Hinsdale
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Hinsdale

Map
School of Rock Hinsdale
116 South Washington St
Hinsdale, IL 60521
(630) 936-4742
Hours
  • Monday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed

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

The School of Rock in Hinsdale is proud to offer music classes to help teach our community how to play instruments with skill and confidence. We teach everything from drums, guitar, keyboard and vocals. Students can develop skills in playing popular local genres including yacht rock, rock 'n' roll, metal, punk, 80's, and country. At School of Rock, students can perform live shows and develop their skills in a supportive learning environment. While there are not a ton of music venues in the area, there's a wealth of opportunities for students to take the skills they learned at School of Rock and perform in Chicago.

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

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

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

School of Rock Hinsdale'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 Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale.

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 Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Hinsdale

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Hinsdale

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale, 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 Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale, 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 Hinsdale.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Hinsdale

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale, 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 Hinsdale 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 Hinsdale, 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 Hinsdale

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

John Nugent
General Manager
John Nugent is a native Chicagoan who has been performing and teaching guitar for the better part of a decade. Considering himself to be an eternal student of music, John has always pushed himself to learn and incorporate new styles and techniques into his playing. Performing everything from Miles to Metallica, John has been a fixture of the Chicago music scene, and has had the privilege of playing at a number of the city's venues including Lincoln Hall, Double Door, Schubas, The Mutiny, The Jazz Showcase, Quencher's, Andy's Jazz Club, Tonic Room and the Chicago Jazz Festival. After receiving his Bachelors Degree from the Music Conservatory at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, John moved to New York City where he was a sought after studio musician, performer and musical outreach educator. John thoroughly enjoys teaching and tailors his lessons to be fun and relatable, believing that a student’s success is contingent on their enjoyment.
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Lenny Vertucci
Lenny Vertucci
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Lenny brings over 20 years of stage and teaching experience. He started playing guitar at the age of 15 and spent most of his late teen years locked away in his room practicing with friends like Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, David Gilmore, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Michael Schenker. Lenny was playing in original bands in and around the Chicago area by the age of 19, working his way up to playing in touring bands and opening for acts such as Ozzy Osbourne and Testament.

By his late twenties, Lenny was a songwriter for Nash Publishing and house session player at Tanglewood Studios in Brookfield, IL, which allowed him to work with many artists who have helped shape his style and sound today. Currently, Lenny is writing music in his home studio and performing all over the Chicago area and Midwest in the cover band LAVA Rock.
Studio Coordinator Cassie Heaney
Cassie Heaney
Assistant General Manager
Cassie has always loved and appreciated art and music. She grew up in dance classes as well as started playing the guitar in high school. She graduated college with a degree in graphic design which she used previously before coming to School Of Rock. In her free time she enjoys going to concerts or embracing a relaxing Netflix night in.
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Rachel Bandler
Rachel Bandler
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Rachel grew up in a musical household in Severna Park, Maryland, and began singing as soon as she could talk. Rachel first picked up a guitar around the age of 11 and has never looked back! She had her first taste of the big stage as a former School of Rock student!

Throughout high school, Rachel played in various bands and spent her weekends practicing Hendrix songs with her friends. As soon as she graduated, Rachel moved to Chicago to study Music Business and Jazz Guitar in college. After working in the live music industry for years, she graduated from UIC with a degree in Sociology. Her passion for music can only be matched by her passion for making a difference in people's lives.

Rachel has performed and released music under the name "JewelOsco" and garnered a fairly large online following for her music. She has always wanted to teach and is so excited to be at the School of Rock in Hinsdale teaching the thing she loves the most!
Guitar Teacher Amon Sahelijo
Amon Sahelijo
Guitar Teacher
Amon has been making music for over a decade in rock bands, jazz ensembles, and as a solo classical guitarist. He graduated from DePaul University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts Management and Guitar Performance.

