Hoboken
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Hoboken

NOW Enrolling '24 Summer Camp Season!   Click HERE to Enroll & Let's ROCK Summer '24!
Map
School of Rock Hoboken
720 Monroe St.
Unit E104
Hoboken, NJ 07030
973-464-0860
Hours
  • Monday: 3 PM - 8 PM
  • Tuesday: 3 PM - 8 PM
  • Wednesday: 3 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Thursday: 3 PM - 8 PM
  • Friday: 3 PM - 8 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

School of Rock in Hoboken, New Jersey is proud to serve the Hoboken community—including surrounding areas like Jersey City, Weehawken, Union City, and more—with a revolutionary music education approach. Hoboken is the birthplace of the legendary Frank Sinatra and represents a creative and diverse community with a long history and vibrant culture of arts and music. With lessons from our expert instructors, students can learn to rock out on guitar, keyboards, drums, and vocals, across many different genres! By jamming in a band together with friends while learning to read and play music by ear, students gain the confidence to truly be a rock star. Our students perform at community-based events like the Ghost of Uncle Joe's and the Holiday Community Concert in Hoboken and also regularly play at local establishments like Antique Loft, Pilsener Haus & Biergarten, and more! Take the first step towards reaching your goals and join School of Rock in Hoboken, NJ today!

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

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

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

School of Rock Hoboken'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 Hoboken 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 Hoboken.

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 Hoboken 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 Hoboken.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Hoboken

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Hoboken

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Hoboken 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 Hoboken, 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 Hoboken 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 Hoboken, 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 Hoboken.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Hoboken

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Hoboken 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 Hoboken 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 Hoboken, 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 Hoboken 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 Hoboken, 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 Hoboken

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Rachel Pores
Director
As a young child, Rachel found music to be magical. Every chance she had, she had to be musical. Her family was immersed in the arts, which helped foster her deep love of the performing arts. Rachel started playing the piano at 6 years old and found pure joy. She wrote her first song a year later and after ten years, she was performing classical concertos and had aspirations of becoming a concert pianist. But her true passion was centered around the voice.

Rachel attended Interlochen Arts Camp for piano and voice study at the early age of 8 and also had the opportunity to attend Interlochen Arts Academy for her high school career. There she continued as a voice and piano major, afterward attending the University of Michigan School of Music for Voice Performance. Searching for a more creative study in jazz, which was not available to Voice majors at the time, Rachel began performing outside of school in various bands and attended jazz courses for no credit. She found her home on stage, telling stories within her own original songs and singing her favorite genre, funk. Soon after, she met Jeremy, a jazz drummer from New Jersey. They fell madly for each other and started playing music together in 1997.

Rachel has been a performing, touring, and studio musician ever since. She has had the pleasure of working as lead vocalist for the iconic Parliament Funkadelic and The Talking Heads keyboardist, Dr. Bernie Worrell, along with many hip hop artists, recording and touring with the likes of Tame One of the Artifacts, Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers and El-P of Run the Jewels. Rachel has also performed and recorded with numerous original and cover bands all over the east coast. She is currently working on a funk project singing lead vocals and playing keys.

In 2012 Rachel had the incredible opportunity to work as an instructor at her local School of Rock. She fell in love instantly, and couldn’t believe she was getting compensated for such a fulfilling job. She knew immediately she had to pursue further, and soon after, she became Assistant Director at another School of Rock location. Because of the impact of School of Rock’s performance-based music education model, Rachel even went back to school through Montclair State University’s Music Education program to help hone her skills in order to better serve her School of Rock community. Her hope is to become a steward of music, a confidant, and a guide for students to help reveal their own individuality and potential through programs at School of Rock Hoboken.
Jeremy Pores
Director
Jeremy Pores’ passion in life has always been music. He started playing the drums at age 10, and quickly transformed into a professional. By age 16, he was playing in cover bands in the New Jersey music scene. He found his niche throwing down drum beats, and could always be found with his drumsticks and even with his drums in tow whenever and wherever possible. His early teachers include the great Glen Weber and Joe Morello. Jeremy went on to study jazz drum performance under Jackie MacLean at the Hartt School of Music and then transferred to the Berklee College of Music to pursue lessons with Jamie Hadadd. Jeremy’s work in the music industry has always been guided by performance. Whenever Jeremy can get on a stage, he’s there. His work in hip-hop and funk music has been extensive. For the past 25 years, his work as a professional performing artist includes national tours, house and studio work, not only as a professional drummer but also as a producer and manager for numerous solo artists and bands centrally located along the east coast. His performance experience includes playing such renowned stages as the Trenton State Arena, NYC Knitting Factory and Maritime Hall. Most notably, Jeremy toured as lead drummer for the late Rock and Roll Hall of Fame keyboardist Bernie Worrell of Parliament Funkadelic and The Talking Heads.

Jeremy’s most recent endeavor has been teaching the next generation of musicians how to perform on their instruments. He has such a great passion for teaching and helping others understand the complex rhythms of modern music. He is so excited about the next stage of his life, passing on the knowledge that was taught to him through his teachers to the next generation of musicians at School of Rock Hoboken.
Lisbelkis Santana
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Lisbelkis Santana (Lis) is very excited to be a part of the School of Rock Hoboken family as a vocal instructor and piano teacher. Lis has always had a passion for music and imparting that passion on others. Her keys and vocal background consists of over 10 years of experience. She is a recent graduate of Montclair State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music. Her previous experience teaching music group classes makes her a perfect fit for School of Rock.

