Cincinnati
School of Rock

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Cincinnati

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Map
School of Rock Cincinnati
6710 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45227
(513) 586-7625
Hours
  • Monday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 3 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 3 PM - 8 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM
  • Sunday: 12 PM - 8 PM

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

School of Rock Cincinnati is happy to offer Cincinnati, Madisonville, Oakley, Madeira, Mariemont, Kenwood, Sycamore, Blue Ash, Hyde Park, Indian Hill, Anderson, and surrounding areas with quality music lessons taught by real, practicing musicians. Students can learn an array of instruments ranging from guitar to bass guitar, keys, vocals, drums, and more, and how to play a variety of styles like jazz, blues, and funk. Cincinnati is no stranger to talent, with acts like Bootsy Collins, the Isley Brothers, Phillip Paul, Walk the Moon, Afghan Whigs, Foxy Shazam, The National, and Liz Phair calling the city home. With the level of mentorship students receive at School of Rock Cincinnati, they may even one day get to perform at great local venues like the Woodward Theater, The Redmoor, Riverfront Live, Bogarts and Southgate House Revival.

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

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

School of Rock Cincinnati is happy to offer Cincinnati, Madinsonville, Oakley, Madeira, Mariemont, Kenwood, Sycamore, Blue Ask, Hyde Park, Indian Hill, Anderson, and surrounding areas with quality music lessons taught by real, practicing musicians. Students can learn an array of instruments ranging from guitar to bass guitar, keys, vocals, drums, and more, and how to play a variety of styles like jazz, blues, and funk. Cincinnati is no stranger to talent, with acts like Bootsy Collins, the Isley Brothers, Phillip Paul, Walk the Moon, Afghan Whigs, Foxy Shazam, The National, and Liz Phair calling the city home. With the level of mentorship students receive at School of Rock Cincinnati, they may even one day get to perform at great local venues like the Woodward Theater, The Redmoor, Riverfront Live, and Bogarts.

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 Cincinnati
Little Wing
Ages 3-5

At School of Rock Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Cincinnati'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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati.

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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati.

Music Lessons in Cincinnati

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Cincinnati

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Cincinnati

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Cincinnati

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Music Director Matt Flynn
Matt Flynn
Music Director
Matt Flynn began playing saxophone in the 5th grade band and in high school began playing the electric bass and electric guitar. In his twenties, Matt discovered the vast world of percussion and joined the Miami University Steel Band and in 1999 took a trip to Ghana to study music and dance. After graduating from Miami University, with a degree in Religion and Philosophy, he began a Master's Program at Florida State University with a focus on Tibetan Buddhist Studies. While working on his degree, Matt joined Mas N' Steel and the FSU African Ensemble where he studied privately with Damascus Kafumbe learning various Ugangan melodic instruments. He has been working with children for the past twenty years first through AmeriCorps, then through various school programs, and also with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. In 2012, Matt helped form the Queen City Silver Stars, an ensemble primarily focused on the rhythms of Africa and the Caribbean, using the steel drum as its main melodic instrument. Matt has been teaching private lessons for the past eight years in the Hamilton area.
Assistant General Manager, Little Wings and Rookies Director, Bass Guitar Teacher Shannon Ullrich
Shannon Ullrich
General Manager, Little Wings and Rookies Teacher
Shannon’s musical journey started at age 11 as the best (and only) trombone player in the 6th grade band. Her high school jazz director once told her that “variety is the spice of life.” Shannon took that as a challenge. She has played in concert bands, jazz bands, pit orchestras, and has even played trombone in a punk band. At the age of 14 she received a bass guitar for Christmas. She quickly fell in love with the bass and started her School of Rock journey at Mason. Since then she has been in more than 10 School of Rock shows on bass guitar, trombone, and vocals.
Shannon has always had a passion for working with kids, starting out as a camp counselor. She has been surrounded by music her whole life and believes in cultivating a love for all kinds of music from a very young age. Shannon teaches our Little Wing and Rookies classes and put together
the first ever Rookies performance.
House Band Director, Drum Teacher Michael Horrigan
Michael Horrigan
Drum Teacher
Michael started playing musical instruments when he was in grade school. He has performed, recorded, and/or toured on bass or drums with original bands Liquid Hippos, The Love Cowboys, Great Uncle Short Fuse, Throneberry, The Afghan Whigs, The Twilight Singers, Howlin Maggie, Todd Almond, Brendan Benson, 5 Horse Johnson, and The Hiders. In addition, he has performed in musical theater productions in Cincinnati, New York City, and Peterborough, New Hampshire.

