Highland Heights
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Highland Heights

Map
School of Rock Highland Heights
299 Alpha Park
Highland Heights, OH 44143
(440) 684-7625
Hours
  • Monday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 10:30 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

Upcoming Special Hours:

  • 05/18/2024: Closed
  • 05/27/2024: Closed
  • 06/01/2024: Closed
  • 07/04/2024: Closed
  • 07/06/2024: Closed

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

School of Rock in Highland Heights, Ohio is proud to serve the Highland Heights community and surrounding areas like Beachwood, Chagrin, Mayfield, and Shaker Heights with a revolutionary music education approach. Our quality music lessons are taught by real, practicing musicians and students can learn to rock out on guitar, keyboards, drums, and vocals, across many genres. Students can develop their skills in a supportive and encouraging environment, and gain confidence like true rock stars by jamming together in a band with friends. Our students perform at community-based festivals like Brite Winter and regularly play at local venues like the Beachland Ballroom & Tavern and the Grog Shop. Our students have even performed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Come join the band and visit School of Rock Highland Heights today!

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in Highland Heights for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 7-11

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Highland Heights'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 Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Highland Heights who have participated in the Rookies program can move to our Rock 101 music program once they’re ready. Additionally, students (typically ages 7 to 11-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 Highland Heights
Performance
Ages 8-18

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

Rookies music program for children in Highland Heights
Rookies
Ages 7 - 8

Students must be 7 or 8 years old to qualify for the class. At School of Rock Highland Heights, our music program for children with no previous musical experience 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 Highland Heights, 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.

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 Highland Heights, 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 Highland Heights is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Highland Heights 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.

Adult music program in Highland Heights for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 21+

School of Rock Highland Heights's Adult Program is for students over 21 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 Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights.

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 Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Highland Heights

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Highland Heights

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights, 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 Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights, 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 Highland Heights.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Highland Heights

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights, 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 Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights, 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 Highland Heights

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in Highland Heights. 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 Highland Heights, 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 Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights 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 Highland Heights, 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 Highland Heights, 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 Highland Heights’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 Jessica Yafanaro
Jessica Yafanaro
Vocal Teacher
Jessica Yafanaro is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist based out of Cleveland, Ohio. Influenced by jazz, gospel, and R&B, Jessica draws from the greats to create an original sound. Born on July 5th, 1991, Jessica had a natural ability for music, discovered at an early age.
Jessica was able to hear any song, and recreate it on a keyboard. Seeing her ability to do so with no prior music experience, at the age of seven, her parents decided to enroll her in private piano lessons. In those lessons, Jessica discovered that she had perfect pitch, a rare ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note without the benefit of a reference tone . This knowledge was a determining factor in Jessica’s desire to pursue music on a serious level. She began to study saxophone in fifth grade, and upon entering middle school, taught herself flute, clarinet, bass guitar, electric/acoustic guitar, and drums. With this knowledge, Jessica started playing multiple instruments at her home church, Christian Assembly in Richmond Heights, Ohio, and eventually became the music director for eight years. At the same time, Jessica studied classical voice at The Cleveland Music School Settlement on a vocal scholarship, under the guidance of Kimberly Lauritsen.

Upon graduation from Mayfield High School in 2009, Jessica became the assistant director of the show choir and theatre program at her alma mater. Jessica studied music education at Baldwin-Wallace University for one year. But her love for music would truly awaken when she heard through a friend about a jazz school in the heart of downtown Cleveland. She transferred to the metropolitan campus of Cuyahoga Community College, where she studied jazz through Berklee College of Music’s articulate program, working with world renown artists and producers such as Diana Krall, Janis Siegel, Tommy LiPuma, and many others. In 2014, Jessica became the bassist and soon transitioned to the role of assistant director at South Euclid United Church of Christ for seven years.