What excites Lis about teaching at School of Rock Hoboken is the opportunity to build a community through making music. She not only hopes to promote a safe and fun learning environment for her students but also looks forward to learning from them. Lis looks to implement the core values that School of Rock Hoboken emphasizes, especially the importance of embracing the learning process, and being respectful, humble and confident in what you do. In addition, Lis believes in the School of Rock approach being much more relatable and refreshing than the traditional ways of learning music, so much so that she hopes that she will have the opportunity to learn a new instrument while working at School of Rock Hoboken.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Dylan DiLella
Dylan DiLella
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Dylan DiLella is a New York City based guitarist and teacher. He earned a BA in Music from NYU in 2009, and since then has been avidly teaching private guitar lessons, releasing his own music, and touring internationally. Dylan's main creative vehicle, Pyrrhon, has released 7 studio recordings, and has received critical acclaim from noteworthy publications such as Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. Dylan also records and performs as a solo-guitarist, and has released several recordings under his name.
Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher Matt Ruff
Matt Ruff
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Matt Ruff is so excited to be a part of the School of Rock team! Matt works in the musical theatre industry as an actor/singer and a multi-instrumentalist. He earned his BFA degree in Musical Theatre at the University of Florida. He then made the move to NYC to pursue his childhood dreams of being on Broadway. Now, Matt has performed musicals at professional regional theaters all over the country, and has earned his place in the Actor's Equity Association. Along the way, he has found a passion for teaching music on a variety of instruments. Matt grew up listening to Led Zeppelin with his mom in the car and has always LOVED rock 'n roll. He's so ecstatic to be sharing the gift of rock music with the Hoboken community!
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Leon Litewski
Leon Litewski
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Leon Litewski (they/them) is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and occasional pianist based in New York City. Leon grew up primarily listening to first-wave progressive rock bands such as King Crimson, Yes, Gentle Giant, and Genesis, but loves all kinds of music ranging from pop, hip-hop, jazz, folk, country, metal, all the way to indigenous folk music from all over the world.

Leon attended Berklee College of Music and released their first single under their own name in 2020 called “Sunshine.” Leon currently plays with pop rock band Teddy Hold On with fellow Berklee student Teddy Parker. Leon is also starting up a new post-hardcore band with New York-based drummer and singer Nate Repasz called Feaster.

In teaching, Leon seeks not only to teach students to learn to play their instrument proficiently but to also develop a deep, lifelong love and passion for music, whether or not they choose to pursue music professionally.
Sofia Oro Guitar Teacher, Vocals Teacher
Sofia Oro
Guitar Teacher, Vocals Teacher
Sofia is very excited to be a School of Rock Hoboken instructor! She has experience teaching vocals and guitar, and actively performing locally with both a band and as a solo artist. Sofia is currently studying Music Education with a concentration in Jazz Voice at Montclair State University! And was selected as Emerging Artist for Hudson West Fest for her original songs last October. Her foundations and influences in music are deeply rooted within the rock genre. A unique factor of Sofia’s teaching is emphasization of self-accompaniment, to ensure a student can feel independent in both solo and band settings and bridge the gap between "singer" and "musician". Sofia will encourage students to push beyond their comfort zone, and most importantly, to have fun!
Drum Teacher Stephen Ellison
Stephen Ellison
Drum Teacher
Stephen is a lifetime lover of music. He has been playing drums professionally since 2014 and started in local bars and weddings in his home state of New Mexico. He studied drum set performance at Berklee College of Music. While in Boston he continued gigging live and in the studio.

In 2022, Stephen began working and playing in Nashville. He taught at a School of Rock location there and discovered his love for teaching. His passion for music and experience in the industry is what he strives to share with every student at School of Rock Hoboken.
Drum Teacher Ameer Aljalaad
Ameer Aljalaad
Drum Teacher
Ameer Aljallad is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and lifelong music lover. Starting on the drums at age 12 and gigging by 16, Ameer has years of experience performing live with bands and recording in the studio. Known for his intense and explosive rock/metal drumming, Ameer may be a "metalhead," but he has other interests in styles like jazz, jazz fusion, Latin, marching, and classical music.

Ameer also works as an audio engineer in NYC when not playing with one of his groups. He tries his best to keep music in his life at all times whether it be for work or personal enjoyment. Ameer has joined School of Rock in Hoboken to further his love for music and drumming by sharing his skills with those who want to join the world of live performance, an aspect of his life that couldn't be traded for anything.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Peter Zirnis IV
Peter Zirnis IV
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Born and raised in Jersey City, Peter is a musician who has always enjoyed sharing his love of music with others. He graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor's degree in Music and is ready to pass on the skills and knowledge that he learned from his education and experience to others!

Peter first began his musical journey on keyboards before quickly picking up the guitar, which is his instrument of choice. He is a fan of a variety of genres from rock, folk, jazz, country, and more, and he is always ready and willing to be introduced to all the different types of music the world has to offer.

Shortly after graduating, Peter began conducting music lessons as well as music circles for children and was surprised to find just how much joy came from helping people get started on their musical journeys. He is elated to join the School of Rock Hoboken community and ready to help others find the same joy in music that he has.
Studio Coordinator Keilani Ramirez
Keilani Ramirez
Studio Coordinator
Keilani is super excited to be a part of the School of Rock Hoboken team! She is currently working towards her bachelor's degree in special education and is also studying music and theatre on the side. Keilani spends her free time performing her own original music and covers at local open mics. She has a passion for music and teaching, and hopes to one day create a safe space for children with special needs to learn the magic of music!

Keilani taught herself how to play guitar and ukulele at the age of 11 and has been singing for as long as she can remember. She believes that every child learns differently and the most important part about rockin' with kiddos is finding what touches their heart and excites them to learn so that they love what they do!
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!

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