Amon wants to support artists in today’s ever-changing, increasingly accessible music industry. In addition to playing, Amon loves to help others begin their musical journey through teaching. Some of his biggest inspirations are Eric Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, and Paco de Lucía.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Drum Teacher Jeremiah Miller
Jeremiah Miller
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Drum Teacher
Jeremiah was born the youngest of four children and his parents believe every song he sings carries an amazing life-changing message to the world. Over the years his love for writing music, singing, and playing the drums has grown tremendously. Jeremiah has been playing the drums since he was 4 years old. He has ventured into teaching children the art of playing instruments and singing.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher Cuixi Aguilar
Cuixi Aguilar
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Cuixi has always had a deep love for art. His passion for music began when he discovered music’s special ability to bring people together and to open portals to different times, distinct emotions, and a particular human perspective. Cuixi brings a lot of musical diversity, from his Latin American roots, his classical guitar training at the Chicago High School for the Arts & DePaul University, as well as his admiration for flamenco guitar. While at DePaul Cuixi ventured new waters by fulfilling one of his longtime dreams of starting a rock band. “Where’s Fernando?” played venues like: Cubby Bear, Subterranean, Martyrs, and Tonic Room. Cuixi has since pursued singing/songwriting and is currently playing bass for psychedelic rock band “Geek’d” and frontman for his latest project “Nuovo.”
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Jake Foland
Jake Foland
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Jake Foland was born into a musical family; his parents were in a band together while his mother was pregnant with him. Jake showed musical talent at a young age, playing guitar and drums from childhood. In middle school, he played the French horn and developed an interest in classical and concert band music.

Jake currently studies piano, voice, and music composition at the College of DuPage and plays in a variety of rock and pop groups throughout the Chicagoland area. He is a guitar teacher, drum teacher, piano teacher, and vocal instructor at School of Rock Hinsdale.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Ryan Norris
Ryan Norris
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Ryan started playing guitar at 13 years old and playing with bands in clubs by age 15. When he was 20 years old, Ryan relocated to Murfreesboro, TN to pursue a Music Industry degree at MTSU and moved the short distance to Nashville soon after.

In over 15 years in Music City, Ryan became known as a keyboard player, multi-instrumentalist, and electronic musician. He was a staple on stages and in studios, and toured the world, performing in over 25 countries on four continents. Ryan has scored films, collaborated with visual artists, made music for podcasts, and worked with creatives on the bleeding edge of machine learning.
Drum Teacher Desmond Bowen
Desmond Bowen
Drum Teacher
Born and raised on the west side of Chicago, Desmond began playing drums at the age of 3 while watching and imitating his older brother. He played his first church concert when he was 4 years old, and has been in love with drums ever since. Desmond attended Central State University briefly where he learned the history of musical percussion and studied jazz. In 2011, he was introduced to progressive pop rock by a few musician friends and has been captivated by the genre ever since.

Desmond enjoys playing in live shows and has had the opportunity to perform with many different artists from local and international bands. This list includes Flowtone (Pop/Rock), Spooky Boo Band (Heavy Rock, Progressive Pop Rock) King of Mars (Funky Rock), and many other groups. Desmond has also had the privilege of playing on several tours and being featured in multiple studio and live recordings. Although he considers himself someone who holds a wealth of musical knowledge and experience, Desmond is always looking for opportunities to expand his reach.
Studio Coordinator Ashley Garibay
Ashley Garibay
Studio Coordinator
Growing up Ashley was surrounded by music. Her dad had been a singer, and her brother played drums in a Deftones-inspired Nu-Metal band. A day without music in Ashley's house was never an option. She used to sneak over to her brother’s band practices to watch them play because she was too young to ever attend their high-energy shows.

