Memphis
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Memphis

Map
School of Rock Memphis
400 Perkins Extd
Memphis, TN 38117
(901) 730-4380

Location Specifics

Located near the Laurelwood Shopping Center.

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Hours
  • Monday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 3 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

School of Rock in Memphis, Tennessee is proud to offer music classes to help teach Memphis and surrounding communities how to play instruments with skill and confidence. Students can learn everything from drums, guitar, keys, vocals, and even horns in a supportive and encouraging environment and then go on to perform at the many local venues of Memphis. Our area is home to blues and a selection of music legends including Elvis, Al Green, BB King, Big Star, Bobby Blue Bland (his son is a drum teacher at the Memphis school), Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, David Porter, Otis Redding, Justin Timberlake, and The Band Camino. With its rich music history, School of Rock Memphis is the perfect place for budding musicians.

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

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

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

School of Rock Memphis'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 Memphis 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 Memphis.

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 Memphis 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 Memphis.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Memphis

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Memphis

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Memphis 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 Memphis, 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 Memphis 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 Memphis, 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 Memphis.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Memphis

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Memphis 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 Memphis 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 Memphis, 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 Memphis 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 Memphis, 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 Memphis

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Owner Marc Gurley
Marc Gurley
Owner
Marc's musical journey began at age 11 when he agreed to play drums with a band performing Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" live in front of his entire school. The only problem was he had never even held drumsticks in his hands! He pulled it off on sheer will and was hooked for life. From there he went on to play drums, keys and sing lead vocals with multiple rock bands. His career includes time as the frontman for the original line-up of alternative rock band Dust for Life. With DFL he recorded an album at Powerhouse Studios which went on to gain top rotation on rock radio, and he and DFL performed and shared the bill on a regular basis with powerhouse acts such as Saliva, King's X and Drivin N' Cryin to name a few. Marc is a graduate of Memphis University School and went on to earn a BA in Business Management from Southern Methodist University. He owned and operated a successful multi-unit golf retail business. However, the passion for music never faded, and School of Rock popped up on Marc's radar once he began to explore selling the golf business. As a father of three, Marc immediately understood the mission of School of Rock. In 2012 he joined the School of Rock family and he was lucky enough to do it in the birthplace of rock n' roll, Memphis. Then in 2018, he purchased the other local school, School of Rock Germantown.
General Manager, Music Director Landon Moore
Landon Moore
General Manager, Music Director
Landon Moore has been performing and recording professionally in Memphis for the past 10 years. Buying his first bass guitar at 18, he immediately started playing live at various venues across Memphis. Once he had established himself as a live artist he then ventured into the world of the studio musician. Landon has performed with local bands such as Ingram Hill, Rusty Lemon, This Is Goodbye, Fast Planet, Jeremy Stanfill, Craig Davis, Eric Gales and many others. He has also performed with members of such bands as The Black Crowes, Better Than Ezra, North Mississippi Allstars, Galactic, Shinedown and Saving Abel. As a studio musician he has recorded with many of the most sought-after producers and engineers in Memphis including John Hampton, Jeff Powell, Pete Matthews and Paul Ebersold. As a School of Rock instructor, Landon hopes to bring an eclectic view of music into the minds of his students; not merely teaching them how to play the music they love, but showing them where that music ultimately came from.
Rodd Bland
Drum Teacher
From blues royalty, the son of Bobby "Blue" Bland and godson of B.B. King, Rodd Bland rose up from the age of three learning traditional blues from his father's drummers, John "Jab O" Starks, Harold "Peanie" Portier and Rodd's brother, Tony Coleman, to become an exceptional band cornerstone rounding out any genre.

Spending much of his time touring live, Rodd has additionally contributed to sessions with talent such as Ian Siegal, and Darren Jay and The Delta Souls. Rodd appeared alongside his father at Austin City Limits and Music Voyager, as well as in the documentary "Take Me To The River," playing with his father and Yo Gotti. He then played a Sundance Film Festival concert for the movie, anchoring the drum throne with The Hi Rhythm Band, playing behind STAX legends William Bell and Ben Cauley Jr., as well as Oscar-winning rapper Frayser Boy and Al Kapone.

