Plainfield
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Plainfield

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School of Rock Plainfield
24026 W Lockport St
Plainfield, IL 60544
(815) 246-3400

Location Specifics

Located in downtown Plainfield.

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Hours
  • Monday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 1 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

School of Rock in downtown Plainfield, Illinois offers immersive music programs teaching kids and adults how to play guitar, bass guitar, drums, keys, and sing rock music. Here, students can learn to play musical instruments with skill and confidence thanks to our experienced instructors and patented music education approach. School of Rock Plainfield offers students perform live at local venues and may even find themselves playing for music fans at The Forge, the biggest venue in the area known for supporting local bands.

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

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

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

School of Rock Plainfield'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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield.

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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield.

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

The School of Rock Plainfield 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 Plainfield'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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Plainfield

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Plainfield

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Plainfield 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 Plainfield, 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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield, 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 Plainfield.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Plainfield

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Plainfield 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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield, 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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield, 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 Plainfield

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Jason Fein
Owner, House Band Director, Show Director & Vocal Teacher
Jason's musical journey started very early. He started piano lessons at the age of seven and it wasn't long after that he decided he wanted to learn how to play the guitar. Still not feeling like he had found his true musical calling he decided to give his school chorus a try when he entered high school. Things started moving fast from there. He formed his first band as the lead singer and by the time he graduated high school he went away to college on a vocal performance scholarship. While in college he formed his first touring band called Next Best Thing. They had some success including two albums and a song placed in a very popular motorcycle DVD that pressed over 500,000 copies. After college NBT broke up and Jason was left searching for a new musical outlet. Little did he know he would soon find it in multiple forms. He co-founded The Run Around. In the ten years The Run Around has been together they have played shows all across this country, sold thousands of albums, have a successful music video and shared the stage with such national acts as Tom Petty, Bowling For Soup, Local H, Blues Traveler, Alien Ant Farm, Mest, Head Automatica, Lucky Boys Confusion, Nine Days, Gavin Degraw and many, many more.

In the midst of all this, Jason was hired on as a vocal instructor at another School of Rock in the area. It wasn't long before he was recognized for his ability to direct and put on an impressive live show and was asked to direct the performance program. From there he went on to be the General Manager. He learned that he loved the School of Rock mission and everything it represented and decided he wanted to make School of Rock his life. Plainfield has always been a favorite town of his and just minutes away from where he grew up so he thought it was a great place to set up shop and start the next great chapter of his life. He can't wait to help mold the next generation of rock n' roll royalty.

Regional Manager Brandy B.
Brandy B.
Regional Manager
Brandy is the Regional Manager of the School of Rock locations in Geneva, Plainfield, and Schaumburg, Illinois! She began music very young and continued her keys and vocal studies through college. She attended Loyola University Chicago where she studied English Literature, Classical Voice, and Opera Vocal Performance.

Brandy has a wide variety of musical tastes but Tom Petty will always be her favorite. You can often find her singing show tunes to herself for fun. She believes in the program wholeheartedly and can't wait for her children to be old enough to join in the magic!

Fun Fact: She is not your typical Muggle.
General Manager Dan R.
Dan R.
General Manager
Dan's journey as a musician was ignited at 14 when he found a stack of guitar books left behind by his older brother. While in school, he would perform in multiple bands and familiarized himself with the invaluable experience of playing with other growing musicians. After graduating, Dan started his own band and had the pleasure of performing with national touring acts as well as headlining in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. After seven years, he exited in pursuit of playing with other musicians while considering different directions that would offer fresh experiences, growth, and most importantly...fun!

In 2024, Dan released his first single under his metal passion project. If Dan isn't writing and recording music, he's probably at the movie theater watching the latest scary movie or skateboarding with his corgi named Shoyu.

Dan has spent nearly a decade managing multiple music retail locations and live events and is excited to level up at School of Rock. He is thrilled to bring a great vibe as a member of the School of Rock Plainfield community and help elevate everyone along the way. He's always happy to have a friendly chat!
Music Director Tim D.
Tim D.
Music Director
Tim plays drums, bass, guitar, and piano. He learned how to play the drums at 8 years old, and has over two decades of live performance experience. His influences include Travis Barker, Joey Jordison, Dan Carle, Mike Portnoy, Ben Harclerode, and Justin Foley. He has a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from Illinois State University and has performed in ensembles such as the ISU Wind Symphony, Symphonic Orchestra, Big Red Marching Machine (drumline captain), and Pep Band (head drumset player).

