arenas. Of course, this music is still incredibly popular and influential today. A fun show that can be musically challenging but also teaches solid fundamental skills, Pop Punk & Emo is sure to appeal to all levels of students and will entertain any crowd!
90s Rock
Rehearsals - Thursdays 6:45-8:45
Show Dates/Times - Saturday 12/6 (12:30-1:45pm) & Sunday 12/14 (2:30-3:45pm)
The ‘90s Rock show is arguably one of the most popular School of Rock shows in our collection. Packed with a plethora of what are now known as ‘classic rock’ songs, the stylistic spectrum of this show is wide enough to excite any student rocker! Hard Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Alternative and Indie encompass this decade of music that many parents grew up on! While some connect the era of ‘90s Rock to the Seattle-area Grunge scene with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, this show expands to also feature acts like Weezer, Hole, Oasis, No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, Gin Blossoms and Green Day. Every instrument School of Rock teaches will have opportunities to grow and shine in this show, as the 90s were a bit of a Wild West of Rock music! It will stretch any students’ musical progress while delighting and creating nostalgia for their parents (and many of our instructors)!
50 Years of U2
Rehearsals - Saturdays 10:15-12:15
Show Dates/Times - Sunday 12/7 (4-5:15pm) & Sunday 12/14 (10-11:15am)
Coming out of the 80s New Wave scene, U2 formed in Dublin, Ireland, and first made their mark on popular music with a lean, energetic sound built around singer Bono’s soulful voice and often politically-charged lyrics. Guitarist The Edge used effects in new and creative ways, and his dotted-eighth-note delay had a huge role in shaping U2’s unique sound. U2’s Joshua Tree album refined their sound and turned them into international superstars. Not complacent to coast on their fame, U2 continually sought new musical ground, incorporating electronic music and new technologies into their sound and stage show in the 90s and 2000s on albums like Achtung Baby and Zooropa while remaining successful pop icons. One of the top-selling bands of all time, U2 was deservedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. This fun and challenging show will teach students of all instruments and experience levels new skills while also providing an education in songcraft and how to utilize guitar effects and keyboard synths to create unique sounds.
Folk Rock
Rehearsals - Saturdays 10:15-12:15
Show Dates/Times - Sunday 12/7 (2:30-3:45pm) & Saturday 12/13 (12:30-1:45pm)
Folk Rock is a wide umbrella that encompasses protest songs of the 1960s, laid-back tunes of the 1970s, confessional ballads of the 1980s and '90s, melodic “indie-folk” anthems of the 2000s, and much more. The hallmarks of the Folk Rock sound are intricate guitar playing, evocative lyrics, vocal harmonies, and nods to early 20th-century music forms including Gospel, Appalachian Folk, Country, Blues, and Bluegrass. Folk music influences were an integral part of the evolving Rock scene of the 1960s, with Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Mamas and The Papas all finding success. These acts pushed the genre in different directions, amping up the roots of Rock and Roll by adding drums and electric instruments. . The 1970s were rich with new forms of the Folk sound from familiar faces like Neil Young and Paul Simon, as well as commercial newcomers like the British multi-instrumentalist Cat Stevens. Folk Rock influences continue to be found in more contemporary artists, such as Tom Petty, Tracy Chapman, Indigo Girls, The Jayhawks, Beck, and Brandi Carlile. Many of the greatest songwriters of all time - including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Huddie Ledbetter, and Paul Simon - are represented in this show, which is filled with classic songs and popular hits that will educate students of all experience levels.
Songwriting Studio
Rehearsals - Fridays 6:45-8:45
Showcase Date - End-of-season showcase December 12 @ 7:00pm
Our Songwriting Studio course (Ages 12 and up!) is a program designed to get students writing and recording songs in a collaborative workshop environment. You will learn collaborative writing techniques–from cool chord progressions to better lyrics and beyond–and then record songs with other musicians! Learn some tracking, mixing, and pre and post-production basics. These are skills that will get you started in developing and producing your own material. And in what we’re told is the “best addition since sliced bread”, each season now includes a full-day field trip to a brand new, state-of-the-art professional studio in Lemont, IL, where some of the material being worked on in class will be recorded as if it were a truly professional band’s studio day. The group’s finished songs are presented in a listening party and showcase at the end of the season.