He has been writing and recording his own original music since the 1990s and continues to do so on his own as well as with his wife.

Michael was a drum instructor at the School of Rock Mason from 2012-2020 and a show director from 2013-2016.
Guitar Teacher Mike Troyer
Mike Troyer
Guitar Teacher
Mike Troyer started playing guitar and taking lessons when he was nine years old in southern Indiana. He then went on to play with friends and bands in basements, garages and small venues all the way through college. The music ranged from polka to punk, but he has always favored blues, rock n' roll and alternative music. Family and profession (in his case, scientific research and teaching) took him in many different directions, but Cincinnati has now become his home base to connect with other local musicians. Mike’s children first enrolled at School of Rock, and then later he joined too. Mike is now co-director of our Adult Performance Program and helps Adult Band members quickly prepare for live, onstage shows at local area venues. He is a guitar teacher at School of Rock Cincinnati.
keyboard teacher Danny Manning
Danny Manning
keyboard teacher
Danny Manning is a professional musician who has toured extensively and worked with artists from the bands Journey, Toto, The Romantics, Santana, Tommy Tutone, Kansas, Los Lobos, Ben Folds, Boston and many more. He holds a BA in sax with secondary emphasis on piano from Alderson Broaddus University and an MM in Conducting from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Locally he performs on keys, sax, and vocals with The Tuna Project, Sunburners, Leroy Ellington and Just Strange Brothers and tours nationally and internationally with The Philip Myers Band. His professional musical directing credits include RAGTIME, AIDA, CHILDREN OF EDEN, TOMMY, WONDERFUL TOWN, FUNNY GIRL and more. He is the past director of the Xavier University Singers and former Assistant Band Director at Walnut Hills High School.
Guitar Teacher Austin Bartle
Austin Bartle
Guitar Teacher
Austin Bartle has been playing music for 11 years. He became interested in playing music at 15 years old when he borrowed his older sister's ukulele out of boredom. By his 16th birthday, one of Austin's friends offered him an electric guitar and amp in exchange for his birthday money - a deal that he happily accepted. A friend of his taught him the intro riff to Enter Sandman and from there he began a self-taught musical journey. Eventually he tackled music from bands that he enjoyed and he quickly moved on to writing his own music as a method to learn.

At age 24, Austin auditioned for the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media and was accepted into their guitar performance and music production program. For 1 year, he spent every day in classrooms learning from professional musicians about scales, chords, theory, and sight reading. In performance class, he learned how to play and cooperate with a band in a variety of styles like rock, funk, jazz, soul, progressive rock, and pop. Austin completed the guitar performance program and spent the next year in school learning how to record, engineer, produce, mix, and master music at a professional level from professionals that worked with huge stars like Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Ludacris, NSYNC, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, and Shakira.