He currently plays drums in the Chicagoland metal band Fools’ Brew and has opened for national acts such as Powerman 5000, (HED) pe, Adema, Korn, Butcher Babies, Soulfly, Kill Devil Hill (ex-Pantera’s Rex Brown and ex-Type O Negative’s Johnny Kelly), Kyng, December In Red, Bridge to Grace, Crobot, Upon A Burning Body, and Green Jelly. Tim has over a decade of experience in working with children and adults with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorders and Emotional/Behavior Disorders.
Studio Coordinator Taylor M.
Taylor M.
Studio Coordinator
Taylor is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music enthusiast who is thrilled to be part of the team at the School of Rock in Plainfield, Illinois. With a musical journey that started in the magical realm of musical theatre at the tender age of 4, Taylor has since delved into various instruments including guitar, piano, saxophone, and voice. Her passion for music led her to pursue a degree in Contemporary, Urban, and Popular Music at Columbia College of Chicago, where Taylor honed her skills and expanded her musical horizons.

Taylor draws inspiration from a diverse array of artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Goldsmith, Brooke Fraser, First Aid Kit, Marcus Mumford, Tori Kelly, and Florence & the Machine and cultivated a style that's uniquely hers yet deeply influenced by the greats. She was honored to receive the Hokin Honors Award for Songwriting in 2022, a testament to her dedication and creative prowess in crafting meaningful music. Alongside her academic pursuits, Taylor has been deeply involved in the music scene since 2018 as a member of her folk-rock band, Each Day, where she has had the privilege of sharing stages and connecting with audiences through the power of music.

As a Studio Coordinator at the School of Rock in Plainfield, Taylor is passionate about inspiring the next generation of rock stars, sharing her knowledge, and fostering a love for music that is as boundless as the sky. Whether strumming a guitar, tickling the ivories, or belting out lyrics, Taylor is committed to helping students explore their musical passions, unleash their creativity, and rock out with confidence. When she is not teaching or making music, you can find Taylor at concerts, continuously fueling her love for all things musical, and bringing fresh perspectives to her role at School of Rock. Taylor is excited to embark on this musical journey together and help students discover the joy, power, and magic of making music at School of Rock!
Rock 101 Teacher, Show Director, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher Martin
Martin
Rock 101 Teacher, Show Director, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Martin is a multi-instrumentalist who plays lead guitar, bass, sax, piano, vocals, and percussion. A high-energy rocker with infectious enthusiasm, he is passionate about music and devotes his heart and soul to teaching kids to rock! Martin has 24 years of professional stage, recording, and teaching experience.

Martin started his musical journey as a jazz saxophone player at 10 years old. An all-state saxophonist, Martin worked with elite directors gaining a solid foundation. Picking up the guitar at 16, he acted as lead guitarist in cover bands throughout high school.

After high school, Martin switched to bass and began his professional career as the primary songwriter and booking manager in the band Marble. Marble recorded with Ministry producer Fluffy at Chicago Trax and became a staple at Cabaret Metro in the '90s. Marble was a heavy, grunge act notably headlining FreeFest in front of over 10,000 people on Cricket Hill.

Martin then joined up with The Bennett Brothers Band, recording the timeless album Spy Boogie. The Bennett Brothers Band played many sold-out shows, ultimately treating a huge crowd at Taste of Chicago. The Bennett Brothers Band was southern-style rock and West Coast traditional blues.

Martin currently plays in the Chicago blues band King Cake (bass and keys), Psychedelic Music Revue: Pearl - Janis Joplin Tribute (lead guitar and vocals), and Big Weekend - Classic Rock (lead guitar and vocals).
Show Director, Vocal Teacher Ruth
Ruth
Show Director, Vocal Teacher
Ruth has always had a deep-rooted passion for music. She has been singing as long as she can remember and has played piano since the age of 8. In school, she was involved in choir in multiple types of ensembles, from traditional to jazz to pop. Outside of school, Ruth was the keyboardist and backup singer in her dad’s rock band, from the ages of 12 to 18. In college, she studied Music Education at North Central College and was the music director of a competitive a cappella group called Sonata Problem at NCC.

In addition to working at the School of Rock in Plainfield, IL, Ruth also works as a barista at Starbucks with her awesome River Square fam, and as an associate producer for the Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes Festival.
Drum Teacher Otto
Otto
Drum Teacher
Otto has been playing drums since he was 8 years old. He joined the school band in middle school and remained in the program throughout high school. During his high school years, Otto started a band with his friends which really ignited his interest in music. Playing with people, like in the School of Rock performance programs, was what secured his love for music.

