Summer Shows almost ready!

We're working on the cast lists right now. So far, Bassists and Vocalists got their first choice. Drummers and Guitarists have a 50/50 chance of getting their second choice. It doesn't really matter though, because these shows rule! The setlists are so rad already...get excited!

Don't forget that you can do 2 shows. There's even a deal going on where it's cheaper for this season, so let us know if you're interested.

 

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Tyler Ward.

Guitar Center Outlet?

Have you guys been to the Guitar Center Outlet yet? It's in San Ysidro, right by the border. They have a bunch of scratch/dent stuff as well as close-out and clearance items. It's mostly less popular models, but there was some cool stuff and it's pretty cheap. An AC30 for $500, an AC15 for $370, some discounted drums and cymbals. It's worth a look if you're trying to save a buck!

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Tyler Ward.

Summer shows announced!

BRITISH INVASION
I can’t believe we haven’t done this yet. This is some of the most important music of all time. We’re talking early Beatles, The Who, the Stones, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, The Zombies and a bunch more. This show RULES. Tons of great vocals and harmonies and every song is catchy!

 

ALICE COOPER VS. KISS
This will be one set of Alice Cooper and one set of Kiss songs.  Both bands have super cool parts and hilariously fun songs.  Makeup/costumes REQUIRED at the show!

 

BEST OF 2010-2014
This is, obviously, music from 2010-2014. We’ll include songs by St. Vincent, tUnEyArDs, OFF!, Gorillaz, Tame Impala, and a ton more. This one has a bunch of keys, so be ready to help out with that too.

 

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*Important! You must put down your 1st and 2nd choice, no exceptions. No one is guaranteed his or her 1st choice. We encourage you to select the show that is the biggest challenge or the one that you know the least about. If you choose a show with fewer people, you’ll likely get more songs.

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Tyler Ward.

House Band Auditions! Check this out!

The time has come. Summer is upon us and we need to assemble the gnarrrrliest House Band possible. Here are the details:

Tyler is directing, Andrew is assisting
We'll choose half the set, the band will choose the other half.
Auditions: May 27th, 6pm
Rehearsals: Tuesdays from 6-8, beginning June 3rd

HB rules:
-Students have to have completed at least one season show.
-Students shouldn't miss more than 2 rehearsals or 1 show, unless approved by Tyler prior to the audition.
-If you audition for (and are accepted on) two instruments, you'll be assigned twice as many songs (not the normal amount split between two instruments). If you don't have the time for that, just focus on one audition.
-Ideally we should have 2-3 Drummers, 3-4 Vocalists, 4-5 Guitarists, 2-3 Bassists

Audition song:
"Ain't It Fun" by Paramore
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/paramore/id593146366
Don't learn the music video version, radio edit, live version, etc. Only learn the studio version that is linked here. It's 4:56 long (give or take 1 second).

Vocals - Learn the lead AND backup harmonies. If you are having trouble singing this range, talk to Tyler right away. Memorize the lyrics!
Guitar - Learn the rhythm AND lead parts.
Bass - Learn every line. If you have to tune lower, do it.
Drums - Learn every groove and fill.
Keys - We don't have any keyboard students at the moment, but if you want to audition on this instrument, talk to Tyler.

Students will play the song with the other students. We'll play it a few times and the students will switch around.

I'll post more details on the responsibilities of band members and the scoring process in the House Band section of this website.

Sign up at the school and get to work! You have plenty of time to finish this, so I hope to see some new faces this season.


 

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Tyler Ward.

Grunge Setlist

If you head on over to the Cast Lists section you can check out the set list for the History of Grunge!

It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the order so you can think about how you are going to make the quick changes from instrument to instrument and tuning to tuning smoothly. If you will need help getting everything done, please make a note of it so we can assign one of your fellow band mates to help you out.