Along with her experience during her school years, Jessica has been a professional vocalist and musician in the Cleveland Music scene for over ten years. You can hear her singing and playing with many bands and artists such as Dan Wilson, “Collin Miller and the Brother Nature,” and many more. Her debut album is set to be released in fall of 2022.
Singing Teacher Sophia Price
Sophia Price
Vocal Teacher
Sophia was born in Hudson, Ohio, and started her music and songwriting journey at the age of 12. She taught herself how to play guitar, piano, and bass, as well as being classically trained on the flute. Sophia began performing at local coffee shops and community music festivals when she was just 14 and later attended Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where she received intensive singing and songwriting training. This led her to study at Loyola University of New Orleans where she majored in Commercial and Popular Music with a concentration in singer/songwriting as well as music production, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Music.

In New Orleans, Sophia was fortunate enough to not only have performed at legendary venues such as Tipitina’s, The Howlin’ Wolf, and Zony Mash Beer Company, but she also started teaching at School Of Rock Metairie. Post graduation, Sophia has moved back home where she is beyond excited to be working as a vocal instructor, getting to teach even more students between the Highland Heights, Strongsville, and Cleveland West schools.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher Dan Molina
Dan Molina
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” - Plato

While his personal tastes in musicality didn’t start to truly take shape until college, Dan was introduced to his first stringed instrument—the violin—in Solon, OH at 8 years old. After four years of “fiddling” around with more traditional orchestral strings, he deemed it necessary to further his music career and look like less of a nerd when he picked up his first acoustic guitar at 12 years old, and the rest is history.

Since first picking up the guitar, Dan went from acting in high school and being in show choir to going to school at the Butler School of Music in Texas for operatic and contemporary vocal performance. After learning about his voice and dabbling in music production with friends and fellow artists, Dan had a brief stint back in Cleveland to regroup and then relocated to Miami, FL to chase more studio/production opportunities. Seven years later, he’s back in the CLE to further bolster his musical resume and acumen.

Dan has worked with incredible artists in and out of studio sessions for the past nine years including Kent Jones, Takeoff, Kris Kollins, That Dude Stu, Robot Disco Puma, Rey Richh, Karlos Slimm, and more.
Noah Knoblock Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Noah Knoblock
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Noah Knoblock began playing guitar at 10 years old. After banging out his first classic rock riffs he fell in love. He participated in all show seasons (at some times multiple at once) and became a member of the School of Rock Headliners at 16. After graduating from Strongsville High School, he went on to pursue a degree in Recording Arts from Cuyahoga Community College. He continues to pursue his passion for recording, production and live performance playing in groups such as Salty Roads Band as well as recording whenever he is able. Noah primarily plays guitar although also dabbles in drums, keys, bass and vocals.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Eric is a guitar and bass guitar instructor from Youngstown, Ohio. Outside of School of Rock, he tours with his band Madame Marlowe and does various session guitar work.

Eric attended Dana School of Music in Youngstown, Ohio where he studied guitar under Francois Fowler and obtained his Bachelor of Music Performance with an emphasis in Music Production.
Guitar Teacher Jim Cook
Jim Cook
Guitar Teacher
Jim is a guitarist, songwriter, and Dark Lord of the Sith.

Jim has toured extensively and recorded in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and the three “C’s” of Ohio. He worked in the music industry in L.A., has music credits in film and TV, and sang lead in an international commercial. You’d think he’d be super famous by now.

Jim loves coffee and rambles about Eddie Van Halen. I mean, have you seen that guy play? See, there Jim goes again!