Otto's high school band evolved into one of his more successful projects called Love in the Dark. After high school, he gained much of his performance experience playing jazz and R&B gigs with students from UIC. Currently, he has a residency in a jazz band at Hotel Lincoln on the Northside of Chicago.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Mike
Mike
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Playing guitar and singing since 5, Mike is skilled in many instruments including bass, drums, audio, and sound engineering. Not just playing solo, Mike is a part of many projects not only as a member but also as a musician for hire. When he's not performing, he is teaching music, working in many different settings including schools, theaters, summer camps, and his family-owned music shop where he started teaching at 16.

Working hard to keep his calendar full, Mike brings a very professional, technical, but fun and sarcastic atmosphere. For the last several years, Mike has been a music director at a summer camp out in Pennsylvania and briefly worked at the Gibson guitar factory in Nashville where he was a repair technician fixing and painting guitars.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher Kit
Kit
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Kit is a multi-instrumentalist from Tinley Park, Illinois who has been surrounded by music for as long as he can remember. He has always had a passion for learning new instruments, starting with the piano at age 8 and continuing to learn other instruments such as the guitar, bass, and various brass. Throughout his childhood, he has been involved with many scholastic musical programs, including the marching band, jazz ensembles, choir program, and musical theater. In 2014, Kit was selected to sing in the ILMEA Honors Choir.

Outside of school, Kit performed in many different bands, covering and writing music of all genres including pop-punk, indie rock, funk rock, rhythm and blues, and singer/songwriter. He has enjoyed performing in venues all around the Chicagoland area since he was 12 years old and still enjoys it to this day.

Kit has a quite eclectic taste in music inspired by musicians such as Chance the Rapper, Daniel Caesar, H.E.R., Paramore, Snarky Puppy, Tori Kelly, and Vulfpeck. Kit truly enjoys being a teacher at the School of Rock in Plainfield, IL, and aspires to spread his passion for learning and performing music to kids and students of all ages.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Andrew
Andrew
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Andrew has been teaching and performing professionally for over a decade. He went to Millikin University for his undergraduate degree and majored in Commercial Music and then went to graduate school at Northern Illinois University where he specialized in Studio Music and Audio Engineering.

As a singer, Andrew has a strong background in performing various types of music from jazz, blues, and rock to musical theater, classical, folk, and pop. He has also performed as a Bass II in the elite professional choral ensemble Cor Contiamo and can teach any student any style of music they are interested in.

As a pianist, Andrew specializes in performing jazz, blues, and rock and teaches his students how to improvise in these styles. He also has a strong background in music theory and music literacy for students interested in learning how to read and fully understand the music they are performing.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Madison
Madison
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Madison was introduced to music at a very young age. Her dad has played guitar and been the lead vocalist in oldies cover bands since before she was born. Through his influence, she joined the choir and band in middle school and continued through college.

Madison graduated as a vocal major with a bachelor's degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music, where she originally started with bass clarinet as her primary instrument. She continues to share her passion by playing guitar, bass, keyboard, and singing in a '50s/'60s band with her dad, and performing in local community musical theatre productions.
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Emma
Emma
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Emma has been a musician since she was 5 years old and was inspired to have a love for music from her father. As a multi-instrumentalist, she has experience with piano, vocals, and guitar. At a young age, Emma was classically trained on the piano, had years of experience in musical theater, and was a former student at the School of Rock in Chicago. During her time as a School of Rock student, Emma performed many shows at venues and festivals such as House of Blues, Reggies, Summerfest, Wicker Park Fest, and many more!

Emma studied classical guitar at Lincoln-Way Central. Music has always been a part of her life and she loves almost every and any genre! While living in Phoenix, she was an instructor at School of Rock Scottsdale while studying Engineering at Grand Canyon University. Emma moved to California to study music production and graduated from Icon Collective in Burbank, studying in their Advanced Music Production Program and their Flagship Program. She was nominated for Ambassador of the Year at Icon Collective.

Emma has been a songwriter since a young age and embodies the ability to create original music from rock to electronic music. With her ability as a recording engineer and songwriter, she is writing three rock, indie, and folk albums for her artist project, Emma Vera Eve.
Guitar Teacher Emmanuel
Emmanuel
Guitar Teacher
Emmanuel has over 13 years of experience in the music sector with a combination of skills in performing, producing, and teaching music. He is a talented musician proficient at both the electric and acoustic guitar, drums, and bass. He was the lead guitarist for several bands, such as Fracture the President and Overthrown. He has a multitude of experiences performing live in front of audiences of large venues and local DIY music scenes.

