Knoxville
School of Rock

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Knoxville

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School of Rock Knoxville
101 Sherlake Ln Ste 101
Knoxville, TN 37922
(865) 247-4038

Location Specifics

Located on the corner of Kingston Pike & Sherlake.

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Hours
  • Monday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: Closed
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

School of Rock Knoxville is pleased to provide the Knoxville, Tennessee area with a revolutionary music education approach. With lessons from our expert instructors, students learn to play their instruments using the music from local legend Dolly Parton and other renown artists. As part of our curriculum, students regularly take the stage to perform live at great local venues like the Tennessee and Bijou Theaters.

Programs we offer

Rock 101 music program in Knoxville for kids and beginners
Rock 101
Ages 7-10

Rock 101 is one of School of Rock Knoxville'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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville are designed to get students on stage performing, with the goal of building strong musical proficiency. Younger students at School of Rock Knoxville 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 10 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 Knoxville
Performance
Ages 11-18

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

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

At School of Rock Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, 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.

Little Wing music program for toddlers and preschoolers in Knoxville
Little Wing
Ages 4-5

At School of Rock Knoxville 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 Knoxville, 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.

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

School of Rock Knoxville'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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville.

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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville.

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

The School of Rock Knoxville 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 Knoxville'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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Knoxville

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Knoxville

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Knoxville 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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Knoxville

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Knoxville 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Jason Fein Owner
Jason Fein
Owner
Jason Fein has had every role possible within School of Rock. He was initially hired on as a Vocal instructor/show director. Later he became a music Director and GM before leaving to open his own. Jason also practices what he preaches. His Punk Rock Band, The Run Around, has toured The States many times over. At one point he was on the road 150-200 days per year. They have had multiple Record deals and have shared the stage with some of the most iconic Punk bands in history (Descendents, Rancid, Green Day to name a few). All of this while going to college on a vocal scholarship and finishing his degree in music business. These days The Run Around still tours here and there but he stays busy with owning 3 extremely successful School of Rock locations in the Chicago area (4 with the addition of Knoxville) and a young family at home (Wife: Coleen, Son: Lennon(5), Daughter: Kona(1)). Jason is excited to help take SOR Knoxville to the next level!
Owner, General Manager Kelsey Roberts
Kelsey Roberts
Owner, General Manager
Kelsey is a former School of Rock student at School of Rock and quickly fell in love with creating, practicing, and performing music. She was a member of the School of Rock Performance Program and House Band for four years until she graduated in 2017. In high school, Kelsey was co-founder of pop-punk group California Killers where she wrote, sang lead vocals, and played guitar.

Shortly after graduating high school, Kelsey began working at the School of Rock location in Geneva, IL as a studio coordinator, vocal instructor, and show director while attending Waubonsee Community College. She worked alongside her fellow owners of School of Rock Knoxville, Jason Fein and Owen Szorc. During this time, she also performed many gigs at bars, restaurants, and events in Chicagoland both separately and as a duo with Owen.

After completing her associate's degree, Kelsey said goodbye to her School of Rock Geneva family and moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting and a career in the music business. During her time at Belmont University studying Songwriting and Music Business, she found herself back at School of Rock and realized that her real passion was for the families, friends, and mission of the School of Rock community. Kelsey is beyond excited to work alongside her music partner Owen and her mentor Jason to embark on this new journey with School of Rock Knoxville.
Owner, Music Director Owen Szorc
Owen Szorc
Owner, Music Director
Owen Szorc graduated from Elmhurst College with a degree in guitar performance in both classical and jazz and a degree in music business. He started as an instructor and show director at the School of Rock location in Geneva, IL. During his time there, Owen widely contributed to the culture of the students and School of Rock community through strong and organized leadership along with his signature ability to connect with students of all ages and skill levels.

Over time, Owen earned the role of music director and seasonally directed up to five performance groups including House Band, adult groups, and performance groups. Outside School of Rock, Owen has performed in many ensembles, including various rock bands, jazz, country, wedding bands, classical guitar, and solo performances over time.

