Dublin Ireland
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Dublin Ireland

Map
School of Rock Dublin Ireland
4 Main St
Blackrock, Dublin A94 P2P5
01 920 3057
Hours
  • Monday: 1 PM - 8 PM
  • Tuesday: 1 PM - 8 PM
  • Wednesday: 1 PM - 8 PM
  • Thursday: 1 PM - 8 PM
  • Friday: 1 PM - 8 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 3 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

At School of Rock Dublin Ireland, 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Blackrock is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Dublin Ireland 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Blackrock
Little Wing
Ages 3-5

At School of Rock Dublin Ireland 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Blackrock for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Dublin Ireland'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 Dublin Ireland 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 Blackrock.

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 Dublin Ireland 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 Blackrock.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Blackrock

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Blackrock

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Dublin Ireland 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Dublin Ireland 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Blackrock.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Blackrock

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Dublin Ireland 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 Blackrock 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Blackrock 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Blackrock

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

At School of Rock we teach differently than other music schools in Blackrock. 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Blackrock 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 Dublin Ireland Adult Program puts beginner keyboard students in a band. Adult Program students in the Blackrock 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 Blackrock 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 Dublin Ireland, 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 Blackrock, 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 Dublin Ireland’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 Aidan Curran
Aidan Curran
Music Director
Aidan Curran is a veteran of the professional music scene in Ireland for over 20 years. With a wealth of experience in live performance and recording, Aidan has performed all over the world and worked with some of the finest musicians and composers.

Since 2012, Music Education has become a primary focus in Aidan’s career. He has previously held a position as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for Access Music Project; a charitable organisation providing accredited education, support, & professional development for unemployed musicians. With qualifications in Teaching, Music Performance, Music Theory, Sound Engineering, & Ethnomusicology, Aidan has pioneered his own version of the School of Rock Method based in Galway City. We are delighted to announce him as the Music Director to establish our flagship School of Rock Venue in Ireland.

Aidan has most recently been employed as Musician Educator with Music Generation and has devised and rolled out many of the Music Education Programmes currently being delivered in Galway City and County. Aidan also provides workshops in various music disciplines at several 3rd Level Educational Institutes, while continuing to perform and record with Ireland’s top artists.
General Manager Lucy Lennox
Lucy Lennox
General Manager
Meet our General Manager, Lucy!

Since she picked up her first guitar at 9 years of age, music has always been at the heart of her life. Lucy has performed music to a high level, completing her Bachelor of Music majoring in classical guitar and then continued studying completing a Masters of Primary and Secondary Teaching degree. Lucy was recipient of the Top Music Educator award for her University. After graduating, Lucy worked as the head Classroom Music Teacher in a Primary School in Melbourne, Australia. She taught a classroom music programme to over 800 students where she ran choral groups and was involved in many productions and performances including directing an annual theatre production.

Lucy was nominated to become a board member of the Australian Society of Music Educators (ASME) Victoria and was elected as Deputy Chairperson in 2020. Her work in ASME involved the advocacy and support of music education programmes across the state and she presented many workshops. More recently, Lucy was co-author of a published music education journal article about teaching music throughout the pandemic.

Since moving to Ireland, Lucy has since been working as Musician Educator with Music Generation Galway and Music Generation Dublin City planning and delivering music programmes in national school settings.
Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher Brid Lyons
Brid Lyons
Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Bríd Lyons has recently graduated from BIMM Institute Dublin, where she has been honing her craft as a songwriter and musician. She is an accomplished performer, having gigged at many prestigious venues throughout Ireland with the band Syrens and continues to perform in a solo capacity.

Bríd has been singing for as long as she can remember. Her love of music and performance began at an early age when she was introduced to the piano. She then discovered guitar in her mid teens and has loved it ever since. Bríd is excited for the opportunity to share that passion and pass her skills on to her students.
Drum Teacher Ryan McClelland
Ryan McClelland
Drum Teacher
Having recently graduated from BIMM Dublin, Ryan has been busy playing with a range of different acts in Ireland. Growing up with a rock/prog background & recently specialising in hip hop/jazz/breakbeat, he is comfortable within any genre.

Ryan has an extensive list of notable gigs & has recently joined pop duo Siights on a UK tour opening for rising star Griff. He is also versed in live electronics/sampling and how to apply this behind the drum set.