During Austin's two years of school, he studied extensively with three private teachers who truly took his guitar playing and musicianship to the next level. He created the artist name Bartalien and released an album, Historical Successor. Austin is looking forward to spending time practicing and developing everything he was taught and to continue writing his own music, go gigging, teach others, and continue learning from every musician that he can!
Bass Guitar Teacher Mason Daugherty
Mason Daugherty
Bass Guitar Teacher
Mason Daugherty is a bass teacher who's been playing professionally in a myriad of genres since 14. He holds a degree in Jazz Bass from Morehead State University and is currently pursuing his Masters at CCM. His expertise includes both electric and upright. He is very excited to be joining the team at School of Rock.
Drum Teacher Stephen Schwarz
Stephen Schwarz
Drum Teacher
Stephen (pronounced Stef-en) Schwarz has been a drummer for what seems like his his entire life. He started playing drums at the age of 10, when his sister and her band would leave their equipment he would sneak in and play their drums. Stephen’s parents finally got him his own drum set when he was 17 and he never looked back. He has been playing professionally since that time and still currently plays with three local bands. Stephen has played with some of Cincinnati’s largest touring bands including Prizoner, Relics & Bad Habit. He also owned and operated the best drum shop in the area. Stephen’s teaching style is a bit unorthodox as he is self-taught, but his technique and style are both well developed.
Singing Teacher Allison Moll
Allison Moll
Singing Teacher
Allison hails from the mean streets of NKY but has lived in NYC for the last 16 years. Music, especially singing, runs deep in her family DNA and she has been singing publicly since she was 4 years old. Most of her childhood she was known as the youngest of The Monroe Sisters and sang all over Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois. Knowing her love of music and singing she joined any choir she could, her favorite being Show Choir and singing with her Jazz Band in high school which led to her getting to sing all over Europe when she was 16. Growing up a preacher’s kid she dreamed to grow up and be Amy Grant. She has performed on multiple stages, churches, clubs, bars and parks. She also enjoyed every musical she could audition for and loves winning lottery tickets to Broadway shows but tries hard not to sing along.

Allison most recently has served as the Creative Arts Director at Forefront in NYC leading bands and singers. As well as working on her own recording project, she also has had the privilege of singing BGVs on more than a dozen projects and loves working in recording studios. She loves the process of learning a song and working with multiple people to create a beautiful sound and emotion. No matter how long it takes. After working with a vocal coach in her late 20s she realized the great need for stretching her voice and confidence. She constantly talks about her high school choir director and music mentors that saw something in her she hadn’t and would have never seen herself. They pushed her to not only be a better musician but to see singing in a whole new holistic way. But she also credits 8 years of piano lessons and her oldest sister for her love of harmonies as she would always demand she sing the melody so Allison and her other sister had to find the harmonies. Now she loves teaching them.

Allison has a deep love and connection to singing and finds her joy and passion there. She believes music can bring people together like nothing else can. She and her husband and son have just returned to their roots in Cincinnati which is where they met and married. She has 4 kids all who are incredible musicians and loves singing with them. She had a dream to be the next Partridge Family so she is crossing her fingers that her son, Ellis, will be the drummer that will complete the band. And that they aren’t embarrassed to jam with her.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher Jacob Snow
Jacob Snow
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Jacob Snow joined the School of Rock Mason location as a bass student when it first opened in 2012, where he played in the house band and made the School of Rock All Star Team in 2014. After graduating, he formed a band with other former School of Rock students, where they released music together and performed all over the Cincinnati area. Jacob has now returned to School of Rock Cincinnati as an instructor, where he will be teaching bass and guitar!
Singing Teacher Lyndsay Bamberger
Lyndsay Postell
Singing Teacher
Lyndsay found her passion for music extremely early in life. She started singing in choir in elementary school and became hooked on performing ever since. Lyndsay was the first student at the School of Rock in Mason, OH—over a decade ago! Since graduating from being a student, Lyndsay has found herself working in the creative world—from voiceovers, to live production—Lyndsay had continued pursuing her love for performance. She has taught vocal lessons since graduating from School of Rock, as well as performing and recording with numerous bands. She has a bachelor's degree in media production and loves to help others gain confidence in various performing arts.
Drum Teacher Eric Moreton
Eric Moreton
Drum Teacher
Eric Moreton was active in the Cincinnati music scene for 35 years, playing and recording with bands such as Sluggo, Middlemarch, BuBu Klan, Black Magic Rhythm, and the Ready Stance.

From 2005 to 2020, he taught at Wert Music in Erlanger, Kentucky. He also taught lessons privately during that time.