Anyway, Jim wishes the best for his students and hopes they’re too young to realize he has no idea what he’s doing.
Mike Kearns
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Mike Kearns was born and raised in New Jersey. Early influences include a massive family record collection covering everything from Stravinsky to Springsteen, violin lessons, a life-changing viewing of "A Hard Day's Night" on a tiny TV set and New York station WNEW-FM. He came to Ohio to study composition and guitar with Dr. Loris Chobanian at Baldwin-Wallace, graduated with honors and has lived in the Cleveland area ever since. Mike's range of musical activities have included rock, classical, jazz and musical theater, including appearances with Cameo Theater rock musical productions of "Godspell," "Rent" and the world premiere of "Macbeth: A Rock Opera." Currently he performs with Shadow of Doubt: a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute, Mike, Jim and Bill Do the White Album, and AT33. Recorded output includes collaborations with local area musicians Chris Tuma, Elvis Manson, Derek DePrator and Rhys Miller. For over 20 years Mike worked in IT management while maintaining a highly active musical career. He is thrilled to be with School of Rock Highland Heights as a guitar teacher and bass guitar teacher working with the coolest staff and students.
Ed Sotelo
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Though he played in a few bands during my college years, it wasn’t until the late 90s that Ed connected with Cleveland’s thriving punk rock scene. Ed's experience being around so many creative people taught him that rock music is an art, a craft and an essential part of his life. In the early 2000s, Ed connected with Cleveland rock band Cobra Verde. They toured, recorded a few albums and even found themselves on the soundtracks of "The O.C." and "True Blood."

Since then, Ed has played in a bunch of original bands. Currently he's busy with groups like The Jack Fords, Mike St. Jude and the Valentines, and Brazilian folk ensemble Chamba Music. Ed considers himself a student of musical history, and a big fan of music from around the globe, made by people from times and places very different from our own.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Rock 101 Director Laurel McCreight
Laurel McCreight
Bass Guitar Teacher, Rock 101 Director
Laurel was introduced to music through her parents, listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam at age 3. She was given her first guitar when she was 7 years old and learned some songs by the Beatles. On her 10th birthday, she received a ukulele just like Eddie Vedder did when he turned 10.

Laurel was anxious to start performing so she joined School of Rock. She started as a Rock 101 student in 2012, playing guitar and keys. By the time she was 18, she had played in 30 performance shows playing keys, guitar, bass, and drums. Her favorite shows that she performed in at School of Rock were Stevie Wonder and a Black Crowes show. She’s currently studying music at Cleveland State University, focusing on bass. Laurel also currently plays in Cleveland indie band, Grumpy Plum.
Jeff West
Drum Teacher
Jeff started playing gigs when he was 15 years old. While in Cleveland, the notable area bands he played with were Strutter, Club Wow and the infamous Baloney Heads. All released records, were played on the then behemoth WMMS and opened for major touring acts. In 1978, Jeff moved to NYC to get deep into the punk rock scene. His punk band, Testors, toured and was on Bleeker Bob’s great punk label (punk fans, look this up!). With The Testors guitar player Gene Sinigalliano, they built and ran Ultra Sound Rehearsal studios for 33 successful years. It was one of the biggest, longest running rehearsal complexes in New York.
Some great musicians Jeff's had lessons with are Steve Smith, Thomas Pridgen, Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith, Pat Petrillo, Neal Smith and Norman Grossman. Some great musicians he's hit with are Cheetah Chrome, Jimmy Zero, Walter Luhr, Johnny Thunders, Sami Yaffa, Billy Sullivan, Frank Secich and Sonny Vincent. Jeff recorded at most of the great NYC studios (like Hit Factory and Right Track) and was signed to Atlantic, Geffen and MCA Records.
Drum Teacher Chris Walker
Chris Walker
Drum Teacher
Chris Walker began teaching himself to play the drums at the age of 5. He took piano, guitar, clarinet, flute and cello lessons as a child, so naturally he ended up following in his dad’s footsteps and became a drummer. His solos landed him in the Guitar Center Drum-Off store finals when he was 13 years old, he competed in the competition for years and eventually became a judge. His musical tastes range from Hip-Hop and Live Electronic music to Jazz and Heavy Metal (and of course Rock n Roll!!!) - and he has been an avid concert goer for his entire life. He played in the jazz and jazz improv bands throughout high school before moving to New Orleans to begin his college career in 2005. After spending a few years in Louisiana he returned to Cleveland and started a band, Broccoli Samurai, in 2010. The project grew from a local improv trio to a nationally touring entity, playing in over 30 states for several years, and continues to play reunion shows sporadically at both festivals and venues today. He has been privileged to play on stage and in the studio with artists such as DJ Logic and The Sugarhill Gang, while his band grew from a basement jam band to playing at legendary venues around the country and at major festivals like Euphoria Festival in Austin, TX and Electric Forest in MI. Chris also played with other bands — The Lorax Tree, Jones for Revival, EP3, Octopus Prime and his DJ/Drum project Chris/Tucker. He has been an intern and volunteer at the Bop Stop Music Settlement, and is honored to have had the opportunity to play music for so many people over the years. Chris enjoyed teaching fourth grade students in East Cleveland through a program called We the People at John Carroll University, where he eventually graduated from in 2019 with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communication. Now he is excited to begin his journey as a drum instructor at the School of Rock, having begun teaching at the Highland Heights, Strongsville, and Westlake locations.
Drum Teacher Devin Gilbert
Devin Gilbert
Drum Teacher
Devin has been teaching for over 10 years and has a true passion for inspiring the youth. His love for music started at an extremely young age; he’s been a drummer for most of his life and has learned to play 32 instruments. During his college years while attending the University of Toledo, he became the center snare in the Marching Band program. Devin went on to tour professionally and afterward became involved in several successful bands, he even went onto become one of the guitar players, producers and founding members of the original hip hop band Red Rose Panic.

