We hope your school year is off to a great start! We are excited to announce our NEW shows:
Pop Punk & Emo (Mondays) Neo Soul (Tuesdays) Rock 101 (Wed & Sat) The Police vs The Cars (Fridays) Rush (Saturdays)
Rehearsals will start in early November and meet once per week at the advertised rehearsal times. Students will also come in once a week for their individual lessons. Performances will take place in early March at District Social. See show descriptions and set lists below.
We do our best to steer students towards the shows that make the most sense for them. "Experience Required" means that a student has graduated Rock 101 and is ready for three-hour rehearsals and more demanding shows. In addition to membership, a one-time show fee of $150 will be charged per student per season to cover show costs.
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!
Rehearses on Monday PM from 5:00-8:00pm, starting November 6. Performs early March.
One of the coolest shows in the SoR curriculum! Neo Soul refers to the revival of Soul and R&B music in the 90s and 2000s, led by artists such as Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, TLC, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo. Combining elements and grooves from R&B, Jazz, Pop, Funk, and Hip Hop influences, Neo Soul distinguished itself from other Pop music of the time by focusing on a return to live instrumentation. As the genre gained in popularity, artists such as Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, and Mary J Blige became pop superstars. Neo-Soul remains incredibly popular today, with Bruno Mars, John Legend, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Silk Sonic carrying the torch. Neo Soul is a super educational show that will turn students into sophisticated groove monsters! Beginners up to advanced players will be challenged by these intricate arrangements and diverse styles.
Rehearses Tuesdays 5:00-8:00PM, starting November 7th Performs early March.
Get ready for a showdown between two titanic New Wave bands of the late 70's and 1980's!
The Police were an English power trio whose iconic lineup consisted of Sting (vocals/bass), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums). Their unique sounding music is influenced by reggae, punk and jazz. Sting has a very distinctive voice and a solid bassist. Andy's tone is amazing and his playing is totally off the beaten path. Stewart is an absolute madman behind the kit in the best possible way! Each member in their own right is a legend of rock and roll as they are one of the greatest selling bands of all time. After a string of massive records and sellout tours the band went their separate ways as relationships soured within the band. Despite a somewhat brief career their music continues to impact millions of listeners. In 2003 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Cars hailed from Boston, Massachusetts and hit the new wave scene with a bang in 1978. Their self-titled debut album is now a classic and a front-to-back masterpiece. Songs like "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl" are indicative of their catchy songwriting and full arrangements. The Cars featured Ric Ocasek (guitar/vocals), Benjamin Orr (bass/vocals), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes (keys) and David Robinson (drums). The band crafted a sound of their own by adding flavors of synthesizers with power pop, rockabilly and punk music. Easton's guitar playing cannot be emphasized enough as an unsung hero of the six string. The Cars broke up in 1988 and have left behind an enduring legacy. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Rehearses Fridays 5:00-8:00PM, starting November 10 Performs early March.
Rush was a Canadian rock band which formed in the late 60s and gained their popularity in the mid-70s and early 80s. The band’s classic lineup of Geddy Lee (bass, keys, vocals), Alex Lifeson (guitar), and Neil Peart (drums) went on to release 20 studio albums of heavy, progressive rock music that solidified them as one of the most prolific and proficient music acts in history. The band’s songs often utilized odd time signatures and non-traditional arrangements, with lyrics venturing into science fiction and fantasy. Classic songs like Tom Sawyer, The Spirit of Radio, Closer to the Heart, and Free Will helped Rush sell millions of records, earning their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Any student participating in the Rush show will be faced with performing some of the most complex music the SoR curriculum has to offer. Vocalists will stretch their ranges with Geddy Lee’s dynamic vocals, and bass players will be challenged by his unique, melodic style. Alex Lifeson’s guitar parts venture further from straight pentatonic riffs to modal playing. Drummers will have the challenging task of attempting some of the most complex drum parts in music history. Keyboard players will receive an education in innovative synth techniques. This show is sure to be an exciting, educational musical experience for all students intermediate and above!
Rehearses Saturdays 2:00-5:00PM, starting November 11 Performs in early March.
Wednesdays 5-6:30PM and 6:30-8PM, starts 11/8/23 Saturdays 11AM-12:30PM and 12:30-2PM, starts 11/11/23
The ultimate goal of Rock 101 is graduation into the Performance Program. Specific graduation requirements by instrument reflect the techniques and concepts that are essential for success in the Performance Program. Rock 101 is designed to teach beginner students the fundamentals of their instrument and how to play in a band, or group setting. In addition to musical instruction the program provides training in rehearsal etiquette and stagecraft. Rock 101 program will allow every student to progress at their own speed in a low-stakes, nurturing, and fun environment. They can graduate out of Rock 101 at any time, once they meet specific criteria and under the guidance of our Music Director.
Rehearsals: Wednesdays 5:00-6:30PM & 6:30-8:00PM, starting November 8 Saturdays 11:00AM-12:30PM & 12:30-2:00PM, starting November 11 Performs early March.
