Everybody learns to shred at School of Rock Bedford

School of Rock – Bedford: Bedford’s School of Rock is one of over 230 School of Rock (S.O.R.) franchise locations, serving more than 30,000 students, worldwide. Their performance based music school offers private lessons and performance programs, and summer camps for guitar, drum, piano, bass and vocals for the beginner to the advanced player and adults. Yes, adults.

S.O.R. is famous for their themed programs and their eclectic rock repertoires with classes that range in scope from Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones, to Black Keys vs. White Stripes, Clapton is God, Steely Dan, Women Who Rock Hard, Green Day and Best of the 80s. They even line up all the course songs for the kids on Spotify so they can study at home. Fun for the parents, too.

Everybody learns to shred at School of Rock

Their performance programs, for kids who know the basics of how to play their instrument, begin with a weekly 45 minute private lesson and a weekly 3 hour group rehearsal. They end with two onstage gigs at a local music venue such as Darryl’s House in Pawling and The Heights at Brother Vic’s in South Salem. Most students will learn to play four songs (more if they can handle it) in each program. And they’ll be given at least one or two that challenge them beyond their comfort zone. Sooner or later everybody learns to shred at School of Rock.

Best of all, students can plug into any of their 16-week trimester programs at anytime. Even if they start mid-program, the music instructors will get your child up to speed on one, two, or as many songs as they can learn to perform before the end of season show.

End of Season Shows

The end of season shows is what brings it all home for SOR students. And they are more than just a vanity production. Music Director Ben Malmed and his staff of seven music instructors prep these young musicians like pros. So when they hit the stage, they are ready to perform for family members and friends. The groups with the more advanced players pack the halls with students from other classes and friends from outside the program, as well. The show’s playbills are another nice touch. In addition to the set list, Music Director Ben Malmed pens an inside peak at the music theory the kids are taught. As well as notes on the bands place in musical and cultural history – that brings back memories for mom and dad.

Sunday shows are often videotaped and posted on YouTube so you can relive the performances at home. At the final session, the class and instructors go to the videotape to select two songs for Best of Show. Those songs get one more performance at a joint Best of Show concert, typically with School of Rock Fairfield at The Warehouse at FTC – a 640 seat theatre in Fairfield. Get there early if you don’t want to stand. These three-hour shows, featuring more than a dozen classes from beginner to advanced, are EPIC!

School of Rock House Band

The best SOR students can be invited into their House Band that rehearses weekly and performs at local venues, festivals and community events. The Bedford School of Rock House Band performed at upwards of two dozen events in the past year, including at The Bedford Playhouse, the John Jay Barn Dance, Bedford Trifesta, Blues, Brews & BBQ Music Festival in Westport, CT, Yorktown Grange Fair, Armonk’s Chili Cook-Off and Pound Ridge Food Truck Fridays.

School of Rock All Stars

The House Band is the first audition based experience for SOR students that prepares them to audition for the worldwide SOR All Stars. The All Stars tour each summer and have performed at Lollapalooza, BB Kings and Austin City Limits and have shared the stage with Peter Frampton, Eddie Vedder, Slash, Robbie Krieger and John Anderson of YES. This past year, the Bedford School of Rock House Band teamed up with several house bands from Long Island to perform at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn with one of the School of Rock All Star bands. If you think that wasn’t cool – think again.

A Personal History of School of Rock

Full disclosure, our son studied at S.O.R. Bedford for four years and he moved through the musical spectrum as his skills developed. He began with Motown and Women Who Rock and moved on to Dave Grohle Experience, Modern Brit Rock, and The Grateful Dead. Then he ramped up with Classic Prog Rock, Santana, Hendrix and Radiohead. Assignment-wise that took him from the simplest rhythm guitar parts on “How Sweet It Is” and Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” to some of the greatest guitar solos of all time. Including Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” and Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android”. If you think that didn’t blow our mind – you are WRONG!

In 2018 the School of Rock was ranked the No. 1 Child Enrichment Program by Entrepreneur Magazine and No. 2 Franchise for Medium Investment Levels by Forbes. Dare we say, SOR ROCKS!

The School of Rock Bedford is located at 12 Court St., Bedford, 914.234.0418; www.schoolofrock.com

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