Calgary
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Calgary

Map
School of Rock Calgary
2707 - 17th Ave. SW
Calgary, Alberta T3E0A6
(587) 353-7625

Location Specifics

On the Corner of 17th Ave. and 26th St. SW.

Get Directions
Hours
  • Monday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in Calgary for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 8-13

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Calgary'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 Calgary 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 Calgary are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Calgary 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 Calgary
Performance
Ages 8-18

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

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

At School of Rock Calgary, 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 Calgary, 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
Age 12 and over

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

Little Wing music program for toddlers and preschoolers in Calgary
Little Wing
Ages 3-5

At School of Rock Calgary our Little Wing music program for preschoolers and toddlers teaches students foundational music skills by playing games and participating in other interactive musical activities. Little Wing students have one weekly group music lesson in which they use classic rock songs to learn about rhythm, song structure, melody and dynamics through play.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP LESSON
  • USE HAND PERCUSSION & OTHER TOOLS TO LEARN RHYTHM PATTERNS & MUSIC SYNTAX

The Path to Take the Stage

The Little Wing music program is the first step in a young musician's journey. At School of Rock Calgary, toddlers and preschoolers who show an interest in music should start with Little Wing. As they get older, they will progress into the Rookies program, followed by Rock 101 and the Performance Program.

Adult music program in Calgary for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Calgary's Adult Program is for students over 18 years old who are looking to either improve their musical proficiency or pick up an instrument with no prior musical experience. As with most School of Rock music programs, the Adult Program uses a performance-based music education approach. This means the curriculum focuses on learning music concepts and applying them in a live performance setting. Our Adult Music Program includes one weekly private music lesson and a weekly group rehearsal. Every student at School of Rock Calgary is placed in a band of fellow adults and then assigned specific songs as a way of learning key music concepts and skills. Adult students then take the stage to play at a live show in Calgary.

What To Expect
  • 1 WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON
  • 1 WEEKLY GROUP REHEARSAL

The Path to Take the Stage

All of our music programs are designed to inspire by getting students on stage and performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency along the way. The School of Rock Calgary Adult Program is open to all experience levels and each student will follow a customized learning plan developed by their instructor. Adult students will work together during rehearsal to prepare for a live performance at a real rock venue in Calgary.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Calgary

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Calgary

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Calgary 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 Calgary, 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 Calgary 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 Calgary, 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 Calgary.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Calgary

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Calgary 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 Calgary 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 Calgary, 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 Calgary 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 Calgary, 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 Calgary

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Duncan McCartney
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Duncan McCartney started piano at six and soon moved on to play clarinet and saxophone in school bands. He hardly stopped there, picking up the guitar in high school. He attended Mount Royal University and Vancouver Island University for Music. Duncan has played multiple genres (rock, blues, metal, indie, soul, jazz, etc.) since graduating. He's currently the bassist/keyboardist/back up vocalist of In/Vertigo, which has toured across the country for the last three years. He regularly plays on large stages with bands like Pop Evil. He has been a full-time music teacher since 2014 and has taught piano, guitar, bass, saxophone, flute, clarinet and ukulele. He is a bass guitar teacher and piano teacher at School of Rock Calgary.
Ryan Marchant
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Born in Red Deer, Ryan Marchant started playing guitar at the age of 13 and was heavily influenced by rock, punk rock and heavy metal. After high school he attended the Red Deer College music program, studying jazz and contemporary guitar and thus having his musical sensibilities blown wide open. After a couple of years on the road and in the studio, he immersed himself in everything he could that was music based, including writing, recording, performing and touring with rock and punk bands, playing in jazz combos, musical pit bands, tribute shows and backing up pop singers. He regularly performs with his long-time cover band and as a solo acoustic act, and has recently relocated to Calgary to continue with his music career and work at School of Rock Calgary as a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher and drum teacher.
Reed Alton
Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher
Reed Alton has performed hundreds of gigs across Western Canada and the United States. He has toured and crafted his style through hard work, trial and error. He currently fronts both In/Vertigo and Osyron, as well as writes, records and performs his own solo compositions. Teaching and giving back to the music community is the next thing on his music career journey. He is excited to work with the students at School of Rock Calgary as a vocal instructor and drum teacher.
Guitar Teacher Toryin Schadlich
Toryin Schadlich
Guitar Teacher
Toryin Schadlich began playing guitar at the age of eight, and has been performing on stage since the age of 14. He is currently the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for heavy metal bands Traveler and Hazzerd, and has been touring North America and Europe. He has recorded on multiple albums both as a permanent member and as a session musician. He has been teaching full time since 2019 and is a musician for hire playing live with several local acts as a guitarist/bassist/vocalist and is well versed in many genres like Rock, Blues and Metal.
Guitar Teacher Matt DeRose
Matt DeRose
Guitar Teacher
Matt DeRose has been playing guitar since the age of 10, first influenced by punk and metal bands like Billy Talent and Disturbed before branching out into as many different genres as possible. Having spent over a decade enrolled in private guitar lessons himself, Matt understands and heavily values the importance of the bond between teacher and student, always striving to create a genuine, honest connection with each and every student. Matt has been recording original music since the age of 17, and has participated in albums and EP's, scored a video game, and produced a radio jingle for a local Calgary business. Through the medium of music, Matt's guitar instructor helped give him the gifts of identity and passion, and Matt now seeks to continue that cycle, being to others what his instructor was (and is) for him.
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher Zack Sheppard
Zack Sheppard
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Zack started playing piano at age 7 and quickly became obsessed with music. His passion for rock grew and he transitioned to the guitar when he was 10 years old, while also taking up the trombone in the school band and playing classical and jazz pieces. Following in his mother's footsteps, Zack then decided to try the drums, where he finally found his footing. Since the age of 15, Zack has performed at many shows, primarily as either a rock drummer or a jazz trombonist. His love for learning and teaching music continues to grow and he has recently started learning bass guitar to round out his musicianship.
Patrick Seager Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Patrick Seager
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
With over 10 years teaching experience, Patrick's teaching style is always focused towards building student enthusiasm and a love of music. His first goal is always to find what part of playing music is most exciting and interesting to his students, and using that passion to keep students engaged while also teaching them the fundamentals and skills needed to excel musically.

Patrick has been playing music since early childhood, and has played with countless bands in a wide variety of genres; everything from grindcore and black metal to jazz fusion and indie folk, Patrick thrives on variety and students should expect to have a chance to dabble in all kinds of music during lessons.

Patrick has also worked as a music composer and sound designer in Calgary theater and writes, records, and produces his own music.
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 love the adult program.

I enjoyed my guitar lesson and the performance sessions. I have learned a lot and have a ton of fun too. I've been spreading the word about School of Rock as a fabulous program for kids and adults.

Summer Camp Rocked!

Our son loved the School of Rock summer camp! It was such a breath of fresh air from the usual summer camp grind, and we were shocked at just how much he learned in one week.

The Rock 101 Program is amazing.

My daughter has done two shows so far and she is really loving her time there. The ambiance in the school is very positive and supportive, with plenty of enthusiasm for kids to learn and grow.

The Performance Program is fantastic.

I have been part of the Performance group for three seasons and it is a great experience for kids and teens who want to better their musicianship and learn to play as a band. It has really improved my abilities and the teachers are great!