Fort Lauderdale
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Fort Lauderdale

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School of Rock Fort Lauderdale
3050 N Federal Hwy #101
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
954-564-7625

Location Specifics

Located on the Southeast corner of Oakland Blvd. & Federal Hwy. In the Times Square Plaza in the rear of Your Patio Store

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Hours
  • Monday: 2:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 2:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 2:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Thursday: 2:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Friday: 4 PM - 8 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

Programs we offer

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

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

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

Rookies music program for children in Fort Lauderdale
Rookies
Ages 6-7

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

Adult music program in Fort Lauderdale for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Fort Lauderdale'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 Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale.

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 Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Fort Lauderdale

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Fort Lauderdale

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Fort Lauderdale

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Studio Manager Melissa Scott
Melissa Scott
Studio Manager
Melissa is originally from Kansas City, Kansas, and has been a lover of music her entire life. She grew up playing the flute and piccolo in various school programs throughout grade school, high school, and her first year of undergraduate studies in college. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree, Melissa decided to try her hand at playing bass guitar and was immediately hooked. She then went on to perform original music with multiple bands throughout the Kansas and Missouri area, but when she moved to Broward County she joined School of Rock to broaden her musical knowledge. Melissa joined School of Rock Fort Lauderdale in 2020 as the Studio Manager and Lessons Coordinator. There, with the help of tiny plastic ducks and toy dinosaurs, Melissa helps to keep the school, the instructors, the parents, and the students organized and sane. Melissa blinks one eye at a time.
General Manager Adam Turano
Adam Turano
General Manager
Adam has been with the School of Rock since 2012 and has been performing music in South Florida since 1996. He received a Bachelor's degree in Arts and Humanities from Florida Atlantic University and has been teaching music locally since 2002. Adam is proficient in saxophone, piano, guitar, drums, and bass. He has taught and performed various styles of music including classical, jazz, blues, rock, punk, big band, R&B, folk, and alternative. As General Manager of the School of Rock Fort Lauderdale, he is also in charge of any and all day-to-day activities of the school including a very contagious spreading of awesomeness and fun on a regular basis!

Adam sleeps standing up.
Assistant Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director Shane Graham
Shane Graham
Assistant Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Shane Graham has been a guitar player since 2004. Ever since then, Shane has been playing in original bands, cover bands, and tribute bands throughout South Florida. Being the founder of multiple original extreme heavy metal bands, Shane's current original band has earned him international recognition being signed by the European record label, Iron Oxide. Shane is primarily self-taught and has played multiple niche styles within the genres of Rock and Heavy Metal for two decades. Over the past decade, Shane has also become proficient as a drummer and bass player. Shane’s favorite guitar players are Steve Vai, Jake E. Lee, and George Lynch.

Shane has not sneezed since 2007.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher John Boiko
John Boiko
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
John Boiko is a piano and keyboard instructor at School of Rock Fort Lauderdale. He has been performing and teaching piano in the South Florida area since 1988. After receiving a BA in Music Education from Jersey City State College, he relocated to Fort Lauderdale where he continued his music studies and received an MA in Music from Florida Atlantic University. A highlight of John’s musical journey has been sharing his knowledge and passion for music with his students. His diverse experience in classical, jazz, blues, rock, and contemporary styles give him a unique perspective on helping his students of all ages unlock their musical potential. John currently performs regularly in a variety of venues across South Florida.

John's social security number is: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, "B", "A" select start.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director Denver Cooper
Denver Cooper
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
Denver Cooper hails from Detroit, Michigan, and after two minutes with him, you quickly understand that he couldn't have emerged from anywhere else other than the legendary Rock City. Luckily for the School of Rock in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Denver currently calls South Florida home. Denver has played with artists like Lizzy Borden and Saving Abel. He currently divides his time between iconic keyboardist/vocalist Nick Z Marino (Yngwie Malmsteen, Generation Axe, NZM) and as a solo artist under his own name.

Denver is proficient in guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals. For Denver, playing music is a necessity, not a luxury. As a result, you will not find a more passionate, dedicated, and capable musician or instructor. After dedicating years to honing his craft through some European and North American tours, Denver is hungry and more than willing to share his musical knowledge with anyone who wants to learn, regardless of age or skill level.