Eric is versed in most styles of music, with emphasis on Rock, Heavy Metal, Punk, Hip Hop, Funk, and the Blues.
Keyboard Teacher Alex Nicodemus
Alex Nicodemus
Keyboard Teacher
Alex Nicodemus is a versatile pianist, composer, and educator with backgrounds in jazz, R&B, rock, and more. Alex has played piano for Cincinnati jazz fusion group Bumpin’ and R&B singer Chaya Jones. Knowledgeable in jazz music, he has played in jazz trios and quartets at venues such as the Phelps Hotel, Brew River, and Ghost Baby. Alex wants to see his students grow and develop a love for music. Currently, he studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher Jubilee O’Connor
Jubilee O’Connor
Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher
Jubilee O’Connor (they/them) is a bassist, pianist, singer, and songwriter from Dayton, Ohio. After obtaining their BA in Jazz Studies at The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Jubilee began performing in jazz clubs and venues across Cincinnati such as Caffe Vivace, Memorial Hall, and The Hard Rock Casino. They frequently perform with groups like the JJJ Trio and the We Create Jazz Ensemble. Jubilee has performed with artists such as saxophonist Tia Fuller, singer Carla Cook, and Cincinnati legend Kathy Wade. They are the bassist in a local indie band, Hyssop, who released their first self-titled album in the summer of 2020 and are planning to release their sophomore album in 2022. Additionally, Jubilee writes original music on piano and guitar and performs them at various open mics and clubs in their free time.
Guitar Teacher Ben Troyer
Ben Troyer
Guitar Teacher
Ben started playing music at an early age, initially starting on the piano. He primarily took classical lessons and continued playing throughout much of his childhood. When Ben was 13, he joined the School of Rock in Mason, where his passion for guitar was first ignited. This deep rooted interest became the focal point of his life and he's been learning and having fun with it ever since. Ben is currently enrolled in the jazz studies program at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music. At this point in his musical career, Ben has learned enough to start giving back and to hopefully inspire others in the same way School of Rock inspired him.
Guitar Teacher Justin Martin
Justin Martin
Guitar Teacher
Justin has been trying to pick out a melody on any instrument you put in front of him since grade school, eventually settling on guitar and bass in his early teens. A series of fun if ill-fated garage bands developed throughout his college years and beyond, accompanied by further study of all the guitar’s possibilities across different styles. As time wore on, collaborative musical endeavors unfortunately had to be placed on the back burner, but Justin still spent his free time exploring jazz, expanding his keyboard playing, and mining the depths of music history through internet and record bin alike.

Guitar of course remained a constant through it all, and through a strange confluence of life events that is best recounted in person he eventually began focusing primarily on solo acoustic finger-style playing. Over the past several years this had led to him learning dozens of popular songs across nearly every genre imaginable, developing a repertoire he is hoping to bring to performance in the very near future. In the meantime, he is also excited to get back to his electric guitar roots with School of Rock, exploring the myriad possibilities of the instrument along with the students he is teaching.
Guitar Teacher Brandon Harris
Brandon Harris
Guitar Teacher
Brandon Harris is a guitarist who has been playing since he was 12 years old. Inspired at a young age by the classic acts like The Who and Black Sabbath, Brandon loves nothing more than playing loud. Though Brandon is a self-professed modern day metalhead, he has cut his teeth in various genres performing in jazz, metal, punk, rock jam bands, and even mariachi. Brandon has a musical education consisting of a combination of private lessons and college courses. Something Brandon prides himself on is his past work in the mental health field where he was able to intertwine music with clients to help illustrate the ability to overcome challenges big and small. He believes music education can make everyone feel important, strong, and confident in themselves. Brandon is new to the School of Rock team and is very excited to continue to help individuals pursue fulfillment through the joys of learning guitar.
Jim Swartwout Piano Teacher
Jim Swartwout
Piano Teacher
Jim Swartwout is one of the newest members of the School of Rock team, but by no means new to the music business. He has been active in just about every conceivable venue for decades; 11 years at Howl-at-the-Moon, 6 years at Waterfront piano bar, dozens of club bands, duos, trios, big bands (Swingtime and Lee’s Junction), hundreds of studio sessions for songwriters, ad agencies, film scores, churches, theaters…most recently music director for the sold-out run of “Falsettos” at the Aronoff this summer. Come in and share our mutual love of music, learn a lot and have some fun!
Guitar Teacher Hadley Duke
Hadley Duke
Guitar Teacher
Hadley was born with a love of music that she just couldn't shake, resulting in her getting her first guitar and microphone when she was just 4 years old. She grew up in a musical and music-loving family and began studying guitar when she was 8 years old.

