Fairfield
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Fairfield

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School of Rock Fairfield
1976 Post Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203) 292-5473
Hours
  • Monday: 12 PM - 8 PM
  • Tuesday: 12 PM - 8 PM
  • Wednesday: 12 PM - 8 PM
  • Thursday: 12 PM - 8 PM
  • Friday: 12 PM - 8 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
  • Sunday: 11 AM - 5 PM

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

Programs we offer

Performance music program for teens in Fairfield
Performance
Ages 8-18

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

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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield is designed to create musical proficiency through the creation of original music. Students at School of Rock Fairfield 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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield for students over 18
Adult Program
Ages 18+

School of Rock Fairfield'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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield.

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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Fairfield

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Fairfield

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Fairfield 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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Fairfield

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Michael Knobloch General Manager
Michael Knobloch
General Manager
Michael has had a love for music since a very early age. He had a pair of drum sticks in his hands by his fourth birthday. That passion later fueled a career in the music industry. Michael graduated from The University of New Haven with a BA in Music and Sound engineering in 2011. This has allowed him to hold many positions in the music world, including live audio engineer, session and touring drummer, venue manager and drum tech. He has had the opportunity to share the stage and work with such acts as The Roots, Cage the Elephant, Robert Randolph, Twiddle, and Steve Kimock amongst others. He has also toured extensively throughout the North East, along with a few individual performances in Europe and along the West Coast.
Alex Swift
Music Director - House Band Manager
Born and raised in Fairfield, CT, Alex Swift grew up playing in the local music scene. From middle school to the end of high school, he was constantly taking lessons, developing his skills, and playing original and classic rock music with his friends in local night clubs.

After high school, Alex set his course on a music career and was admitted to Berklee College of Music in Boston. In Boston he was involved in many different musical projects ranging from wedding bands to unique ensembles and song writing. After graduating from Berklee with a BA in Professional Music, Alex began teaching bass, guitar and piano, and is one of School of Rock's most diverse and knowledgeable instructors. He was the singer, songwriter and bassist for the original indie rock band The Woulda Coulda Shouldas and rock project Pharoahplanes. Now Alex can be seen hitting the stage all over Connecticut with fusion-group Symphonic Bodega.
Music Director Michael Colavolpe
Michael Colavolpe
Music Director
Michael James Colavolpe (or Cal, as we call him around here) is an experienced guitarist in many contexts. He is a lifelong student of music; learning, teaching, and sharing its manifold gifts has become a primary passion and focus for him.