Please DO NOT feed Denver after midnight!
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director Daniel Vargas
Daniel Vargas
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
Daniel Vargas is a multi-instrumentalist with over two decades of experience as a performer, a teacher, and a session musician. While Daniel's primary instrument is the guitar, he also has an extensive background in piano, bass, ukulele, voice, ear training, and music theory. In 1999, he began playing piano through his formal training in classical music. This allowed him to start building a solid base in music for years to come. By 2004 Daniel's brother gifted him with his first guitar. From that day forward, Daniel would use that guitar as a vehicle to explore everything from Blues to Classic and Hard Rock, Grunge, Funk, and R&B.

For the following eight years, he was mentored by multiple teachers in South Florida, namely Jazz guitarists Leo Quintero and Danny Hayoun as well as Rock guitarist Michael Jacques. In 2012, Daniel attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Since his graduation from Berklee, Daniel has worked as a session musician, played with several cover bands, and taught countless students all over the tri-county area of Miami-Dade, Broward, and West Palm Beach.

Daniel's blood type is all of them.
Drum Teacher Jay Drake
Jay Drake
Drum Teacher
School of Rock Fort Lauderdale is happy to have Jay Drake as one of our exceptional drum instructors. Jay is a freelance drummer with over 50 years of playing and teaching experience. He attended the University of North Florida School of Music and has studied privately with numerous high-profile teachers in New York City. Jay has extensive experience in studio engineering and production. Jay has dedicated his life to the pursuit of music; he has an unparalleled passion for sharing his love and knowledge of music with others.

Jay has an irrational fear of empty aluminum cans and the noises that they produce.
Show Director, Drum Teacher George Savvas
George Savvas
Show Director, Drum Teacher
George has been a passionate drum set player since 2001 and grew up playing music in Tampa Bay, Florida. Once he chose to become a professional musician, George began to expand his playing and dug deeper into the pursuit of mastery—which he continues today. George is versed in most styles of Western music such as jazz, blues, funk, and rock, as well as Afro-Cuban, Baltic rhythms, and other world rhythms. His experiences include diverse performances in theaters, churches, clubs, and studios.

George also continues to study under private instructors, which he believes is essential for any level of musician. His personal focus as a drummer is on the fundamentals of timekeeping and the role of a supporting musician in a band setting. George had the opportunity to share his knowledge of drum set methods and mechanics with his first students in 2016. It was then that he found a new passion for teaching drums. Empowering drummers to find their voice of self-expression from his teachings of both theoretical and practical approaches to the drum set has since become a significant aspect of George’s life and career as a musician.

George eats only jelly beans on the 4th and 20th of every month.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher Yoel DeJesus
Yoel DeJesus
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher
Yoel DeJesus has been teaching piano since 2000. He teaches all levels of contemporary, classical, jazz, improvisation, music theory, and popular music. Yoel is also an experienced instructor in vocal coaching, music composition, artist development, and music software and production. He has studied at the Hochstein School of Music in Rochester, New York, and is part of the Alumni of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Yoel has worked in the Los Angeles area as a professional musician and as an educator and is now happy to continue his musical journey here at the School of Rock in Fort Lauderdale Florida.

Yoel makes his own catsup.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director Ted O’Connell
Ted O'Connell
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
Ted O’Connell is a guitarist, bassist, and singer with extensive practical experience in engineering and production. He has been passionate about music for as long as he can remember, with dreams of starting a band when the recorder was the only instrument he could play. Though Ted took guitar lessons for a few months at a young age, it wasn’t until 2011 that he began learning the guitar more seriously. While he was in high school, Ted began writing and recording his own original music, which would eventually grow to become his band: The Supplements.

Ted studied music at Nova Southeastern for a year before leaving to study production at Berklee College of Music. After a few semesters, he left school to pursue his musical endeavors more directly. In late 2017, Ted began teaching private guitar and piano lessons from his home, which he did until March 2020. In 2021, Ted began recording and mixing music for local musicians out of his home studio where he had been engineering his own band’s recordings for a few years prior.

