McKinney
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

McKinney

Map
School of Rock McKinney
3201 S Hardin Blvd
Suite 210
McKinney, TX 75070
(214) 856-4055
Hours
  • Monday: 2 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 9:30 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 2 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed

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

School of Rock McKinney serves McKinney, Allen, Melissa, Prosper, Farmersville, and surrounding areas with quality music lessons taught by real, practicing musicians. Drums and guitar are very popular here, but School of Rock McKinney teaches everything from piano to keys, vocals, bass, and more. Students can learn to rock out to musical styles like indie, classic, and '90s rock, while also performing at great local venues like Hank's Texas Grill and Tupp's Brewery.

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in McKinney for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 7-12

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock McKinney'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 McKinney 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 McKinney are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock McKinney who have participated in the Rookies program can move to our Rock 101 music program once they’re ready. Additionally, students (typically ages 7 to 12-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 McKinney
Performance
Ages 13-18

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

Rookies music program for children in McKinney
Rookies
Ages 5-6

At School of Rock McKinney, our music program for children with no previous musical experience (typically ages 5 to 6-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 McKinney, 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 McKinney, 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 McKinney is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock McKinney 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 McKinney, 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 McKinney for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock McKinney'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 McKinney 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 McKinney.

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 McKinney 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 McKinney.

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 McKinney

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock McKinney

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock McKinney

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock McKinney 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 McKinney, 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 McKinney 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 McKinney, 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 McKinney.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock McKinney

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock McKinney 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 McKinney 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 McKinney, 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 McKinney 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 McKinney, 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 McKinney

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

General Manager Shannon
Shannon
General Manager
Shannon was born into a rock n' roll family. Both of her parents were in a band together, Mid City Rock, where her mom was the lead singer and her dad was the lead guitarist. Needless to say, rock n' roll is in her blood. At a young age she developed her love for Aerosmith and Heart, which are still two of her favorite bands.

A born entertainer, Shannon discovered her passion for dance when she was just a tot. Although her parents would've loved for her to pick up an instrument, they realized that dancing was her way of expression and let her pursue it. She attempted to learn guitar but it just did not compute in her brain so she stuck with movement though never walked away from rock n' roll.

When she was 16 years old, she got her first job in sales. This was something that came very easily to her and in a few years, Shannon stepped into a management role. After 15 years with that company, they decided to sell the business and Shannon came to School of Rock. She was the General Manager at School of Rock Rockwall for the last three years and is excited to be back in McKinney!
Music Director Michael Barrios
Michael
Music Director
Michael picked up drumsticks 15 years ago and hasn't put them down since. He started playing in his garage, then moved on to play in his church and school orchestra. Through his high school experience, Michael studied many genres of music and had opportunities to play at live venues, in Battle of the Bands competitions, and even in-studio work.

After he graduated high school, Michael enrolled in the Collin College Audio Engineering Program. While there, he played in the school's rock ensemble and recording ensemble. The past three years have been devoted to studio drumming. Michael has recorded drums for many bands and artists while finishing his studies at Collin and is preparing to enroll in Berklee College of Music's online program.
Assistant Music Director, Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Sydney Hefley
Sydney
Assistant Music Director, Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Sydney is an accomplished vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She began her musical training at the age of 5 with classical piano lessons. She soon incorporated other instruments and is proficient on piano, vocals, guitar, and bass. Sydney is a formally trained vocalist and was a member of the prestigious Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas throughout her high school years. She had the honor to be chosen to tour England with the Choir in 2016.

Sydney attended the University of North Texas for two years after high school and continued with classical voice and piano studies. She has since attended Berklee College of Music Boston through their Online Master’s program as well as studying songwriting and music production. Sydney has had a long affiliation with School of Rock Dallas, where she was selected for several summer tours as a student, and was brought on as an instructor as soon as she graduated high school. She formed the band Sweet Chaos, where she secured an Ernie Ball endorsement, while still a student at School of Rock and released a self-titled EP before the age of 16. She has since started a solo career as Sydney Harte and continues to release original material.

Sydney has had a long-standing love of music and is passionate about passing that on to her students.
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Sophie Rapattoni
Sophie
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Being a School of Rock alum herself, Sophie has grown up through the program. She started her first rock band when she was 12 years old and has toured all around the country singing everything from Chaka Khan to Rage Against the Machine since then.

Sophie loves manatees and she can recite every U.S. president in order. Her musical interests range from Dolly Parton to Bauhaus to Moondog. She is in a punk band called Boring Lauren with other School of Rock alumni including Dalton Rapattoni, Sydney Hefley, and Cat Yeoman.