Ryan is a firm believer in guiding a student down whatever musical path they are passionate about, strongly encouraging creativity and experimentation along the way - and most of all prioritising having fun!
Guitar Teacher Nigel Clarke
Nigel Clarke
Guitar Teacher
Nigel Clark was guitarist and arranger with Scottish chart band Hue & Cry. The band had four top twenty hits, and opened for U2 at Glasgow SECC, Simply Red at the G-Mex Manchester, and Madonna at Wembley Stadium.

Nigel has toured the world, working with Moya Brennan of Clannad, soul music superstar Gloria Gaynor, jazz diva Carol Kidd, the giants of European jazz guitar; Jan Akkerman and Philip Catherine and American jazz icons Steve Swallow and Carla Bley. He has also worked with multi award-winning cinema composers Craig Armstrong and Brian Byrne. Born in Scotland, Nigel began his professional career at the age of eighteen in London.

He now lives in Dublin, Ireland and we at School of Rock are very proud to have him teach our guitar students of intermediate and advanced ability levels.
Bass Guitar Teacher Charlie McCarthy
Charlie McCarthy
Bass Guitar Teacher
School of Rock Galway alumnus Charlie McCarthy is a BIMM Dublin Bass graduate.

With 10 years of experience playing in many different genres and bands, Charlie is skilled in a wide range of bass styles, but particularly enamoured with Funk, Hip-Hop, Noise Rock, and Math Rock. Charlie has a wide range of experience in live performance, having toured throughout Ireland with several prominent bands and played such venues as Whelan's, Roisin Dubh and The Workman's Club.

A firm believer in the School of Rock method - Charlie follows a teaching philosophy of “Do less; Say more”, meaning that as a bassist, you are in a unique position to drive and give power to a track without having be overly virtuosic. He aims to teach this approach to all his students, while also hoping to be able to bring them to virtuosity and technical prowess.
Guitar Teacher Kevin Maxwell
Kevin Maxwell
Guitar Teacher
Kevin Maxwell is an experienced guitarist and teacher from Dublin. Kevin has been playing guitar for over 15 years and has been working in the music industry since 2016.

Kevin has toured Ireland extensively with numerous event and agency bands along with working as a session musician for various acts, taking the stage with artists such as Craig Cooney, Saibh Skelly, Shollah, Aaron J, Micah and the Lighthouse Church house band.

Kevin has a BA honours degree in commercial modern music from BIMM Dublin. He is currently working towards his Teaching Diploma from LCME. With his extensive industry knowledge, Kevin aims to show his students the essential techniques from complete beginner, all the way up to coaching college level musicians.
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher Colm Geraghty
Colm Geraghty
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Colm is a drummer from Perrystown, Dublin. Having been self-taught from the age of 5, Colm began taking lessons with Liam O'Driscoll of the Irish Army Number 1 band at the age of 13, learning multiple percussion instruments in a brass band setting.

After completing his formal grades with Trinity College London, Colm began forming his own bands while still in school. Highlights include gigs in Barcelona, Slane, and The Grand Social in Dublin. Colm is currently studying for a B.A. in Commercial Modern Music and regularly performs with several different artists in the Dublin live scene.

Colm believes in an individual-based approach to teaching, tailoring each lesson to the individual student. With an overall goal of inspiring his students to be confident and creative, lessons focus on learning through musical application.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Stephen Davis
Stephen Davis
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Stephen is a BIMM Dublin Guitar graduate, and a 20+ year veteran of the live music scene. With his own bands and as a musician-for-hire, he has played over a thousand shows across Ireland and the UK and is well-versed in musicianship.

Stephen is a fan of many genres but is predominantly a rock guitarist who has studied advanced guitar techniques employed in genres like Neo-Classical and Progressive Metal.

Stephen’s teaching approach is entirely student-focused. Their goals, well-being, enjoyment, and musical tastes are of paramount importance. His ethos in teaching and learning is that a relaxed, safe, encouraging, and happy learning environment is key to ensuring each student realises their full potential.
Drum Teacher Adam Nealon
Adam Nealon
Drum Teacher
Adam is a professional drummer and BIMM Dublin graduate from Mayo. He began gigging around the country with his band almost as soon as he picked up the drumsticks and has since performed with other notable acts such as Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra and Babylamb.

Surrounded by rock and metal music from an early age, Adam naturally leaned toward these styles but his time at BIMM broadened his influences to include Latin and EDM in his original projects.