As Rodd enters a new era of his life as a musician, with the loss of his father, King and Clay, he has taken the opportunity to transfer lessons he absorbed to a new generation of blues fans while carrying on the great legacy of the blues royalty. Currently Rodd stays in an active role behind the bands Brimstone Jones, Will Tucker, The Blues Player's Club, and Rodd Bland and The Members Only Band (Bobby Blue Bland Tribute), and tours internationally on festival circuits with such great artists as The Reverend Shawn Amos.
Blake Rhea
Bass Guitar Teacher
Blake Rhea has been teaching and performing music for the last 15 years. His career as a bassist and guitarist has crossed several genres and allowed him to play both nationally and internationally. After graduating from Rhodes College, he co-founded CYC, a band that blended rock, funk, hip-hop and jazz. CYC recorded three records and regularly toured and played on Beale Street. In 2003, Blake joined the Gamble Brothers Band. GBB, a soul and rock/pop group, beat out 1,200 bands to win the Billboard-sponsored Independent World Series in Nashville. He had the opportunity to work with producer Jeff Powell (Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Big Star). In 2009, he began to tour with Austin-based singer/songwriter Charlie Mars, as well as drummer J.J. Johnson (John Mayer) and organist John Ginty (Robert Randolph, School of Rock Montclair Musical Director). Also during this time, he recorded "Rapocalypse" with local hip-hop group Lord T. and Eloise. While on tour supporting the release of this record, they had the opportunity to play for George Lucas and Seth Green at Skywalker Ranch in San Francisco, CA.
In 2011, Blake began collaborating with local blues musician Billy Gibson. In September of that year they were invited to play for the troops in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Blake has gained valuable experience both touring and in the studio. Working on these diverse projects gave him the opportunity to share the stage with Jim Dandy, Al Kapone, Eightball and MJG, Roy Hargrove, Galactic and Eric Gales to name a few. Throughout the years, he has always made time to share with students his passion for music.
Jillian Acor
Guitar Teacher
Jillian is well-known in School of Rock circles for having been the lead guitarist in the School of Rock Memphis House Band for five years. She has amazed audiences in countless performance shows and traveled on multiple tours with other School of Rock musicians each year. She recently graduated and now attends the University of Memphis as a full-time student. She continues to stay active in the Memphis music scene by performing with many veteran local bands, but she is also the first former student that has been invited to teach at School of Rock Memphis. She was one of the first (and only) two inductees into the School of Rock Memphis Hall of Legends and was given this honor for representing the passion and dedication and embodying the soul of School of Rock and rock in general. She has played a major role at our school for years and is excited to start her next chapter as a teacher, where she can share her passion and love of performing with future students in the hopes that they too can express their inner artist.
Michael McMinn
Show Director, Keyboard and Harmonica Teacher
Michael is the newest addition to his family’s tradition of the Musical McMinn Clan. He grew up listening to all genres of music and was baptized in the Blues. When Michael was seven, George “Mojo” Buford introduced him to the harmonica. By the next year, he was tagging along with Mojo on his tour to Europe. Every night, he would perform on stage with Mojo, mimicking his licks and making up a few of his own.

After sitting in with the family band for many years, he officially joined the band in the summer of 2011. He has played many festivals, including main stage at the King Biscuit Blues Festival with Papa Don McMinn and the Three Generation Blues Band. His love for music was just getting started with the harmonica; soon he started taking piano lessons and found a place for himself at the School of Rock as a student of Greg Reding. Michael was in the School’s House Band for his last two years as a student, where he forged both lifelong friendships with his bandmates and the desire to teach music.

Michael has had the pleasure of performing with Mojo Buford, Papa Don McMinn, Reba Russell, Victor Wainwright, Robert “Nighthawk” Tooms, Jack Rowell, and many more musicians. He has recorded on four albums and is currently working on a project with his own blues band. He is looking forward to teaching keyboards, and hopes a harmonica player or two will sign on to learn the instrument that forever changed his life.
Music teacher Julian Stanz at School of Rock
Julian Stanz
Program Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Julian Stanz is a Memphis native, a ten year veteran public school teacher, and a music lover. After being injured when he was 16, Julian made a lateral move from sports to music, first learning piano, then moving on to guitar and bass. He has been in bands for over a decade, eventually co-founding his own act “with Bravado” with his wife and fellow School of Rock teacher, Kayla.

His music is currently streamed in 45 countries, and has appeared on college radio top 40 lists in Ireland, Australia, and the United States. with Bravado's most recent single “We’re All Alone Together” was recognized by The Recording Academy (presenter of the Grammys) Memphis Chapter, and has been showcased at the Indie Memphis Film Festival.

Julian is currently a program director at the Memphis School of Rock, and also teaches guitar, bass, and piano. He is always excited to see his students progress in skill and knowledge, as music’s most endearing and exciting qualities have a way of growing parallel to one’s mastery.

Known for his light-hearted and conversational teaching style, Julian is also a very pragmatic teacher. After many years of teaching, he has developed the ability to assess a student’s current skill set, and without overcomplicating the learning process, create a path for them to progress to the next level.

