Riverhead
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Riverhead

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School of Rock Riverhead
212 West Main Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 381-0121
Hours
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 10 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

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

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

School of Rock Riverhead'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 Riverhead 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 Riverhead.

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 Riverhead 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 Riverhead.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Riverhead

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Riverhead

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Riverhead 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 Riverhead, 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 Riverhead 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 Riverhead, 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 Riverhead.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Riverhead

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Riverhead 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 Riverhead 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 Riverhead, 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 Riverhead 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 Riverhead, 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 Riverhead

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Bobby R.
Bobby R.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Bobby picked up the guitar at the age of 13 and has been involved in music and performance ever since. Bobby has a bachelor of music degree from Five Towns College, where he studied with John Kelly and Peter Rogine. Though most of his college career was spent studying jazz music, Bobby’s knowledge and expertise span the genre spectrum to include classic rock, reggae, and blues.

Bobby has played guitar, bass, and keyboards in multiple bands since high school. He has performed numerous times at venues across Long Island and New York City with friends and he recorded, produced, and released his first full-length album by the age of 19. Bobby’s time playing with many different bands illuminated his capacity for teaching and his love for helping others learn music. During many practices he found himself teaching the other band members their parts. His work with his friends inspired Bobby to begin teaching privately and ultimately led him to School of Rock Riverhead, where he is a guitar teacher and keyboard + piano teacher.
Guitar Teacher Chris S.
Chris S.
Guitar Teacher
Chris is a guitar teacher with a bachelor's degree in Music Business from SUNY Oneonta. He has been playing guitar since he was 11 years old and bass when he started at School of Rock Port Jefferson as one of their first students.

Chris has played in multiple bands in just about every genre ranging from metal to blues. He hopes to inspire his students to not only enjoy playing their instruments but to create their own music!
Drum Teacher Harry S.
Harry S.
Drum Teacher
Harry is a drummer who loves to perform live and inspire all of his students with his passion for music. He started playing drums as a School of Rock student at the age of 7 and continues to follow his musical passion professionally. He toured across the country for four consecutive years with the School of Rock AllStars.

Harry graduated from New York University in the spring of 2021 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. One of his highlights at NYU was winning a quintet competition and traveling to Costa Rica to represent them. He was a co-masterclass instructor in Costa Rica and shared his musical ideas with many inspiring musicians of all ages.

Harry has experience recording music in a few different professional recording studios. He has experience being the drummer in musical theatre shows like Elf and Saturday Night Fever. He also performs in the tri-state area at private events that play Motown, rock, jazz standards, top 40, and many other genres.

Harry wants to share his love of music with as many people as he can, and he loves to inspire his students. Music is a language and he aspires to help his students find their own voice.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Brass Teacher, Rock 101 Director Jim H.
Jim H.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Brass Teacher, Rock 101 Director
Jim is a professional musician and trumpet player who graduated from LIU Post with a bachelor’s degree in Music and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Composition at Five Towns College. In college, he toured China with the LIU Post Wind Symphony as well as Costa Rica with the LIU Post Jazz Ensemble. More recently, Jim has performed and toured with his personal band as well as performing with Sting and Shaggy on various morning shows. He also performed on Maxi Priest’s Grammy Award-nominated album, “It All Comes Back to Love.”

Currently, Jim teaches private lessons and has done so for over seven years. He is experienced in tailoring lessons to the individual’s needs and is familiar with teaching all age groups ranging from 3 years old to 70 years old. He has experience in preparing students for NYSSMA and specializes in brass instruments, guitar, bass, and music theory/composition. Jim can also play and teach piano, ukulele, and the musical saw.
Vocal Teacher, Little Wing + Rookies Director Julianna M.
Julianna M.
Vocal Teacher, Little Wing + Rookies Director
Julianna is a singing teacher with a degree in early childhood education. On top of her vocal lessons, she can also be found directing shows, running our yearly holiday choir, and running every Rookies class that we have to offer!

As a School of Rock alum, Julianna is more than familiar with our programs and was even selected to the School of Rock AllStars program. Her experience with music has found her doing everything from singing in a funk band to belting "Painkiller" by Judas Priest. Julianna will likely be the person who welcomes you into our school!
Guitar Teacher Matt M.
Matt M.
Guitar Teacher
Matt is a guitar teacher at School of Rock Riverhead as well as the Music Director, House Band Director, and Show Director at School of Rock Port Jefferson. Throughout his time working at School of Rock, Matt has taught every level of class ranging from the Rookies program to directing the School of Rock AllStars program. Matt received his bachelor's degree from Stony Brook University.

Matt is a School of Rock alum and uses his past experiences in the program as well as his musical knowledge to motivate and educate all of his students. Matt has formed multiple rock and metal bands and is an active songwriter. His original bands have gotten to share stages with national acts including members of Guns N' Roses and Skid Row.

Matt encourages his students to not only work hard but to enjoy their musical journey in the hopes of also expanding their interests and goals.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director Tim P.
Tim P.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Tim is a bassist and composer with over 15 years of experience and education in music. He began playing bass at the age of 12, and quickly fell in love with the instrument. Three years later, he joined School of Rock as a student. During his School of Rock tenure, he became a member of his school’s House Band and was selected for the AllStars program in 2012.

After high school, Tim was accepted into the esteemed Berklee College of Music, where he earned his B.A. in Film Scoring with a minor in Video Game Scoring. Tim also continued his bass studies while at Berklee, and was recognized by the school when he received the Bass Department Achievement Award in 2017.

As a teacher, Tim strives to challenge each student while adapting to their individual needs and interests. He hopes to inspire every student to become the best bass player and overall musician that they can be!
School of Rock is where music and learning come together

For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.

Reviews

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

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

The structure around how kids learn is amazing.

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

It's the best music program in the city.

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

The kids have a great time while learning to play.

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

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