Owen has many years of experience in teaching private lessons of all levels and genres, with many of his students finding success in their own groups and moving on to top collegiate-level programs. Owen is thrilled to be an owner, instructor, show director, and the music director here at School of Rock Knoxville!
Wooloughby McGreggor
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Charles' love for music first began in 1993 when he started playing bass, which led him to a deeper understanding and love of all things music. He has performed live and recorded with a variety of bands, spanning styles such as classic rock, modern rock, jazz, funk, country, folk, pop, jam band, rockabilly, punk, metal, oldies, R&B, soul and blues. Charles enjoys sharing the knowledge he has gained over the years as a musician and looks forward to helping develop the next generation.
Dustin Hurt
Guitar Teacher
Dustin Hurt is from a small farming community in central Illinois. His love of music began in fourth grade when he began playing trumpet in his school's concert band. Around the time he was 12, he picked up the guitar after hearing the sounds of Green Day and never looked back. Dustin has played in several bands and has experience as a musician, performing and recording jazz, classical, classic rock, heavy metal, punk rock, Christian rock and everything in between. He is a guitar teacher at School of Rock Knoxville.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher BRIAN LEE
Brian Lee
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Brian has a solid history as a performing musician in Knoxville starting with Bad Weather Blues in the mid 1990’s which was a solid house band for Baker/Peters and other venues in Knoxville. Brian has also played with The Royal Hounds (local rockabilly band) and is an accredited guitar teacher with 20+ years teaching experience in the Knoxville/Oak Ridge area. He is completely obsessed with everything Jimi Hendrix, and he is an avid Led Zeppelin vinyl collector! The rock/blues band Brian founded, AlienLoveCharm, is active in Knoxville, and he is also lead guitarist of Soul Finger, a funk band which plays throughout East Tennessee.
Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher Michael Peng
Michael Peng
Keyboard Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Michael Peng is a professional performer and educator who was born in Oakridge and has known the Knoxville area his entire life. Michael started learning piano when he was 9 years old, and started singing when he was 12. Since then, he's joined a variety of professional choirs, musicals, and operas in shows such as Into the Woods, Carmen, and the local Forbidden Knoxville. These opportunities included travel abroad to perform, and Michael has studied and performed in Brazil and Hungary as part of his music career. Most recently, he has returned from China, where he performed and taught music both one on one and at an international school. Michael has a Bachelors in Vocal Performance and a Masters in Music Education from UTK. He has 9 years of experience teaching music lessons both one and one and to groups. Michael currently works as an elementary music teacher as well as a voice and keys instructor at School of Rock Knoxville.
Guitar Teacher Michael Jones
Michael Jones
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Michael Jones has performed in the Knoxville music scene since he was a kid. He started by teaching himself to play guitar and bass from online video tutorials and song tablature. He then began singing and performing in church, in a cover band, and in his local talent show, which inspired him to pick up marching band and, eventually, a degree in contemporary music from Bryan College. He has since performed alongside musicians such as Abe Partridge, Kirk Fleta, Luke McQueary, and Jordan Foster. He currently performs in and around Knoxville solo and as a guitarist, bassist, and backup vocalist in a variety of contexts. He also writes songs for his current project, Lazarus Lake, as well as for collaborative projects with his friends.
Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher Josh Rudes
Josh Rudes
Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Josh Rudes specializes in upright and electric bass. Josh graduated cum laude with a Jazz Studies degree from the University of North Texas and has been playing bass for about 12 years, with experience gigging and teaching all across the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Josh has taught for 4 years now and is able to teach technique, theory and any genre his students want to learn! His main experience is in rock, jazz and pop, but he plays all styles from Latin and classical to country. Favorite musicians include Charlie Puth, Christian McBride, WatchHouse, Julian Lage and Madison Cunningham.
Lydia Barbour Singing Teacher, Piano Teacher
Lydia Barbour
Vocal Teacher, Piano Teacher
Lydia Barbour discovered her love of all things music at the age of fifteen when she started busking in downtown Knoxville with her clarinet and keyboard. This quickly developed into a passion for performance; catapulting her into a rush of open mic nights, jam sessions, and four years of music classes at the University of the Cumberlands. Growing just as emphatically as her musical knowledge, was a deep enthusiasm for teaching private piano and vocal lessons, conducting her church choir, and most importantly helping her music community thrive. Lydia has performed and recorded keys and vocals in multiple genres; rock, jazz, pop, and folk being her personal favorites. Lydia is excited and honored to teach piano and singing at School of Rock Knoxville.
Drum Teacher Dakota Carley
Dakota Carley
Drum Teacher
After spending the last decade professionally drumming deep in central Texas, Dakota brings many avenues of expertise to the teaching staff. He draws upon various styles such as jazz, blues, country, and funk all the way to heavy metal, hip hop, and soul. Dakota has played just about every role in the musical process from bandmate, bandleader, songwriter, and engineer to producer and more recently, teacher. Hoping to change the world one student at a time, he aspires to show each student to tap into the infinite source of inspiration and creative energy that lies within them to learn and grow. Always looking ahead, he can’t wait to see what each student, each group, and the school at large is capable of achieving!
Drum Teacher Braden Jones
Braden Jones
Drum Teacher
Braden Jones is a Tennessee-based musician with a passion for drums and the fire to share his songs with the world. Originating from Memphis, Tennessee, Braden is currently studying Studio Music and Jazz along with Music Composition at the University of Tennessee, where he was awarded a wide variety of musical scholarships. Furthermore, he has continued his personal private instruction since he was 17 years old and has acquired students of all backgrounds throughout his teaching career. He has been able to play with a myriad of talented artists and an assortment of genres ranging from jazz, indie, and classic rock and roll, contemporary avant-garde music, funk, Afro-Cuban, and electronic music.

Most recently, Braden has been hard at work honing his sound as a live performer, manning the rhythm section of his Indie-Rock group Okay Karma, and playing Jazz with The Harbingers. Performing through the Jazz music program at the University of Tennessee, Braden has played with artists like Gregory Tardy, Jon Hamar, Jack Roben, Eric Reed, Taber Gable, Sam Adams, Rob Linton, Bernell Jones, and Margherita Fava. He has also performed with the classic blues-rock band Vagabond Brew and country star Jason Lee Wilson.