Julian is excited to be part of the School of Rock family, and looks forward to pouring his passion for teaching and music into working with up and coming musicians.
Drum Teacher Bry Hart
Bry Hart
Drum Teacher
Bry was drawn to drums and music at an early age, and started to play seriously at age six. He has been heavily involved in the School of Rock program in Memphis where he has played at numerous locations on Beale Street, the Levitt Shell, and all around the country on national tours. He was in the School of Rock Houseband for seven consecutive years and is a 2018 School of Rock National Allstar. He is currently a music major at the University of Memphis. At twenty years old, Bry is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and is involved with many side projects such as his own solo work, Livia and the Rosebuds, and Jombi. He has also played and sat in with many known groups in the Memphis music scene such as Freeworld and Marcella And Her Lovers. Bry is primarily influenced by the artists Rush, Genesis, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Coheed and Cambria, Porcupine Tree, The Police, and Phish.
Keyboard Teacher Guitar Teacher Hooper Mattis
Hooper Mattis
Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Hooper began music a bit later than a lot of his musical friends. Starting piano seriously at 16, he progressed in his ability quickly. Hooper has gigged around Memphis in places such as Growlers, Hi-Tone, Cooper Young Fest, Carolina Watershed, and many others. He plays keys for the band Lemons, and also has his solo career in which he writes all the music. He currently attends the University of Memphis music school. As a musician, he is primarily influenced by bands like Vulfpeck, Jacob Collier, Billy Joel, The Beatles, and others.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Jacob Taylor
Jacob Taylor
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jacob began playing guitar after he got his first electric for Christmas when he was 10 years old. He was a founding member of Sam's Jacket, his band in high school, with whom he recorded an album, and played a handful of shows. After some time at the University of Memphis, marching in the Mighty Sound of the South and playing in the pep band, Jacob worked at the Orpheum, and occasionally assisted with A/V for the Halloran Center. Since then, he has focused on writing/recording his own music, and sharing his musical gifts with the students at the School of Rock.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Singing Teacher David White
David White
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Singing Teacher
David White is a Memphis musician (singer, guitarist, bassist, and drummer) who has been playing and writing music for over 15 years and performing in the local Memphis music scene since 2010. David got an early start in music singing in various church choirs and playing guitar on his church’s worship team. He went on to play drums for several local Memphis bands and is now writing and composing his own music as well as collaborating and performing with other local artists.
Singing Teacher Boone Nobert
Boone Nobert
Singing Teacher
Boone Nobert is a proud Memphis native singer-songwriter. He sang in school choirs from kindergarten all the way up to his senior year. By the end of high school Boone had performed at many of Memphis’ famous venues, Carnegie Hall, The Vatican and numerous other venues in the US and Europe.

Boone is currently a Junior at the University of Memphis, where he was a recipient of a Sound Fuzion Vocal scholarship (2019-2020). He is studying Music Business and is actively writing and performing whenever possible. Boone is honored to be teaching at School of Rock, and is excited to meet the students and help them reach their inner “Rockstar”!
Paul Hayes Drums Teacher
Paul Hayes
Drums Teacher
Paul Hayes is a diverse percussionist who has played in a variety of musical settings including orchestral, concert band, jazz, percussion ensemble, world percussion and church music. He is the former Percussion Professor at Pellissippi State Community College where he taught percussion, drum-set, and directed the Percussion Ensemble. He is a member of the PAS World Percussion Committee. He also taught drum-set at School of Rock Knoxville and directed their Rock 101 performance group. He performs as one half of the Unfiltered Duo, a percussion and clarinet duo, with Amy Humberd. He has played with the Oak Ridge Symphony Wheaton Symphony, Maud Powell Festival Orchestra, Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Lake Junaluska Orchestra. Paul received his Associates of Arts from Illinois Valley Community College in 2005, Bachelor of Music Performance from Lee University in 2012, and his Master of Music Performance from Lee University in December 2015. Paul's primary teachers include Dr. Andy Harnsberger, Dr. Brandon Wood, and Richard Henson. However, he has also studied with Michael Burritt, Kevin Bobo, James Campbell, and Blake Tyson. He has performed in master classes with Michael Burritt, Yousif Sheronick, and the Ian Rosenbaum Percussion Trio. Paul currently teaches at School of Rock Memphis and freelances in the Memphis area.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Greg Reding
Greg Reding
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Greg is a veteran musician with over 40 years of experience in the music industry. In 1967, his band, The Village Sound, signed a recording contract with legendary record company Stax Records. In 1973, Greg joined the famous Southern rock band Black Oak Arkansas, for whom he played lead guitar and keyboard. In 1985, Greg wrote a song called “Against the Night” that was featured on 38 Special's "Strength in Numbers" album, selling over 1,000,000 copies and earning gold record status.

Greg has performed locally and nationally with world-renowned artists such as legendary blues artist Albert King and Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills & Nash. He has also worked with a wide variety of musicians and bands such as Chuck Berry, Leslie Gore, The Shirelles, Tommy Roe, Lou Christie, Del Shannon, The Drifters, The Coasters, and Bo Diddley, to name a few. In 1989, Greg formed The Memphis All-Stars, a local rhythm blues band that he still owns and operates today.
School of Rock is where music and learning come together

For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.

Reviews

I'm a proud performance Program Parent!

My daughter LOVES it! She wants to take all the instruments they offer lessons for so she can go every day.

Amazing Curriculum!

The real life musical experience of the instructors is awesome, and taking the stage has a wonderful effect on the kids! Perfect to place to learn music while having fun.

Appropriate for all ages!

What an awesome school with amazing instructors. It's a fit for rockers of all skill levels.

Encourages playing in a group!

They teach children of all ages how to play instruments and in no time these kids are playing like they have for a long time. School of Rock gives them confidence, knowledge and the ability to play in a group with other students.