Michael has shared the bandstand with the likes of Bernie Worrel, Robbie Krieger, and Alan White, which have been some highlights in an exciting range of musical experiences that served to refine him in this craft. Michael can be heard performing locally with Symphonic Bodega and others. He recognizes that music is a gift and seeks to share it as such.
William Earley
Guitar instructor
William Earley is a Connecticut native who has been playing music since he started his first band at the age of 12. He was involved in music through high school and moved onto Naugatuck Community College, where he studied with Joe Beck (Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra). Will pursued guitar at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, CA, where he studied with renowned guitarists like Scott Henderson, Dan Gilbert and Paul Gilbert. While in LA, Will did session work at Paramount Studios for Virgin Records. Will has also served as the guitar tech for Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction). Will has been a successful local musician since his re-entry to Connecticut. He has released two records as the lead guitarist for the rock/electronic group Mos Opus and played extensively all over New England. He has also played locally with the fusion group Masti and the world electronic outfit These Creatures. You can currently find Will playing all over Connecticut with The Hot Club of Black Rock. Will is a virtuoso guitarist who is quickly becoming a local celebrity and sought-after session guitarist.
Tim Stone
Piano Teacher
Tim "T-Bone" Stone has been a rock-steady member of the local, state and regional music communities since 1978. A former student of late jazz pianists/theoreticians John and Gay Mehegan, he continued his music education in ear-training, world music and standard theory at Bard College at Simon's Rock. Having had enough formal training for his needs at that point (around 1976), he threw himself into performing and recording with as many different types of bands as he could, working his way into many of the top acts in the area. T-Bone has recorded and performed with The Pat Lattin Quartet, The Doug Wahlberg Band, PJ Pacifico, Once Removed, The Twinkies, Otis and the Hurricanes, and To the Max, as well as done a boatload of guest spots with pick-up bands. He has shared the stage with such stars as Bo Diddley, Jose Feliciano, Chris Hicks of The Marshall Tucker Band and Melvin Sparks, and has opened for Foreigner, Mountain, Eddie Money, Blue Oyster Cult, Marshall Tucker, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jonathan Edwards, Merle Saunders, Dr. John, Leon Russell and many others. T-Bone has been teaching at School of Rock since 2008 and currently resides in Bridgeport, CT.
Liz Ashkins
Vocal Teacher, Piano Teacher
A seasoned vocalist and keyboard player, Liz Ashkins is excited to be a part of the School of Rock staff. Originally from Fairfield, CT, Liz graduated from Franklin Pierce University with a degree in Vocal Performance. She has also taught and performed throughout Connecticut, New Hampshire and at Symphony Space Lincoln Center in New York City. Teaching music is a great passion of hers and she looks forward to working with future musicians.
Richie Catalano
Drum Teacher
Richie "Cat" Catalano was surrounded by music at a very young age thanks to his parents' extensive record collection. By the age of 15, he was playing local gigs as often as possible. Richie was recruited by former band members of Jasper Wrath to form the band EYES. Recording their first album, "We're In It Together," EYES found airplay on 99.1 WPLR and other local radio stations. He has recorded and toured with Andrew Strong, the original singer from the hit film "The Commitments," Tom Peterson from Cheap Trick, Kasim Sulton from Todd Rundgren's Utopia, James Christian from House of Lords and Orrin Bolton. Richie has also worked with record producers John Anthony (who worked on Queen's first album) and Paul Leka (writer of multi-platinum hit "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"). Richie started teaching drums and sought out the expert advice of Bob Gatzen, Ted Seibs of Berklee College of Music and Joe Morello. His lifelong commitment, passion and dedication to playing drums has given him the opportunity to share his knowledge, expertise and love for the instrument with the next generation of musicians.
Jason Sirianni
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Piano Teacher
Jason holds a bachelor's degree in Performance from Western Connecticut State University. Jason has been practicing music since a young age and landed his first professional gig while still in high school. He performs professionally and has been a player/songwriter in a number of locally recognized original bands. Jason has been teaching music professionally for over 15 years and has attended teaching training courses specifically for early childhood music education.
Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher Becky Kessler
Becky Kessler
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Becky Kessler, songwriter, singer and guitarist for the band Violent Mae, moved to Connecticut from North Carolina to live and work on a friend’s organic farm. Kessler came from a musical family and discovered her passion for songwriting through the guitar. This momentous pursuit led her to study and appreciate music as a science as well as an art, and to eventually find another passion for teaching music. She won best singer songwriter in the first annual CT music awards and with her bandmate/producer, Floyd Kellogg, has since received praise from Paste, Mother Jones, Sub Pop, and NPR. Violent Mae recorded and produced two LP's, a self-titled debut and the second, Kid, funded through Kickstarter. Their music is featured on multiple TV series including, Shrill, Nancy Drew and Wynonna Earp. Violent Mae has toured and performed at CMJ, NXNE, Mustang Music Festival, Daytrotter and Converse Rubber Tracks.

“Sometimes the most special bands are quietly going about their business, somewhat undetected, but with the ability to shape the very fiber of your day.” - GoldFlakePaint.co.uk

“Gifted with great range, Kessler’s voice is both smoky and tender, a silver tongue savoring every syllable that escapes the resistance of her pensive lips. And so the songs can be built around that and her distinctive guitar playing, in some kinship to how Buckley’s songs were just a full band’s extensions of him.” - Coke Machine Glow
Guitar Teacher Rob Maresca
Rob Maresca
Guitar Teacher
Rob is a local guitar instructor with nearly two decades of experience who performs, writes, and records with several of the community's top musicians. Rob studied music at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire and teaches all styles of guitar in his home of Fairfield, Connecticut. Rob is also proficient in bass guitar, ukulele, mandolin, and banjo. He is fond of all genres of music and plays funk, rock, reggae, and blues with local bands Steep Grade, Sushi Funk, and Jimmy & The Hat Tricks. Rob also performs must-see solo guitar at private parties, weddings, and at your favorite pub. From blues to Beatles and jazz to sambas, it’s a finger-pickin’ carnival ride!

For as long as Rob has been performing and educating, he has been listening and learning with an open mind. Whether it's been writing with a band shedding tunes or showing students the true amazement of the guitar, Rob's love for music and skill on the instrument is both encompassing and encouraging and above all entertaining. It's no surprise that Rob's second love is comic books, as he truly knows how to create an exciting story on any guitar he picks up. It's easy to say his chops are heroic and are earning his right to be a hero of the guitar.
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

It Feels Like Home.

The teachers are topnotch, very nurturing, kind and good musicians in their own right. The kids have a great time bonding and get to experience what it's like to actually perform on a real stage in front of a real audience!

Connection and Mentorship matter here.

School of Rock provides a great context for my son to learn drums and to appreciate a variety of genres. He's motivated and supported by the staff and more experienced bandmates, and also has the opportunity to mentor and encourage the younger ones.

It Keeps Exceeding Expectations!

I enjoy how accessible the instructors and the show directors make learning and performing music. This program far surpassed my expectations and has given me a deeper appreciation for such an amazing art form. Kudos!

School of Rock benefits all areas of life.

There is no doubt you teach kids to rock in music and in life. School of Rock has been absolutely terrific for our kids!

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