School of Rock

School of Rock has been a great experience for my daughter. I was originally just looking for private guitar lessons for her, but the school of rock program combines the private lessons with weekly band practice and performance. She loves the band and has made good friends, and it motivates her to practice more. Great program.

Both of my kids have had a fantastic experience with School of Rock! We joined the program thinking they would learn how to play guitar, voice and drums and were blown away by the leadership, cooperation and presentation skills they have learned along the way! The opportunity to be a part of the Performance Program, allowed them to gain these skills and instilled the drive for them to practice (without me having to remind them), because they wanted to do well for the group! As time progressed I came to realize the inherent communication, especially listening skills, that are necessary for playing in a group, a skill our kids will carry with them for a lifetime! The instructors are supportive, caring and highly skilled. Claudia is an amazing vocal teacher, Chas is a fantastic guitar teacher and Robbie is a wonderful drum teacher. They all find the balance of making it fun while building skill levels along the way. Will is an exceptional Music Director and Leilani is always friendly and willing to answer any questions at the front desk. I’ve heard great things about other instructors, but the ones I listed above are the instructors my kids have had a direct relationship with. They have had other instructors leading their performance groups and have had a great experience as well. School of Rock Palo Alto manages to maintain an inclusive and supportive environment allowing the children to grow into their best music selves! I love that at the shows everyone has a chance to shine and the creative expression in outfits is fantastic! I’m so grateful this group of instructors have chosen to give their time and nurture the children in our community in this way!

I am disappointed with our experience at this place. Here are the reasons why: 1. The class neglects to teach fundamental music concepts such as notes and rhythm to the kids. This lack of foundation is a significant drawback. 2. Rather than gradually introducing beginners to these basics, they immediately thrust them into rehearsals with more advanced children. This approach is demotivating for newcomers who are still learning. 3. My child expressed a clear disinterest in attending these classes, which is a testament to their dissatisfaction. 4. As parents with limited musical knowledge, we attempted to supplement at home with various apps, but it became evident that children need proper instruction and practice in the basics before tackling complex songs. We provided this feedback to the teacher on multiple occasions, but they merely suggested that we encourage our child to practice at home, without addressing the core issues. This dissatisfaction has persisted through the third class, and when we requested a cancellation, nobody showed any interest in understanding or rectifying the situation. If you are seeking a beginner's music institute for your child, I would strongly advise looking elsewhere, as this place does not meet those needs.

We've been attending School of Rock for Keyboard lessons. My son loves his teacher and the opportunity to perform regularly is a big bonus of learning here.

I think Erick Recher does an amazing job at the Palo Alto location ensuring lessons are running smoothly and that students and parents are happy. This makes all the difference on top of great lesson and performance programs. We have thoroughly enjoyed our many years at School of Rock! My son is rockin' the drum set!