Downingtown
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Downingtown

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School of Rock Downingtown
478 Acorn Lane
Downingtown, PA 19335
(610) 518-7625

Location Specifics

We are located in the Downingtown Technical Center, across from Metzler's Gym and Victory Brewing.

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Hours
  • Monday: 3 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 3 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 3 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Thursday: 3 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 11 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: 3 PM - 8:30 PM

Upcoming Special Hours:

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

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

Programs we offer

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

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

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

Remote student playing guitar
Online
All Ages

At School of Rock Downingtown, 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 Downingtown for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Downingtown'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 Downingtown 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 Downingtown.

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 Downingtown 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 Downingtown.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Downingtown

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Downingtown

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Downingtown 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 Downingtown, 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 Downingtown 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 Downingtown, 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 Downingtown.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Downingtown

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Downingtown 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 Downingtown 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 Downingtown, 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 Downingtown 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 Downingtown, 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 Downingtown

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Tom McKee
Music Director, General Manager
Tom McKee is the music director and general manager at School of Rock Downingtown, where he has worked since 2007. Tom teaches piano and directs several shows each year. He oversees the school’s House Band, which performs regularly throughout Chester County. Tom has directed five tours with the School of Rock AllStars (2011-2016), raising money and awareness for various charities in the process. Tom has toured and performed in more than 40 states and much of Canada as a member of the band Brothers Past. He has contributed original music to the band's four official releases, including the 2005 release "This Feeling's Called Goodbye," which gained critical acclaim for its unique fusion of indie rock and electronic music. In 2006, he performed with Brothers Past at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, alongside Radiohead, Beck, Tom Petty and Elvis Costello. In addition to his work at School of Rock, Tom continues to write and record new music.
Brian Davis
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Brian Davis has been teaching at School of Rock since 2004, not long after the school first opened its doors. Brian is the school’s Assistant Music Director and teaches guitar and bass. As the longest tenured member of our staff, Brian has directed dozens of shows, including some of the hardest music in our repertoire - Zapa, Rush, King Crimson (twice!) and lots more. When he’s not teaching, Brian can be found onstage performing or behind the mixing board in a recording studio. Brian works locally at Tribe Sound Studios in West Chester and tours as a member of the popular Talking Heads tribute Start Making Sense. Brian also writes and records his own music.
John Norcross
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
John Norcross is a guitar, bass and drum instructor with deep roots at School of Rock Downingtown. John was one of the first students to enroll at the school when it first opened in 2004. He was also one of the first students from Downingtown to be named a School of Rock AllStar. John is one of several members of our staff to be immortalized on the school’s Wall of Fame. After graduating high school, John spent time touring the country with the metal bands Trasher and BSOM. During his time at School of Rock, he has directed all kinds of shows, ranging from metal to classic rock to working with the youngest students in our Rock 101 program.
Avery Coffee
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Avery Coffee began playing guitar at age 10 and has been a working musician for 20 years and counting in and out of the region. He currently tours as Chubby Checker’s lead guitar player, but cut his teeth playing in bar bands before settling into the Philadelphia music scene. Avery has performed with local favorites like Chuck Treece, JD Malone and Hezekiah Jones and has toured nationally and internationally, playing various styles. He is also a touring accompanist for the Philadelphia Boys Choir. Besides performing, Avery has always studied extensively, whether it be in a college setting or privately, and believes in teaching the most useful aspects of an academic approach mixed with years of real world experience on stage. His goal as a teacher is always to create a better version of himself, hopefully in less time.
Brock Benzel
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Brock Benzel is a guitar instructor at School of Rock Downingtown. A recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Brock is no stranger to School of Rock, having cut his teeth here as a student. Brock performed as a member of the School of Rock AllStars, touring the country and raising money for charity in the process. Brock performs as a member of the math rock band Invalids and also writes and records his own music under the name Good Game. He is endorsed by Steinberg Guitars.
Ian Barr
Piano Teacher
Ian Barr is a pianist, composer and keyboard instructor at School of Rock Downingtown. He has a Bachelor of Music degree in Theory and Composition from Westminster Choir College, where he also had the privilege of performing with world class orchestras in New York and Philadelphia as a part of the Westminster Symphonic Choir. Some of his compositional output includes pieces for piano, organ, solo voice, orchestra and string quartet. Despite his classical training, Ian is a School of Rock alum who was first inspired by rock legends such as Yes and Frank Zappa to write music. He has a passion for any music that can be both ear-catching and complex. Ian's favorite part about teaching is when he's able to help students gain a deeper understanding of the music that they love most.
Danny Piselli
Drum Teacher
Danny Piselli began teaching drums right out of high school, and almost a decade later he remains one of our most dedicated and passionate instructors. As a former AllStar and student at School of Rock, Danny knows all too well how to help our current students navigate our challenging curriculum. His primary musical influences are metal, but he has had extensive training in many other styles including classic rock, funk, Latin and jazz. During his time as a School of Rock AllStar, Danny toured internationally with artists such as The Butthole Surfers and Brendon Small of Dethklok. He's currently drumming in several projects, including Fisthammer and Conflict Theory.
Ryan Berg
Drum Teacher
Ryan Berg is a dedicated drum set performer and educator with international touring and teaching experience. Ryan's educational background includes studies conducted at Berklee College of Music in Boston and extensive studies with world-renowned educator Gary Chaffee, whose former students include many of the top drummers working today. An active performer, Ryan has performed internationally in diverse musical settings with artists such as Project/Object featuring Frank Zappa Band alumni, composer Chris Opperman, indie rock band Strand of Oaks and folk/roots singer Phil Minissale. He's also appeared with many other artists in a variety of professional settings including improvised music, general business and musical theatre. When he is not teaching at School of Rock Downingtown, you can find Ryan on tour with the popular Talking Heads tribute Start Making Sense.
Peggy Carroll-Henry
Vocal Teacher
Peggy Carroll-Henry has a Master of Arts in Teaching as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Voice from The University of the Arts in Philly. She has an extensive background in teaching, from musical theatre classes at Hedgerow Theatre to private teaching in everything from classical to rock. Peggy is very passionate about her students and believes there is actually a healthy way to sing rock music. She currently sings in the band Minerva, a rock/pop band that plays in Philly and the surrounding areas. Minerva has worked in the studio with Grammy-nominated engineers/producers David Ivory and Ritchie Rubini. She and her husband are co-founders of MECA Music Healsm an organization that helps empower and heal victims of child abuse through music. MECA just played their first benefit concert at World Café Live and has released their first recording, which includes well-known Philly artists such as Eric Bazilian and Dave Uossikkinen (from The Hooters and In the Pocket), Ben Arnold and Lauren Hart.
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

What I like about the program is that my kids LOVE it!

This is so different from the music lessons that existed when I was a kid. These kids are actually making music and learning to play as a band. The performances are so impressive, and watching the kids gain confidence and express themselves on stage is priceless.

The structure around how kids learn is amazing.

Taking lessons to learn an instrument is one thing, but learning how to be a part of a band is on another level. These kids are learning how to communicate, respect people and their opinions, and how to be accountable for themselves. It’s more than just music here.

It's the best music program in the city.

Dedicated instructors and staff, vibrant atmosphere, and most importantly, it's fun! My 8-year-old has grown leaps and bounds in skill and personal confidence. If you're thinking about checking it out, don't wait, just do it!

The kids have a great time while learning to play.

Lifelong skills and relationships are born here. The staff shares their passion for music and are very professional and accommodating. Wish I had this type of exposure to music when I was growing up!

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