Throughout school, she explored songwriting, joined band and choir, and participated in every musical activity her small Illinois town had to offer. She attended a Music Business summer camp at Anderson University in Indiana during high school, which quickly confirmed that music is what she wanted to do forever. She graduated from Anderson University in 2021 with degrees in Music Business and Journalism.

Hadley has two songs available to download and stream and is in the process of learning how to produce and record her own music. She currently works in marketing and social media while also playing live at various local breweries and restaurants. She has lived in the Cincinnati area since May 2021. Hadley is so excited to join the School of Rock Cincinnati team and looks forward to sharing her love and passion for music while helping students discover their inner rock stars.
Stephanie Cable Guitar Teacher
Stephanie Cable
Guitar Teacher
Stephanie’s love of music started at a young age as she was bitten by the theater bug in elementary school. Stephanie went on to study Theater at BGSU where she graduated and moved onto performing with various bands and landing roles in community theaters. Steph began doing private lessons several years and also obtained her CPS teaching certification. Stephanie has called Cincinnati her home for the last 15 years and currently plays every Sunday for Legend Community Church and does various performances throughout Cincinnati with her musician friends. She is very excited to be apart of the SOR team and is eager to share her love of music with the SOR family.
Singing Teacher Jeannie Marie
Jeannie Marie
Singing Teacher
Drum Teacher Eric Mayleben
Eric Mayleben
Drum Teacher
Eric's music career began when he convinced his 5th grade band teacher to let him switch from saxophone to drums. By the 7th grade, his band was playing atschool dances and pool parties. By the end of high school, you could find them playing at bars on Fridays & Saturday nights. Over the years, Eric has played in several local, regional, and national touring acts including Forehead, The Kelly Richey Band, Matt DeCoster, Chrome, DixZ Highway, Reeking Havoc, The Amy Sailor Band and 90 Proof Twang. He's enjoyed national radio airplay with his band Lorenzo, whose Hollywood Records' debut release was recorded at the world famous Sunset Sound in Hollywood, CA and produced by none other than Kevin Churko (Ozzy, Hellyeah, Disturbed, 5 Finger Death Punch, Halestorm, Papa Roach).

Eric's current band, 90 Proof Twang, is a southern Rock/Country band from Cincinnati, Ohio that formed in 2012. 90 Proof Twang released “Six Pack” in 2014 and "Poor Boy's Paradise" in 2015. You can hear “Baby, I Got This” from the new cd on the 99.3 Country Aurora, Ind., WAIF Cincinnati 88.3, Country 103 Gladwin, Michigan and Classic X Radio.com. They've been awarded "Best Country Band" by City Beat Magazine in 2015, 2017 and 2018. 90 Proof Twang plays about 100+ gigs a year and have shared stages with acts such as Blackberry Smoke, Craig Morgan, Chris Jansen, Jackyl, The Steel Woods and more.

Eric has been teaching students almost his entire music career. And once again, Eric is offering lessons at School of Rock NKY in Florence. Each lesson is tailored to match the students abilities and to fit what the student wants to achieve. Call today and schedule a lesson with Eric!
Drums Teacher  Joseph Alsept
Joseph Alsept
Drum Teacher
Joseph Alsept has been playing drums since 2012 and has been passionate about them ever since. There are quite a few drummers he loves, but his biggest influences are Ringo Starr and John Bonham. He joined the School of Rock Mason and started doing the adult shows in 2017. He started teaching at the School of Rock in Cincinnati in 2020. He has done 15 adult shows between the Mason and Cincinnati schools.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Ukulele Teacher, Rookies Teacher, Little Wing Teacher Bri Walstra
Bri Walstra
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Ukulele Teacher, Rookies Teacher, Little Wing Teacher
Bri attended Ohio University, minoring in Psychology and receiving her bachelor's degree in Music Therapy. Voice was her primary instrument in college, placing an emphasis on musical theatre and pop style. She has been singing and playing piano for over 18 years, guitar for over 12 years, and ukulele for over 8 years.

