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December 2021
News That Rocks
Deck the Halls, it's December! 
Happy Holidays!

The count down to 2022 is on, the good cheer is abundant and there is a flurry of activity before the winter break. Check it out!

Fall 2021 Performance Program is Leveling Up!


All our Show Directors report that this season is hitting new levels of musicianship.  Whoa Get Back!  on Mondays Music Director Brooks and Assistant Henry are having so much fun with The Beatles show. It's great to see this group bonding, and working so hard. On Tuesdays Director Jeff and assistant Colin are excited to have such a hard working group to take on Thin Lizzy. And On  Wednesdays director Neel and assistant Sariya are leading the students through the John Mayer & Co. show and introducing them to some really difficult material. Another round of casting is on the way so we will have completed set lists for this seasons shows! The energy level and music in the halls has just been, well, a level up! 

Adult Performance Program in the New Year 

Our adult program is growing!  So much so that we are adding an Adult Performace Program. The Adult Performance Program will be like the program for our younger students with a seasonal approach that includes a weekly reherasal and a performance at the end. We will kick this off in mid-February with the start of the Spring 2022 show season and rehearsals will be onSaturday afternoons! If you have been considering joining in on the fun they are having in the Adult Rock 101 or would like to be added to the contact list for the Adult Performance Program sign up email, contact Rose on the School line 301-589-7625. 

House Band Rocked the Rock N' Roll Marathon

It's been a long time since the last RNR Marathon and it was great to back on stage with our sister schools of rock helping runners in that last mile before the finish line.  We are looking forward to our gigging schedule in 2022 and getting back to the new normal.  Woot!

Rock 101 and Rock Lab
Rock 101 is a core element of School of Rock where our beginner students grow into musicians and gain the experience needed for entering the Performance Program.  It all starts in Rock 101!  There is still room in our Wednesday Rock Lab (Rock 101 sessions for older kids).  If your rocker has been a lessons only student and are thinking they might like to join the Performance Program next season, this is a great stepping stone for them. They can gain the experience of playing or singing with a band without the pressure of a performance yet.  If this sounds like a good fit for your student, call Rose on the school line 301-589-7625.

Room For Rookies!

Although we have a wait list for our Sunday class, our Tuesday Rookies class has room for a few more little rockers. Rookies is an early introduction to the fundamentals of music through fun group activities! Students also work on "project songs" to build an understanding of rhythm, pitch and dynamics on all 5 instruments we teach (Guitar, Drums, Bass, Keys and Vocals). Our Rookies Class is a weekly 45-minute group rehearsal. Students will be learning instruments, their functions, basic rhythms in a group setting while also seeing which instrument will best suit their interest when they are ready to start taking private lessons.  
Congrats to our 2022 House Band Members!

Auditions were held early in November for this year's House Band.  Congratulations to our returning members Beck R, Declan W, Josey M, Marie M, Milo S, Sam G, and Von A and to our new members Sylvia S, Will M and Zion A.  The band will have their first rehearsal December 5th. For those about to rock, we salute you.  This is gonna be a great year! 

Rock 101 Spotlight - Meet the Sunday Rock 101


This month we take a look inside the Sunday Rock 101 class. This little group started to take form over the Summer and is now a full band. Instructor  Matt and new assistant Jeff are so impressed with their progress, work ethic and willingness to just have fun. I sat down to chat with Matt about this little group.  
And now, without further adieu, a Ramblin' Rose conversation with group instructor Matt.  
So, Sunday Rock 101. Tell us about your line up.
Well, on drums we've got Cala and Jessica. We've got Tristan, Jack on guitars and Stasya on guitar and vocals.
They seem like a really great little group. 
Yeah they do the work and progress each week. We are on our second round of songs.
Oh, thats great!  What is their song list right now? 
We've got Zombie by The Cranberries, Can't Stop by the Chili Peppers, Nevermind by Nirvana, Boulivard of Broken Dreams by Green Day and we are attempting Bros. by Wolf Alice. Do you know them?
Yeah, oh wow!
Yeah its a tough song. Very ambitious but they are hard workers and are willing to take on more challenging material.   
Awesome.
Yeah they are well behaved, pay attention and aren't noddlers. Its really fun for me because they are really ambitious and because I know they will put in the work, we get to do some really fun stuff.
How do you handle having mutiple kids playing the same instruments? I get this question from parents a lot.
The drummers both learn all the songs whether they are on the kit or not. When they aren't on the kit they are playing other percussion instruments. And they are great at helping each other learn their parts.
Guitars are easy to have more of.  You can layer them, have a rhythm and a  lead.  
Right, and some students have been taking lessons longer, like Jack, he will help others learn parts too. Stasya also has a lot of musical experience and has now started singing and playing. 
Which is not easy to do.
No, especially for someone new to an instrument. 
Do they have a band name? 
Well, Tristan is very creative and has always got a new band name to try out on the group (laughs)  He and Cala dance it out whenever we listen to a new song possibility which I love. It's another way of them experiencing the music.   
I love that.  Well, I know they are having a blast in there by the smiles on their faces when they come out of the rehearsal room. Thanks for taking the time to chat.

Inclement Weather 


We saw our first flurries in Silver Spring this week!  If you take your lesson in person or have a group that rehearses in person, please take note of how we will handle things.
On the day in question, we will determine if our staff can come in and return home safely, particularly for groups.  Often the timing of the storm allows us to continue our in person operations.  If you feel the roads are not safe and we are open, you may opt to take your in person lesson online for that day, just let us know.  We will post up on our FB  page if there's a closure and send an email if there are any changes to the in person groups on that day.  If you have a question shoot us an email, check our programs site, social media, or give us a call before you head out.

THOUGHTS FROM THE MOTHERSHIP

with our Music Director -  Brooks 
ARRANGING - Playing in a band requires working together to create a sound. It's important that every member of the band understands their role in the big picture of the song, even if their part is only in certain sections or might seem simple at first. Arranging a song refers to the process of putting the pieces together to make it sound full and complete. Sometimes all a song needs to take it to the next level is a doubled guitar part, a tambourine, or a vocal harmony. When you're cast on a part like this, you are contributing to the big picture of the song and your role is just as important as everyone else's. Trust your director to fill out the sound of the song. Ask your instructors about how your part fits into the big picture and how to play in a way that makes the song sound bigger and better while you play your role in the arrangement. 

Give the Gift of Music!

Looking for a gift that rocks?  A gift certificate for lessons or programs at School of Rock will last far past the holiday season.  When the grandparents ask what to get this year, send them to our handy online gift  certificates where they can choose an amount, a program or a summer camp!   It's super easy!   
Click Here For Gift Certificates!

COVID Safety

We are staying the course with our COVID-19 safety protocols that have been working well.  So all who enter must continue to be checked in and be masked up along with our other protocols.  Our SOR community has really done a terrific job of working together to keep each other safe and we so appreciate how everyone has erred on the side of caution and stayed home when they have any illness.  Rose can go over all our protocols in more detail if you need more info.  We are very conscious that our younger students cannot be vaccinated and we want to provide a safe environment for all.  

Mark Your Calendar


December 24th - January 1st - School of Rock will be CLOSED for the winter break

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301-589-7625
silverspring@schoolofrock.com
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silverspring@schoolofrock.com 8634 Colesville Road | Silver Spring, MD 20910 US
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