Currently, Devin composes and produces music for artists, you might even catch him on the big screen if you’re ever at a Cavs game as he plays for the extremely popular entertainment team the 216Stix!

Devin hopes to positively impact his students by reminding them that with hard work, determination and of course fun anything is possible!
Drum Teacher Max Goulakos
Max Goulakos
Drum Teacher
Max has been playing drums for over a decade and started taking drum lessons at School of Rock when he was 13 years old. He played in numerous shows over the years, sometimes multiple shows at once, and always looked for music that was outside of his comfort zone. He took guitar and bass lessons for a brief period of time before graduating and going to Ohio Wesleyan University to study Mathematics and Computer Science.

However, Max never stopped learning music. He played percussion in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Drums in the Park Avenue Jazz band and studied music theory and composition. When he graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, Max came back to School of Rock to teach drums in the same lesson room he took his lessons in years ago!
Alex Sorboro
Piano Teacher
Growing up in a household that had a grand piano to use at his disposal, Alex became interested in music at a young age. He started lessons at the age of five, studying with various teachers over a 10-year period and becoming well-versed in theory and different styles of playing. He strives to further his knowledge of music and playing ability every day. He’s gained experience playing the Cleveland music scene over the years with several original bands, as well as his current cover band, Pop Fiction. He hopes to pass his knowledge and passion for music and the piano to all of his students.
Studio Coordinator Allison Leckrone
Allison Leckrone
Studio Coordinator
Allison grew up in Ohio under the pseudonym, Turkey Spice (it was her Spice Girls name). She moved to Chicago for film school and then graduated from Shimer College where she studied Social Sciences, read a bunch of old books, and did a lot of karaoke. While in Chicago, Allison helped run an organization called Girls Rock! Chicago, a summer camp and music education program for girls, trans, and gender-expansive kids. Al plays a little bit of everything but hopes to learn and play so much more!
General Manager Louie Novotny
Louie Novotny
General Manager
Louie is a working Cleveland musician as well as School of Rock Highland Heights and Westlake's General Manager, and School of Rock Cleveland’s Sales Manager. Louie has been with the school since 2009. Louie is the bass player for local rock act Hot Ham & Cheese which has also toured regionally and nationally. Louie also holds down bass duties for the acoustic/cover act Duo-Ish, and cover bands Sorry William & Dude, Where’s My Cover Band.
Director of Staff Training and Development
Joe Stefano
Director of Staff Training and Development
Playing drums since the age of eight, and playing in rock bands steady since the age of 11, Joe has been a part of the music scene for 20 years. Dabbling in all genres, he is well-versed in funk, jazz, reggae, afro-cuban and drum corps, and is deeply rooted in rock. In high school, Joe was the recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award in 2001, and was the percussion section leader in marching band. He has played in various groups such as Detagoh, The Recent Vintage, Drop Notion, Switchbladd Scarlett, The Stereo Riot, Surrounding Cities and many more. One of the original staff members at both the Cleveland West and Highland Heights School of Rock, Joe loves teaching music and giving students every bit of knowledge that he can.
Tim Moon Music Director
Tim Moon
Music Director
Vocal enthusiast, Pianist, writer and composer Tim Moon began his musical journey as a backup singer to his Mom at the ripe old age of 3. Soon, at 4 years old, he began playing piano, writing endlessly complex music by hitting random notes on the piano all while insisting all notes were musically intentional.