Throughout her high school and college years, Bri was involved in musical theatre, acting, show choir, and dance. She currently works as a Music Therapist at an outpatient clinic for children and adults with behavioral and intellectual disabilities. She understands the impact music can have on every individual and she strives to help every person find that.

Bri's teaching philosophy is very person-centered and focuses on making each lesson a success; she believes learning should be fun and rewarding. In her spare time, Bri enjoys watching crime shows, playing with her cats, spending time with family, and adventuring.
Zach Gutman Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Zach Gutman
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Zach Gutman, native of West Bloomfield MI, is a bass and guitar player who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. He has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Central Michigan University and has taught elementary general music, middle school choir, special education, and high school and college jazz band. He also is a producer, and performs very frequently in a variety of styles in the greater Cincinnati area and beyond.
Ethan Kimberly Drum Teacher
Ethan Kimberly
Drum Teacher
Ethan started playing drums when he was 12 years old, and fell in love with all things music and percussion through participation in his high school ensembles. This prompted him to pursue a career in music via the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he received the CCM Honors Scholarship upon entry. During his studies, he performed in a variety of ensembles in and out of school, and gained considerable experience in genres such as Jazz, Funk, Fusion, Rock, Salsa, and Hip Hop. During school, he joined indie rock outfit Sylmar, and has been performing around the US with them for 3 years. He also performs in the Cincinnati area with a variety of artists such as Microbat, La Formula, Bernardo Lopez, Nathan Gittleman, Hyssop, Jenna Reel, and many others. Ethan has been teaching for a collective of 3 years, and his teaching philosophy is one that strives for excellence through fun and inspiration. He believes that in order to really achieve new heights on an instrument, students should be encouraged to follow their own unique interests and be themselves.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher Jake Kolesar
Jake Kolesar
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Jake Kolesar is thrilled to join the School of Rock team! An active member of the Cincinnati music scene, he plays bass in the local indie rock band The Earthly Delights and in the jazz guitar duo YesterSwing. Specializing in keyboard and guitar, Jake has recorded original music and performs regularly as a solo artist. As a teacher, he strives to cater to the unique goals of each student, focusing on the styles that they are most interested in learning. Jake is also passionate about teaching songwriting, improvisation, and music theory.
Singing Teacher Mary LeMasters
Mary LeMasters
Singing Teacher
Mary started singing in choirs and getting solo opportunities in grade school. She began taking musical theater and classical voice lessons at 12 years old. Mary also took piano lessons on and off throughout high school and briefly took drum lessons. She was a part of the Cincinnati Children’s Choir (now known as the Cincinnati Youth Choir) and toured in Europe, singing in Ireland, England, and Wales. Mary went on to study Vocal Performance at NKU, ultimately graduating with a degree in Public Relations concentrating in music and communication, and a Master of Science in Communication from Purdue University.

In undergrad, Mary studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria singing the role of Pamina in excerpts from Magic Flute. She has a vast range of musical knowledge and has sung in a variety of genres including opera, classical, rock, R&B, pop, jazz, folk, and more. Mary enjoys being a member of YPCC (Young Professionals Choral Collective) and has rocked many solos with this group. She performs at weddings, parties, and other opportunities that pop up. Mary loves going out to see a wide variety of live music including opera, musicals, rock bands, EDM shows, folk artists, and many more!
Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher Sam Gorman
Sam Gorman
Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher
Sam comes from a musical family and learned how to play drums and sing at the annual Gorman Family Christmas Jam. Sam studied voice and drums at Denison University, graduating in 2013. He still plays with several classmates from Denison. Sam likes to make and keep it FUNKY!
Drum Teacher Jack Rohrer
Jack Rohrer
Drum Teacher
Jack has been surrounded by music for as long as he can remember. Growing up with parents that were heavy into artists like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and everything in between, he grew an appreciation for music very early on.

