South Hills
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

South Hills

Map
School of Rock South Hills
4100 Library Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
(412) 343-7625

Location Specifics

Beside Pho Kim Restaurant and across from the Pizza Company.

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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: Closed
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in Pittsburgh for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 8-10

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock South Hills'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 South Hills 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 Pittsburgh are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock South Hills 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 Pittsburgh
Performance
Ages 10-18

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

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

At School of Rock South Hills, 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 South Hills, younger students who are not ready for a more comprehensive program like Rock 101 can start in Rookies. Additionally, students who have completed the Little Wing program will progress into the Rookies music program. No prior musical experience is needed for Rookies. Once your child is ready for private music lessons (typically older than first or second graders), they will graduate into our Rock 101 program.

Songwriting
Ages 10-18

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 South Hills, 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 Pittsburgh is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock South Hills 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 South Hills, 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.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Pittsburgh

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Pittsburgh

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock South Hills 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 South Hills, 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 South Hills 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 South Hills, 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 Pittsburgh.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Pittsburgh

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock South Hills 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 Pittsburgh 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 South Hills, 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 Pittsburgh 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 South Hills, 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 Pittsburgh

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Music Director
Dan Moore
General Manager, Music Director, Drum Instructor
Dan started his musical career with 5 years of piano lessons, focusing on classical music. At CAPA, he changed gears to drums and percussion, learning everything he could from local jazz great Roger Humphries. Eventually, he made his way into the All City Orchestra, playing a number of percussion instruments from snare drum to timpani.

While in college, Dan joined his first all original band, Scapegrace, and they played together for almost a decade, recorded two albums, played all over the city and opened for national acts. He also enjoyed playing traditional Irish folk music and played at a couple of local Irish Festivals. Now, he likes to spend time playing drums with Horehound and Victoria Fire, spending time with his wife and brewing beer.

Both of Dan’s daughters have graduated from SoR South Hills. Watching them develop into awesome musicians has been so rewarding and he is so glad
to be a part of it. He truly enjoys watching these great kids learn to play music. The stage truly is the best teacher and he can’t wait to see them up on stage for every performance!
Olivia Moore Studio Coordinator
Olivia Moore
Studio Coordinator
Olivia started her musical journey at 12 years old with guitar, and eventually picked up a bass a few years later. After a few years of private lessons, she joined School of Rock’s performance program and became a House Band member. With her high school band, Wolfblud, Olivia played shows around Pittsburgh and got featured on the cover of a 2017 issue of the Pittsburgh City Paper and was interviewed for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She also was invited to the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp in LA where she played at the Whiskey a Go Go, played “Barracuda” with Nancy Wilson of Heart and “Mr. Brownstone” with Steven Adler of Guns n’ Roses. Olivia was also the first School of Rock South Hills graduate. She graduated from Capital University in 2022 with a BA degree in Music Technology.
Sarah Greenwald
Vocal Instructor, Keyboard Instructor
With nearly 20 years of experience in teaching music both privately and in classroom settings, Sarah arrived at School of Rock in July 2018. She has performed on violin locally with The Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Savoyards and The Pittsburgh Philharmonic. She's also a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and co-founder of Midnight Vinyl Duet. Back in her hometown of Augusta, GA, she regularly performed with The Augusta Players on violin and viola, as well as recreated full-length Beatles albums with classic rock and soul outfit Number 9, while raising over $250,000 for local charities. Sarah earned a Bachelor of Music from Augusta State University, with a Violin concentration.
Drum Teacher Jonathan Walters
Jonathan Walters
Drum Instructor
Jonathan Walters is a drummer from Natrona Heights, PA. Jon started playing the drums at age 14. Throughout high school, Jonathan performed and recorded with several of his original bands in the Pittsburgh area. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. Jonathan enjoys writing and performing music with his current band Cig&Bee.
Conner McGee Guitar Teacher
Conner McGee
Guitar Instructor
Conner is a former School of Rock student and House Band member. He has been playing guitar since he was 11 years old and graduated from Westinghouse Arts Academy for music performance in 2022. Playing many shows and musicals over the years with multiple bands he picked up drums, keyboard and bass as well. Some of his favorite bands and musicians include Van Halen, Frank Zappa, Steve Vai and The Kinks.
Sarah Perconte Vocal Instructor, Keys Instructor
Sarah Perconte
Vocal Instructor, Keys Instructor
Sarah is a classically trained coloratura soprano with a background in opera and musical theatre, as well as contemporary experience as a singer/songwriter. With over 20 years of performance history and theatre credits, Sarah’s passion for the art form dates back to early childhood. Local performance credits include principal roles with Undercroft Opera, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and the Pittsburgh Savoyards, as well as solo work with the Westmoreland Symphony and the Washington Symphony Orchestras. In addition, Sarah has also sung multiple roles as a young artist with programs such as the Miami Music Festival and Emerald City Opera (now Steamboat Opera). Sarah is beyond thrilled to join the School of Rock faculty and hopes to continue their endeavor to foster a love of performing in their students.
Guitar Teacher
Greg Richards
Guitar Instructor, Bass Instructor, Keyboard Instructor
Since 2003, Greg has been teaching music, first as an instructor for adult and youth guitar classes at Community College of Allegheny County while a student, then soon after as a private teacher. He has been a member of Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra (ELCO) since its inception in fall 2008, is co-founder of Midnight Vinyl Duet and currently writes/records/performs with Midknight Rose. He plays electric and acoustic, 6-string and 12-string, and nylon string guitars, in addition to bass (fretted/fretless), mandolin, ukulele and voice. Greg is a graduate of Duquesne University’s school of music, with a concentration in guitar and sound recording technology. There, he studied voice and sang in choir, and wrote arrangements for and performed with the Classical Guitar Ensemble and Electronic Chamber Group. Greg also holds an AS degree in Theatre. As an audio engineer, he has run sound for live events too. He is currently at the helm recording a forthcoming album from Midknight Rose, and freelances as a crew member for selected film and video projects.
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

I'd definitely recommend School of Rock.

School of Rock has been able to take my son to the next level by teaching him new bass techniques as well as a multitude of ways to play smoother and correct the bad habits that he has developed over the years.

Everyone has become a second family.

I love that my daughter has been accepted into a group of encouraging peers and staff that build her up with confidence and let her shine onstage! Going into lessons and performance band is something that she looks forward to all week.

Such unique opportunities!

School of Rock is the best thing for my child. She loves it and is completely self-motivated. She has made a lot of really good friends with the same interests. She has had the best experience.

Public performances build confidence!

School of Rock is the best money we’ve ever spent on kid stuff. The program is great, the instructors are great and our son has really improved musically. It has also helped to build self-confidence and self-esteem!

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