Ashley has always appreciated music, so much so that her second job consists of working concerts for Live Nation. In her free time, Ashley loves to skate, play video games, hike, read, and spend time with her family. She looks forward to working in an environment surrounded by musically inclined individuals and kids who aspire to be the same. Ashley hopes to learn a thing or two from them, too!
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher Robb Young
Robb Young
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Robb has been playing drums for over three decades and guitar and piano for over two decades, with bachelor's degrees in Music Education Music. Robb has provided private instruction for drums, guitar, piano, bass, and vocals for over a decade. His band has headlined House of Blues Chicago and his original music has been played on XRT. Robb is currently recording and writing for his one-man band.
Guitar Teacher Jonathan Dombro
Jonathan Dombro
Guitar Teacher
Jonathan Dombro is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He has and continues to explore composing and playing an array of genres of music including, bluegrass, blues, folk, alternative rock, and even electronic music.

Jonathan currently gigs regularly in and around the Chicagoland area with the bands Splor and The Grassfed Collective and also performs solo acoustic performances.
Drum Teacher Adam Gay
Adam Gay
Drum Teacher
Adam has been holding drumsticks in his hands almost his entire life and has been playing with various music groups since he was 9 years old. He is a very versatile drummer with experience playing jazz, rock, pop, and praise music and takes influence from great drummers such as Travis Barker, Dave Grohl, and Nate Smith.

The drums have given Adam the opportunity to tour across the Midwest, the East Coast, and Canada. He has mentored many young drummers and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of drummers.
Singing Teacher Andi Donahue
Andi Donahue
Vocal Teacher
Born and raised in Chicago, Andi has been singing and performing since the age of 5. Church was her starting place as a young vocalist and from there she studied musical theater and opera. Andi's musical endeavors became heavily influenced by bands such as Alice in Chains, Tool, Soundgarden, Portishead, Radiohead, and more, having grown up in the '90s and 2000s. She began writing, recording, and performing her own original material with her former band Holiday House as well as on her own as a solo artist.

Andi has been lucky enough to open for some heavy hitters in the prog rock/alternative rock genres like Deftones, Filter, and Carina Round of Puscifer. Her versatility as a vocalist and artist has taken her from The Lyric Opera House to The Metro, to everything in between. She is lucky enough to have found herself performing on stages and venues throughout the city, the country, and across the sea. She continues to perform regularly throughout the Chicagoland area.

Andi hopes to help her students build a vocal foundation full of healthy practices and techniques to achieve their goals, develop self-esteem and confidence in rehearsals and on stage, and nourish their joy and love of singing and music.
Drum Teacher Ryan Dow
Ryan Dow
Drum Teacher
Ryan was raised just outside of Chicago where he began making music in his basement. His artistry was further developed during his time at Berklee where he studied drum set and music production while working as a studio musician and music educator.

Ryan believes that passing down musical knowledge and inspiring students to be creative gives them the ability to live a more fulfilled life through art. Some of his favorite styles to play are jazz, Latin, hip-hop, and funk. His biggest musical influences include Max Roach, Nate Smith, and Yussef Dayes.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Derek Garcia
Derek Garcia
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Derek was raised in a jazz household which built the foundation for his love and appreciation for music. He went to Columbia College in Chicago where he focused on Music Theory and Music Production. This paved the way for decades of live performing experience in multiple bands.

Derek has been teaching students of all ages how to sing and play guitar, bass, and keys for over five years. He is excited to keep growing as a musician and make playing music part of his everyday life. When he is not actively performing, teaching, or practicing, Derek is spending time with his wife and twin sons.
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 atmosphere is friendly and inviting.

The kids feel like they are part of a family. I love the feedback after private lessons. I also think the progression of how the kids learn is awesome.

They perform at their highest potential.

The atmosphere is so positive the moment you walk in the door. Kids are provided amazing opportunities for learning and performing. They teach a level of music appreciation that can't be beat!

Great opportunities to learn and grow.

The ability to advance from Rock 101 to Performance groups really allows the students to also develop their personalities and grow as musicians.

Learning multiple instruments in one setting.

I love the music they are listening to and how excited they are after class to talk about (and sing about) what they've learned. It's incredible that they can learn multiple instruments too!

By submitting your email address you are verifying that you are 13 years or older.