In addition to playing lead guitar, Emmanuel recorded music for Overthrown, releasing singles such as "Pariah" and a full-length self-titled EP. He has also done all the production for Party Rice's discography, with the most recent release of the EP, "Random Act of Violence."

Emmanuel is a guitar instructor at the School of Rock in Plainfield, IL where he teaches the fundamentals of guitar and performance-based music education to students ranging from small children to adults. He also expands his teachings outside the school and has launched his own business, Guitar with Emmanuel, where people of all ages and backgrounds can receive one-on-one beginner guitar lessons.

Emmanuel's passion for music expands even further. Aside from being a guitar instructor, he is also a Guitar Case Technician at Hoffee Carbon Fiber Cases, where he has developed rigorous craftsmanship for building carbon fiber cases for guitars, banjos, and mandolins.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher Aidan S.
Aidan S.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Aidan is a Vocal Music Education major at North Central College. As a multi-year band and choir student through grade school and a passionate musician, Aidan was a part of a multitude of extracurricular groups including both instrumental and vocal groups within the jazz, barbershop, and show choir ensembles. He now continues to take part in various ensembles at a collegiate and professional level.
Vocal Teacher Aiden J.
Aiden J.
Vocal Teacher
With a deep-rooted passion for music and a dedication to excellence, Aiden brings a dynamic blend of experience and skill to teaching voice and keys at the School of Rock in Plainfield, IL. Currently pursuing a degree in Music Performance at North Central College in Naperville, IL, Aiden is committed to honing his craft and sharing his expertise with aspiring musicians.

As a member of the North Central College Choir, Aiden lends his versatile tenor/baritone/bass voice and perfect pitch to both the NCC Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Furthermore, Aiden has been widely recognized for his vocal abilities, earning placement in prestigious ensembles such as the ILMEA All-State Honors and All-District Choirs while in high school. Aiden also prides himself on pulling knowledge from artists with more experience than him. Throughout his years of performing, he has workshopped with many accomplished musicians, some of whom include Kenneth Overton (Grammy Award-winning baritone), Dr. Casey Robard (U. of IL Prof. of Music), Stacey V. Gibbs (widely-accredited spiritual composer), and Dr. Aimee Beckman Collier (Then-Drake U. Music Prof.) to name a few.

Instrumentally, Aiden is proficient in violin, viola, and piano, with years of experience in each. His participation in the Woodstock High School Orchestra highlights his versatility and dedication to mastering multiple instruments. Additionally, Aiden has an extensive athletic background. He excelled on the football field, played a collegiate season as a defensive lineman, and earned accolades such as IL All-State 2nd Team, IL All-State Academic, and Team Defensive MVP as a high school middle linebacker. His leadership skills were evident as a Team Captain and IL Shriners All-Star Game Selectee, demonstrating his ability to lead and inspire by balancing music and athletics.

A decorated alum of Woodstock High School, Aiden graduated Cum Laude with an impressive array of accomplishments. Notably, he earned recognition for his academic prowess with a State Commendation Towards Biliteracy in Spanish, showcasing his commitment to multifaceted learning.

Aiden is determined to inspire the next generation of musicians with his passion, expertise, and commitment to fostering a love for music in all its forms. With a rich background in performance, he is well-equipped to guide students on their musical journey and help them reach their full potential.
Vocal Teacher Giselle
Giselle
Vocal Teacher
Giselle has a passion for music which started when she was 5 years old singing in church choirs. Her love for music only blossomed and she proceeded to throw herself into music headfirst, doing both band and choir for over seven years.

Giselle is now a junior at Vandercook College of Music and working towards a bachelor's degree in Vocal Education. She often performs with Latin, jazz, and mariachi groups.
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

We love this program.

I love how my daughter has grown in confidence. She shines! My daughter is an accomplished singer and can sing in front of an audience with confidence. The support and camaraderie has been such a positive influence on her life.

What a Great School!

This is a great program because it teaches not only a musical instrument but also confidence, team building and performance behaviors.

The staff are wonderful!

It's great for all students. Everything the staff do is for the kids.

So much energy and engagement!

I love the musical fundamentals taught as well as the energy and engagement that is brought to each class.

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