Professionally, Ted has had extensive experience working with South Florida's youth as a summer camp counselor and program coordinator since 2015. When he is not working on original music, Ted plays bass in his cover band, Exit Left. Along with The Supplements, Ted writes and records with a few other original bands ranging in genres from pop (The Curfew) to electronic (Missing Parts).

Ted currently holds the world speed record for running the 40-yard dash...backwards.
Singing Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Emily Barnes
Emily Barnes
Singing Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Emily Barnes began her musical journey as a Rock 101 student at School of Rock West Broward back in 2014! She worked her way up to the House Band and completed two national tours with her group during her time as a student. Emily is a multi-instrumentalist and teaches vocals, keyboard, and bass guitar.

Emily was a long-time student of Deja Monteagudo and Chris Bromley during her time as a School of Rock student. She continues to thrive at the School of Rock Fort Lauderdale as an instructor, willingly sharing her passion and knowledge of music with anyone who walks through our doors.

Emily bowls overhand.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Anthony Alfano
Anthony Alfano
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Anthony Alfano started his musical education in Queens, NY playing the alto saxophone in elementary school. It was fitting that he would then move on to the trumpet while attending Louis Armstrong Middle School. By the time he reached high school, Anthony found his true calling playing the guitar. He learned a few chords and riffs from friends, but then Anthony moved to West Palm Beach, FL at the age of 15, where he found himself isolated for the summer. He spent hours learning his favorite songs by ear. All of these experiences have shaped his belief that musicians should have a strong foundation in not only notation and theory but also ear training in order to be a complete musician.

Anthony is proficient in playing the guitar, bass, mandolin, ukulele, keys, drums, and vocals. He also has experience teaching choir and instrumental ensembles and directing musicals. His tastes are as eclectic as his playing is versatile. He currently plays with the Iron Maiden tribute Maiden Steel, the local multi-era cover band How Original, and the Red Rocket Big Band.

Anthony's middle name is Anthony.
Studio Coordinator Isaiah Torres
Isaiah Torres
Studio Coordinator
Isaiah joined the School of Rock Fort Lauderdale team in February of 2023 and the school is all the better for it! Isaiah's love of music, his wit, and his sense of humor make him a perfect fit for the school.

Isaiah steers the ship. He manages ALL of the school's scheduling duties and rules the lobby with an iron fist! And, of course, love. (But mostly fist.) Isaiah is a crucial member of the team and his presence ensures that the school runs like the well-oiled machine that it is! Pity all schools that don't have an Isaiah.

Isaiah has had a passion for music since he was young and enjoys participating in the Grad School program at School of Rock. His first-ever live performance was with the school's Grad School program back in February of '23. Since then his passion for music has only grown.

Isaiah’s vision is based on movement and he only sees in infrared.
Singing Teacher, Show Assistant Lex Ramirez
Lex Ramirez
Singing Teacher, Show Assistant
Even from a young age, Lex had an ear for music. She would sing along to anything that played on the radio and immediately realized the joy that singing brought to her. She started singing in church for her congregation at around 10 years old. From middle school through high school, Lex was involved in various activities that the music program had to offer. She sang in the women's chorus as well as the mixed chorus and participated in all-county and all-state competitions. She played various parts in the musicals as well.

Lex was also a part of the vocal jazz group which toured and competed with college-level vocal jazz groups and attended various jazz workshops and camps. She was also part of an offshoot of this group which was an a cappella vocal group. Lex also took vocal lessons with various instructors around the area to better hone her skills.

After graduating from Crane School of Music, Lex auditioned for several rock bands that were looking for lead vocalists and decided to start singing with one of them. Ever since then, she has been singing lead and backups for various cover bands.

Originally from central New York, Lex moved to West Chicago in 2019 where she was part of the local music scene and was also a vocal coach at School of Rock in Geneva, IL. In 2022, Lex moved to Florida and became a vocal coach at the School of Rock here in Fort Lauderdale. Her goal is to guide aspiring vocalists to embrace their own unique voice and learn how to use it to the best of their ability.

Lex once saw a half-man, half-dolphin in Greece.
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!