Adam’s teaching ethos centres around three points:
1. Nurturing good technique to create a solid foundation.
2. Cultivating, and drawing from the student's own taste in music.
3. And finally, the philosophy that “there are no mistakes in music”, i.e. the only errors are the ones you acknowledge to be. Some of the greatest moments in musical history were total accidents, so if it sounds good anyway, it’s not a mistake, it’s music.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Conor Kinsella
Conor Kinsella
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Conor Kinsella is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer from Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. With a musical background in classical piano that inexplicably turned into an obsession with emo and alternative rock of the 990s-2000s, Conor draws musical inspiration from everywhere he possibly can. He holds a master’s degree in Music and Media Technologies and an undergraduate degree in Music and English Literature from Trinity College Dublin. He was the chairperson of the Trinity College Dublin Music Society from 2020-2021, for which he was presented with a Dean’s award for his work.

Conor's experience as a musician is hugely varied, having recorded in Ireland’s iconic Windmill Lane Studios with his band SPEAKERS and also performed at venues across the country including The Grand Social, The Soundhouse, Whelan’s, Fibber Magees, The Lighthouse, Pharmacia as well as a festival performance at the renowned Sea Sessions in Bundoran, Co. Donegal.

Finally, Conor’s experience as a session musician has also brought him around the country to festivals including Kaleidoscope, KnockanStockan, Indiependence, and most recently, playing with HAWKETHEBAND supporting Imelda May at Puca Festival in 2022. Conor’s approach to music education is based upon a simple philosophy that above anything else, learning an instrument should be a fun experience for students. Whether this is accomplished through the development of instrumental techniques or simply learning new songs, the enjoyment of the student is paramount to each lesson.
Rookies Teacher Vitória Campos
Vitória Campos
Rookies Teacher
Vitória is a tutor in our Rookies program! Born on the beautiful island of Florianópolis, Brazil, Vitória comes from a very music-oriented background. Her entire family is made up of musicians who play a variety of instruments, with one jamming session after another!

Vitória is self-taught on the guitar and ukulele. When she moved to Ireland, Vitória decided to further her music knowledge and skills resulting in her receiving a Diploma in Professional Musicianship specialising in Vocals.

She is also part of a church community called Dublin Vineyard where she performs each month to large audiences. Vitória has worked in Primary schools teaching music to children of all age groups.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Michael Cleary
Michael Cleary
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Michael began playing the piano at 8 years of age, playing by ear. He then worked with a teacher whose teaching ethos made lessons very enjoyable. With his teacher moving away, Michael attended another music school, which was very heavily focused on theory. He gave up lessons because of this when he was 11, as there was no fun element to his lessons now.

Michael continued to play throughout secondary school. It was around the age of 15 he decided to teach himself guitar as he took a liking to more rock and indie types of music. He played for 3 years until he had his first guitar lesson in BIMM, where he studied. Here he experienced real professional scenarios such as, working within studios, playing for venues such as Wheelan's, the Button Factory and Sín é, as well as worked for BIMM as a house band musician for student exams. Michael now currently works within the wedding industry both as a solo act and as an instrumentalist in a band.

Today Michael enjoys teaching all ages, but particularly beginners. His experience of having to teach himself for the majority of his music life drives him to help students learn in a way where it is both enjoyable and effective.
Singing Teacher, Studio Coordinator Phoebe Dunning
Phoebe Dunning
Singing Teacher, Studio Coordinator
Phoebe has a B.A. Honours Degree in Commercial Modern Music and a Diploma in Professional Musicianship from BIMM Dublin. She has been singing and performing from a young age. She has performed numerous venues across Dublin in solo work, choirs and musical theater.

Phoebe's teaching philosophy is that singing is rooted in fun and is all self-expression. She covers all genres of singing from rock to soul to blues. She believes in creating a space where singers can advance technically and confidently by setting goals they can aspire to and where they can also discover the absolute joy and release of singing.

Phoebe will help you get the key vocal techniques and concepts down, while creating a fun space that focuses on students’ own interests and desires.
Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Rookies Teacher Sarah Moran Nolan
Sarah Moran Nolan
Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Rookies Teacher
Sarah is our vocals, guitar, and Rookies tutor. She has a Joint Bachelors Degree in Music and Drama Studies, a Bachelor's Degree in Music, and a Master's Degree in Musicology specialising in Music and Culture from University College Dublin.