Tim started his first band and began playing in every high school show he could. Being an acoustic guitar rock singer was DEFINITELY in his future. Then, at the ripe age of 19, Tim saw Ben Folds play piano and decided that being in a piano rock band was DEFINITELY in his future. He obsessively read every theory book he could find in the learning of this process.

But as High School rolled into college, Tim continued his classical voice and piano development. College was boring and nothing happened….Until Tim started Don’t Fear the Sun and went on tour, had a stint on Warped Tour, quit his job, moved to Cleveland because of a national tour in support of this big band at the time but ultimately the tour ended in catastrophic train wreck which left him unemployed and living in a new city.

In his first stint at School of Rock, which lasted 7 years, he at one point had 44 students a week and developed a pedagogy teaching classical mechanics to sing contemporary music.

While this story can continue, the next chapter included a new band, working for an artist, writing for other artists, working with professional vocalists and being a Creative Director for a Warner Music Group Recording Studio.

But nothing was better than working with the kids at SoR, so he came back, proceeding the legend himself, Tommy Rich.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher Nate Yingling
Nate Yingling
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Nate Yingling is an upcoming pianist, bassist, and composer located in Cleveland, Ohio. His sound fuses various modalities of Black American music including jazz, contemporary, neo-soul, R&B, and funk.

Nate was drawn to the piano from a young age when he wanted to be like his grandmother who played hymns in church services. His mother enrolled him in piano lessons at a young age and from there he took a great liking to the instrument. His music taste was later informed by his father with whom he shared an affinity for collecting vinyl records and showed him a great variety of music ranging from Led Zeppelin live at MSG to Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.

Following high school, Nate attended Youngstown State University in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in piano performance with a jazz emphasis. It was at the Dana School of Music that he had the distinct pleasure of studying under many brilliant music minds such as Dr. Dave Morgan, Dr. Caroline Oltmanns, Cleveland’s own Ms. Jackie Warren, Dave Kana, and Aidan Plank. Nate was heavily influenced by the deep and rich musical roots that Youngstown has to offer. He had the opportunity to hear and perform with members of the Ohio Players whilst being a part of the fun jam and improvisational music scene there.

Currently, Nate attends Cleveland State University where he is completing the remainder of his undergrad. His ambitions are high to share as much music with the world as he can and to uplift as many people as he can through his sound.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Eric is a guitar and bass instructor from Youngstown, Ohio. Outside of School of Rock, he tours with his band Madame Marlowe and does various hired session guitar work.

Eric attended Dana School of Music in Youngstown where he studied guitar under Francois Fowler and obtained his bachelor's degree in Music Performance with an emphasis in Music Production.
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

Fantastic for kids and adults!

For kids it builds confidence and it is an incredible amount of fun! Adults get to revisit their teenage dreams of being a rockstar!

It's been so wonderful for our daughter.

She has made many new friends and has much more confidence than before. She has done many other activities in the past, but nothing resonated with her as much as her voice lessons and performance groups have.

We love the incredible instructors.

It’s very welcoming. My daughter really enjoys the camaraderie among the students. Working towards a definite goal has been vital to her growth as a vocalist.

Love the continuity, training and instruction,

Students can learn so many different instruments and there are so many dedicated teachers. They enjoy their time in class and in band practice and they are engaged.

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