Also, many of you were absent this past weekend. If you weren't there to help us make the set list, it is likely that there may be an unbalance, such as you having too many songs in a row or having your songs all clumped into one part of the set. If you were absent, please look through the set list thoroughly so we can make any needed changes as quickly as possible.

Everything has been sounding great! Keep up all of the awesome work, and let me know if you have any questions.

-Andrew

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Tyler Ward.

Grunge Update

The cast list has been updated complete with three new songs. Please check the list thoroughly so that you are completely prepared for rehearsal this weekend.

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Tyler Ward.

Grunge Updated

The Cast List has been updated for Grunge. Make sure you all check the list thoroughly as there have been new parts added.

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Tyler Ward.

House Band Auditions NEXT WEEK

Our House Band plays for street fairs, art walks, benefits, fundraisers and other fun events to represent School of Rock to the public. This is a great way to challenge yourself and get more experience playing live for different types of audiences. This is the best way to start training for All Stars and your future, and best of all, it's free!

To be eligible to audition for House Band, you must:
-Be a current Performance Program student (currently take lessons and participate in a show)
-Have participated in at least 1 Season Show
-Agree to our attendance policy

Auditions will be held on Tuesday February 18th @ 6pm

Time frame: February – July
Director: Andrew Steele
Rehearsal times: Tuesdays, 6-8pm
Audition Songs: Posted below

Note: The shows will be booked throughout the season. Sometimes, we'll have nothing going on for a week or two, then, we might have two shows in a weekend.


Audition Process

-Auditions will take place with everyone in the same room
-Every student is required to stay the entire duration of the audition
-Each student will audition on their instrument of choice by preparing 2 pieces of music that meet the following criteria:
                 *A Led Zeppelin, The Beatles or Rolling Stones song

*A solo piece approximately 1 minute in length (can be any song of your choice or   original material)

-Each student will perform both pieces of music for a panel of judges.

-The Led Zeppelin, The Beatles or Rolling Stones song can be performed with the track or solo

-The 1 minute solo piece must be performed solo (without any accompanying music)

-The entire audition cannot last longer than 5 minutes

 -The judges (made up of staff members and possible special guest judges) will assign points in these categories:

Accuracy - Did they play the correct part?
Tone - Did they emulate the physical sound of the part?
Feel - Did they play the part with soul, or did they sound like a robot?
Attitude/Reliability - Can we rely on this student? Are they an asset at rehearsals? Do they provide a good example to less experienced students? Do they work hard? Can we trust them to be an ambassador for our school? Are they a team player? Etc Etc Etc!
Flexibility - Were they able to play well with the others in the audition? Were they able to communicate through mistakes and difficult sections of the song? Were they able to play lead and supporting parts equally well?

**It is important for you all to know that we are not necessarily looking for the most skilled players. We are looking for reliable team players with good work ethic.** 

Attendance Policy
Our band will only be as good as our weakest link. This means we can only offer this opportunity to students who are committed to their fellow band members. Our Attendance policy is not only for the protection of the quality of the band's shows, but also serves as a reminder of the importance of a solid work ethic. We will enforce the policy by asking a student who has attendance issues to step down, although we hope we will never have to.
Each student is expected to only miss one (1) show and two (2) rehearsals at maximum. If you cannot commit to this requirement, we understand, but perhaps this season isn't a good time for you to audition for House Band. We will require each band member to sign an agreement to confirm their devotion to their bandmates. 

Sub List
A select few students who aren't selected for House Band will be asked to be placed on the Sub List. If there is a need for an extra set of hands, or an empty slot on the roster opens up, they will be called. 

What We Expect
A House Band should conquer an entire season's worth of difficult songs in a couple of rehearsals. They should set great examples for their fellow SoR members. Their attitudes should be positive. They should enjoy a challenge. They should put on a great show and have fun! They should make it a personal responsibility to learn all of their parts thoroughly and on time. They should be prepared to work hard.

We are looking forward to a fantastic season, so get practicing!

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Tyler Ward.