“I think quotes are very dangerous things.” - Kate Bush
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Jorge Gonzalez
Jorge
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jorge started playing the guitar years ago when a friend taught him the intro of a song. Jorge decided to buy an electric guitar, started learning more on his own, and joined a music school a few months later.

He played there for three years and decided to study music with some guitar clinics he bought. Although his inspiration was rock and metal music, he wanted to learn more and started learning Flamenco. Once in college, Jorge started playing with a student jazz ensemble and string ensemble. He then became a teacher there and started a Rumba Flamenca ensemble. He gigged in museums and art expositions with the ensemble.

Jorge took some masterclasses with Flamenco guitarist Antonio Rey and classic guitarist Juan Manuel Cañizares, plus some online masterclasses with composer Hans Zimmer. While music had always been a hobby, Jorge decided to suspend his university studies and started to follow what he was most passionate about.

In 2019 he got a YAMAHA Dante certification and start studying musical production. He has been teaching music for nearly a decade and can play in different styles such as rock, metal, bossa nova, classical, flamenco, jazz, Latin music, funk, and still learning more styles and instruments.

“The best part to be a musician is to share the passion, and there is always something new to learn every day.”
Drum Teacher Carlos
Carlos
Drum Teacher
A lover of music from a young age, Carlos was inspired to begin drumming as a means to live like the greats such as Travis Barker and John Bonham. After begging his family for a kit, Carlos started his own band when he was 12 years old with his guitarist friend. Eventually, the two of them decided to join the School of Rock in Frisco to gain experience playing on stage.

After a long time of playing and gaining confidence in drumming, Carlos started his current band, The Ends, with friends from high school, and they have been performing locally and recording material in his home studio ever since. For five years, Carlos has been focused on becoming the best he can be through practice, long studio sessions, and non-stop shows. Carlos aspires to make a name for himself by surpassing the drummers that inspired him and to leave a mark on the lives of young musicians along the way.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher Timothy
Timothy
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Timothy began his musical journey as a School of Rock student in 2017, at 14 years old. He enjoys playing guitar, drums, and bass. Tim is currently attending college and pursuing a music degree. He looks forward to learning as many instruments as he can.

Tim shares a birthday with George Strait, Yee-Haw! He also loves Gummy Bears and Dr. Pepper! His favorite dinner dish is a big juicy steak, with a side of mashed potatoes.

Tim grooves to Metallica, The Beatles, Vulfpeck and so much more. He loves to travel for shows whenever he gets the chance! Red Rocks has his heart.
Drum Teacher Nathan
Nathan
Drum Teacher
Nathan is a multi-instrumentalist, who specializes in drums and bass guitar. He has had a love for music his entire life, taking his first piano lessons when he was 5 years old, and then learning classical guitar a few years later.

Nathan found his true passion when he joined percussion at school, where he also picked up the bass to play in the jazz band. He went on to study jazz performance at Collin College, before leaving to become a full-time performer.

He now shares his knowledge and love for music with his students, but still performs as often as possible, playing drums for his band, and getting gigs whenever he can.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher John
John
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
John is well educated in science, music, history, religion, and mathematics, graduating magna cum laude from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Music Composition and Theory with a piano principle. During John's college days, he toured America and England with the experimental music ensemble, The Paxton Group, collaborating with sound and visual poetry artist Paula Claire (Oxford) and performing at festivals featuring modern music pioneers such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Meredith Monk, and John Cage.

John arranged the score for the pilot of a children's television show (Reggie the Rhino) which premiered at the USA Children's Film Festival. He is co-composer of the children's musical Golden Wings and has served as music director and composer for many theater productions. In rock and roll's realm, John wrote and produced the rock opera Circle of Thieves, which premiered in Lubbock, TX. Some of his more interesting musical endeavors include producing and starring as Frank-N-Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show and producing and touring Pink Floyd's The Wall in its entirety across Texas.

John. has performed for high-ranking bishops of the Catholic Church, and when trekking across the globe, makes it a habit of finding the most popular blues jams where he sits in and hammers on the piano with the local stars in countries such as Canada, Bermuda, England, New Zealand, and even Qatar.
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

We Love School of Rock!

My 12-year-old son started lessons not even knowing how to hold sticks and within four months was performing at a club in Deep Ellum and actually sounded great! My husband and I were totally impressed and proud!

A great atmosphere!

School of Rock provides a fun atmosphere to learn and perform in on the instrument of your choice, while providing a confidence boost and working within a team environment.

Learning Music and More.

I like the fact that my son gets to not only learn to play an instrument, but to feel like a rock star on a real live stage. I think it gives him a little more responsibility, making him accountable for the group and not just for himself.