Jack joined band in middle school as a trombonist and he later switched to percussion because hitting things seemed fun. He continued with this throughout high school at Lakota West participating in marching band, jazz band, and their symphonic winds program along with multiple district honor bands and orchestras. Jack went to UC with the intention of studying music. However, things changed and he graduated with a degree in media production in 2022. Throughout his time in college, Jack met many people and started playing around again. Multiple projects later he currently plays in an Indy rock group called Los Chicos.

Los Chicos have a couple of singles and a full live album available on all streaming platforms and the group is set to release their first studio album on streaming in May 2023. You can catch Jack with Los Chicos at many different venues around Cincy, including bars, pubs, house shows, and more. Jack is excited that he gets to work with and inspire the next generation of musicians.
Bass Guitar Teacher Jon Weiner
Jon Weiner
Bass Guitar Teacher
Jon Weiner started playing music in the fifth grade with brass instruments in the school band and played low brass all throughout high school. He founded the popular punk rock band The Dopamines in 2006 and the band is still active today.

The Dopamines have had the pleasure of touring the United States, Europe, Canada, and other parts of the world many times. They have toured with big acts like Less Than Jake and Teenage Bottlerocket, played large festivals around the world, and have received Cincinnati Entertainment awards. The band has five full-length records and recently worked with a Grammy Award-winning engineer on their latest.

Jon is a bass player by trade, vocalist, and songwriter. He is a lover of all things punk rock but is also passionate about rock n' roll, ja,zz and country. Jon is a record-collecting music know-it-all and he loves conversations about all things music. Jon is passionate about being a good influence in the rock n' roll scene as well as in his community. He came to School of Rock to give back to rock n' roll music in a positive way.
Guitar Teacher Owen Kenney
Owen Kenney
Guitar Teacher
Owen Kenney is a multi-instrumentalist and has been playing music since the age of 10. He was inspired by a lot of music his parents listened to growing up like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Beatles, and The Who. It wasn’t until he heard the band Modest Mouse, however, that he fell in love with the idea of playing and creating music.

Owen started out taking private piano lessons but despised the practice regiment; he leaned towards playing the guitar as a way to have fun playing music. Around the age of 15, along with playing bass in the freshman jazz band, he started taking guitar lessons and participating in the performance program at School of Rock Mason, graduating in 2018. Owen has played in many local groups over the years ranging over different styles, such as Bark, Zach & Henny, Poledo, Willie & The Cigs, Scarlets, and most recently Touchdown Jesus, just to name a few.

Owen is proficient with guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. He has also been writing and recording his own music since 2015. He currently runs a recording studio out of Three Feather Records where he also works.
School of Rock is where music and learning come together

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Reviews

What I like about the program is that my kids LOVE it!

This is so different from the music lessons that existed when I was a kid. These kids are actually making music and learning to play as a band. The performances are so impressive, and watching the kids gain confidence and express themselves on stage is priceless.

The structure around how kids learn is amazing.

Taking lessons to learn an instrument is one thing, but learning how to be a part of a band is on another level. These kids are learning how to communicate, respect people and their opinions, and how to be accountable for themselves. It’s more than just music here.

It's the best music program in the city.

Dedicated instructors and staff, vibrant atmosphere, and most importantly, it's fun! My 8-year-old has grown leaps and bounds in skill and personal confidence. If you're thinking about checking it out, don't wait, just do it!

The kids have a great time while learning to play.

Lifelong skills and relationships are born here. The staff shares their passion for music and are very professional and accommodating. Wish I had this type of exposure to music when I was growing up!

I love the inclusivity and welcoming environment that allow kids to be exactly who they are.

I love the variety of the performance programs. I love the inclusivity and welcoming environment that allow kids to be exactly who they are. My daughter feels at home at School of Rock Cincinnati!

I wish this would have been around when I was growing up!

Our three kids have truly developed a passion for music thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of their teachers and the performance program! I wish this would have been around when I was growing up!