Ballwin
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Ballwin

Map
School of Rock Ballwin
14560 Manchester Rd
#1
Ballwin, MO 63011
(636) 220-8930
Hours
  • Monday: 2:30 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 2:30 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 2:30 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 2:30 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

Upcoming Special Hours:

  • 05/27/2024: Closed
  • 06/19/2024: Closed
  • 07/04/2024: Closed

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

Programs we offer

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

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Ballwin'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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Ballwin 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 Ballwin
Performance
Ages 8-18

The Performance Program at School of Rock Ballwin 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 Ballwin Performance Program students take the stage and play at local Ballwin 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 Ballwin'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 Ballwin music venue.

Rookies music program for children in Ballwin
Rookies
Ages 6-7

At School of Rock Ballwin, 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin
Little Wing
Ages 4-5

At School of Rock Ballwin 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Ballwin 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Ballwin'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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin.

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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin.

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

The School of Rock Ballwin 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 Ballwin's House Band. Once selected, House Band members become leaders in their School of Rock community and perform live shows at MO 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 Ballwin and the rest of MO. 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 Ballwin

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Ballwin

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock Ballwin, 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 Ballwin is an experienced musician, and they emphasize foundational music theory and technique when teaching guitar lessons to kids. Unlike other Ballwin 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 Ballwin'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 Ballwin, we teach beginner guitar lessons for adults in our Adult Program. This program gets students performing onstage at a local Ballwin 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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin guitar teachers will work with each student to develop a custom learning plan.

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Ballwin

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Ballwin 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 Ballwin we combine private drum lessons for beginners with weekly band rehearsals—it prepares students to perform live. With years of experience teaching drums in Ballwin, 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin. Unlike other Ballwin 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 Ballwin, our drum lessons are customized for each student and his or her goals. Our Ballwin 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 Ballwin

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Ballwin 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Ballwin

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Ballwin 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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in Ballwin. 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the Ballwin 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 Ballwin 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin’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.

Singing Teacher Eve
Eve
Vocal Teacher
Eve is a former School of Rock Ballwin student and School of Rock AllStar. Vocals are her specialty, but she also loves to play the piano and guitar.

Eve has played in multiple bands in the St. Louis music scene for over eight years. Her main focus right now is gigging, recording, and touring with Al Holliday & The East Side Rhythm Band, but she also loves getting in the studio with her friends and recording vocals.

Eve is a cat-obsessed singer who enjoys crocheting and playing The Sims during her free time.
Music Director Spencer
Spencer
Music Director
Spencer started as a bass student at School of Rock when he was 15 years old and has never looked back. He was inspired to teach thanks to his time as a School of Rock student in both the Performance Program and his school's House Band.

Bass and guitar are Spencer's primary instruments to teach but he also loves instructing classes like Rookies and Rock 101. He loves being on stage and is always trying to play shows and be a part of new bands. You can catch Spencer performing live with groups like Dragon Falcon and Murmur, a tribute to R.E.M. and The Cure. He is the Music Director and a guitar teacher and bass teacher at School of Rock Ballwin.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher Dave
Dave
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Dave has been playing, writing and recording music for many years. He was a full-time gigging keyboard player in the late 70s to mid-80s but took about 20 years away from music to write software and raise a family.

In 2004 Dave came back to music by starting to write and record music in a wide variety of styles for placement in television and advertisement. Dave's music has now been used in more than 200 shows such as Oprah, Dr Oz, PBS Nova, Catfish (including recently The Bachelor Australia and The Bachelorette Australia) as well as national ads for companies like Nissan, Chicago Bulls, Newsweek and Lockheed Martin.

Dave came to School of Rock part-time to share his experience and love for music.
Singing Teacher Melanie
Melanie
Vocal Teacher
Melanie is a local St. Louis vocalist working with acoustic duos and has been in several tribute shows from ABBA to Evanescence and more. Her passion for music has taken her to so many amazing places in life.

Melanie is also a mom to three wonderful kids. She loves to travel with family and go to festivals and concerts.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Christopher
Christopher
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Christopher is a guitarist, bassist pianist from St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from The University of Central Missouri with a Major in Music Technology, Guitar Studies, and a minor in Communication.

He started playing guitar at 14 and has played guitar in his jam band, “American Absinthe” since he was 16. After he was classically trained as a pianist in college, he joined with “The Jazz Operators” as their new Jazz pianist.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director John
John
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
John is a multi-instrumentalist, performing songwriter, and record producer who has been teaching at School of Rock since May of 2019. In addition to eight of his own solo albums, John has produced and engineered music from a very eclectic range of genres and artists.

John survived a severe childhood accident, in which his left hand was nearly severed by broken glass. Despite limited dexterity and lack of feeling from his left hand, John has formulated idiosyncratic ways of playing guitar, bass, drums, piano, and saxophone. In the early days of recovering from the accident, John focused most of his musical practice on singing and started auditioning for community theatre productions of Broadway musicals. Once John could move his fingers well enough to play a chromatic scale on the tenor saxophone, he became the youngest ever paid member of Highland, Illinois' Municipal Band at the age of 11.

John's first album was released when he was 19 years old and his eponymous John Maxfield Band was formed shortly after. The John Maxfield Band still gigs and records, more often around St. Louis where John lives with his wife, Amber, and their three children, Anakin, Alister, and Sally.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director Josh
Josh
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Josh has been playing guitar and bass for nearly two decades and received a degree minoring in music in 2020 from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He has been involved in many different types of ensembles including Orchestras, Jazz Big Bands, and a variety of rock bands.

Currently, Josh plays guitar in the local St. Louis alt-rock band Giant’s Knife, as well as in the acoustic cover band CJ Sounds. He is also a member of the music worship team for White Flag Church.
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher Adam
Adam
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Adam is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist based out of St. Louis, MO. Over his career, he has performed with many notable St. Louis musicians, often on lead guitar and vocals, but also on drums, bass, and as a DJ.

As a performer, Adam currently works regionally, with shows from Kansas City to Chicago, and is also scheduling national tours. His debut album, Bird Leaves, was self-released in September 2022 and he has several more albums of varying genres also planned to be released.
Drum Teacher Cory
Cory
Drum Teacher
Cory aka "Crow" has been playing drums/percussion for over 30 years in local clubs like The Pageant, Red Flag, Delmar Hall, Pops, Red Fish Blue Fish, House of Rock, and Charlack Pub. He comes from a family of musicians and teachers.

After participating in concert band, marching band, and jazz band in high school, Cory received private lessons and began giving lessons himself. Cory began playing live shows at the age of 11, eventually forming funk and metal bands. He still performs regularly in the bands Drool, Purple Fernn, Bangarang, and Sewer King).

Cory has a tremendous amount of knowledge, energy, and stage presence that he loves to share with his students, and is a valued member of our team!
School of Rock is where music and learning come together

For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.

Reviews

The entire experience is amazing.

It is an excellent opportunity for kids of all ages to share the stage and experience being a part of a real rock band! As a parent, it is so fun to be able to attend the concerts.

The summer camps are great value for money.

My daughter attended the 60s rock summer camp. We thought the amount of training hours they receive for the price was reasonable. It offered a different genre of music than most children my daughter's age are exposed to.

I've finally found my people.

It's given me the opportunity to play in a band environment, not only playing songs I like but also pushing me outside my comfort zone. I'm also learning how to perform with other people better, not just how to be getter at my instrument.

The staff works so well with the kids.

School of Rock gives parents the ability to expose their kids to rock music at a young age and get them interested in musical instruments. The teachers are wonderful at understanding the needs of younger kids and having patience with them.

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