Sarah found a love for singing and the performing arts at a young age and understands the joy it brings, and she hopes to share that with her students! She has performed in both amateur and professional productions in various venues across Ireland and Northern Ireland such as The Gaiety, The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, The National Concert Hall, and the Lyric Theatre.

Most recently, Sarah featured in an original work at the 2023 Scene and Heard Festival at Smock Alley Theatre. Sarah's lessons are entirely student-focused. She reinforces that your voice is unique to you and will guide you to harness the confidence to trust your musicianship.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Patrick Clarke
Patrick Clarke
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Patrick has been playing the guitar and performing in bands from an early age. Growing up in County Down, Patrick moved to Dublin in 2018 to attend BIMM Dublin and pursue a career as a musician.

After graduating from BIMM with an honours degree, Patrick continues to work as a session guitarist with a wide range of solo musicians and cover bands with whom he has played venues such as Vicar Street, The Grand Social, The Button Factory, The Academy, and has appeared on RTE multiple times. He also has a keen interest in music theory and composition and plans to go on to study for a master's in Music Education.

Patrick feels that learning an instrument should never feel like a chore therefore he likes to implement student-based learning where basic and advanced skills can be taught with the student’s interests in mind. This could mean focusing teaching around a genre the student likes or teaching techniques based on a student’s favourite song.

Patrick has a background in Blues and Rock music although his current interests lie in Jazz and Orchestral music. He also enjoys playing and teaching Pop and Funk guitar.

Patrick also teaches Bass, Ukulele, and Beginner Piano.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher Ian Smyth
Ian Smyth
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher
Ian is our keyboard + piano tutor and drums tutor. He is a multi-talented composer with 30 years of experience. Ian is a graduate of Berklee College of Music Boston and studied piano repertoire and technique with Dublin’s RIAM. Ian’s philosophy of teaching installs a love of music no matter what genre or era a student wishes to study.

Ian got his first drum kit at the age of 9 and quickly progressed to working with various bands and sessions. He came to the attention of Paiste Cymbals in Dublin who asked him to do drum clinics and through this, he met the legendary drummer Dom Famularo who quickly became his mentor and inspired Ian to enroll at Boston’s Berklee College of Music to study Drums & Film Score. He graduated with a degree in Film Score and Composition. He returned to Dublin to compose music for film and adverts full-time, to teach, and to perform.

Ian has composed many film scores including the award-winning feature film, Rewind, The Wonderful Story of Kelvin Kind, and Man of Fire. In 2021, Ian released his own debut album, Gaze Boketto-Day in a Life. His many television credits include Seacht (2008), the first Irish language drama for the BBC, the animated children’s series, Schrödinger’s Cat (2007), and two seasons of the science series Investigators for RTE.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Rookies Teacher Ingrid Kelehan
Ingrid Kelehan
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Rookies Teacher
Ingrid is our vocals, beginner keys and rookies tutor from Dublin. Growing up, she had a keen interest in music and singing, picking up the guitar to accompany herself and singing in various choirs and choral groups. She graduated with an honours degree from BIMM Dublin, specialising in vocals in 2021 and has since gone on to pick up piano and has interned in the “Music for Me” early years music programme at the Waltons New School of Music. She also gigs regularly as part of a cover duo and as a backing vocalist for Irish artist Réylta.

“My favourite thing about working in music is that I always feel like I’m evolving, and kept on my toes whilst also getting to create.”

“I believe that music can provide a creative outlet for people of any age whilst also harnessing self-discipline and teamwork. I am passionate about vocal science and music theory and putting them into the context of music that a student enjoys to really help them grow as musicians.“
Drum Teacher Ben Roe
Ben Roe
Drum Teacher
Ben is a drum tutor at School of Rock Dublin Ireland. Ben has been playing drums since the age of 12 and has played in a variety of rock and metal bands.

After teaching one-on-one lessons, Ben realised his passion for teaching and went on to study Commercial Modern Music at BIMM.

After graduating from BIMM, Ben played with more original bands and wedding bands. He also expanded on his teaching experience and began teaching at a large music school in Dublin.

A highlight of Ben’s career was playing a residency in the USA for over two years, where he played to audiences five or six times a week.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ben kept busy with online recording and when things reopened, he was straight back into full-time gigging. Ben plays with the Hit Machine Drummers who are Ireland's most popular and in-demand drumming group.
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

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!