Braden is also a member of the University of Tennessee Jazz Orchestra. His influences shine in his work, including drummers like Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, Philly Joe Jones, Taylor Hawkins, Ginger Baker, Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell, and many others. He is influenced by bands including the Foo Fighters, the Eagles, James Brown and the JBs, Sly and the Family Stone, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Miles Davis Quintet, and the Jazz Messengers. Braden has also been an instructor at the Memphis Jazz Workshop and the Knoxville Jazz Workshop.
Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Nick Horner
Nick Horner
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Nick Horner relocated to Knoxville after a 7-year stint in the NYC music scene. His songwriting, arranging, and production can be found on over 30 full-length projects spanning all genres as a part of recording teams with legendary engineers such as Ron Allaire (Keith Richards), Jon Rosenberg (James Moody, John Zorn, Bill Frisell), and with Beehive Productions (Folk Alley on NPR).

As a performer, Nick has played on countless national festivals including The Philadelphia Folk Festival and the Lincoln Center’s Caramoor Roots Festival. He has also shared the stage with artists such as jazz legends David Liebman (Miles Davis), Sheila Jordan, avant-garde artists such as Martin Schmidt (Bjork) and Ethel, jazz fusion band Kneebody, contemporary artists Tracy Bonham and Boris Pelkeh (Gogol Bordello), and bluegrass artists such as Patrick McAvenue (Dailey and Vincent). He also wrote and performed the theme song for the United Nations’ Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador (held every 20 years) for 50,000 attendees with his band, Nick Horner Family.

As an educator, Nick has taught songwriting workshops across the country including work in summer camps as a Music Ascension educator. He has also sent students to regional and state festivals, including the PMEA All-State Vocal Jazz program in Pennsylvania.

He is also the founder of Porch Stomp, NYC’s largest free folk music festival, as well as Make Music Knoxville, the Knoxville chapter of Make Music Day which brings free music all across the globe every June 21st.

Nick received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Bucknell University.
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher Alex Sadler
Alex Sadler
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Alex Sadler is a professional musician and music educator from Sharon, TN. Alex has had the opportunity to play the drums and keyboards professionally in many different bands across the United States, at venues like Swampers in Muscle Shoals, AL, Beale Street in Memphis, TN, and the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.

Due to his commitment to giving back to the community and becoming an ambassador of the craft of music to others, Alex earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Tennessee at Martin. While earning this degree, Alex gained vital experience in teaching music to children of all age ranges and gained his official teaching Licensure in Tennessee.

Alex is currently continuing his education earning his master’s degree in music at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Alex also continues to work as a professional musician playing various gigs in Knoxville and the East Tennessee area.
Studio Coordinator Alex Wampler
Alex Wampler
Studio Coordinator
Alex Wampler graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in theatre. Alex has always known their passion lies in performance; they grew up listening to rock music and dreaming of being a superstar, a dream that only grew when they wrote their first song at 10 years old, called Heartbreaker. The song has since been lost to time, but Alex's dream lives on in every song they write today.

Alex's history of performance began in middle school with cheesy musicals, continued into high school with choir competitions and self-written plays, and grew even further in college, where they led teams in UT's Mock Trial program as both a witness and an attorney for all four years. Alex is excited to work at School of Rock Knoxville as the Studio Coordinator and to help create a safe space for kids who have dreams just like theirs.
Drum Teacher Anthony New
Anthony New
Drum Teacher
Born and raised in Knoxville, Tony grew up in a family of musicians. He fell in love with drums at the age of 8 and began taking lessons which he continued through his high school years at Karns High School. During this time, he performed with the Joey Pierce Project, the Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra, the Knoxville Pipes and Drums, New Lily, and others.

During his time performing with the Karns Marching Band, Tony discovered his love for teaching, which he pursued directly after high school. He started teaching at Anderson County High School before finding his way back to teach at Karns High School. After a few seasons with the Karns Marching Band and Indoor Drumline, Tony dove into the country scene which he still plays today. Tony continues to play with musicians like Sara Collins and American Mixtape, and he runs a YouTube channel where he plays an eclectic mix of instruments.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Rookies Teacher Lila Satterfield
Lila Satterfield
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Rookies Teacher
Passionate about strings, chords, and the magic of music, Lila is an accomplished guitarist with a flair for teaching. For nearly a decade, she has played with a multitude of bands and in many venues both in Knoxville and around the Southeast!

Lila is a former student of School of Rock Knoxville and continued her musical journey at the University of Tennessee. She embodies a fusion of rock, jazz, R&B, and an eclectic array of guitar styles. Her knowledge of music theory combined with practical, hands-on experience has shaped her into a versatile and effective music instructor.
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

School of Rock has done wonders!

School of Rock has opened up an entire new dimension to my son's life. The teachers are top-notch, and the hardworking manager has gotten these kids playing onstage from zero stage experience to playing at major local venues.

We loved the rock camps!

Our kids had a fantastic time at rock camp this summer and we'll definitely be back. One week with no formal training and they were up on stage having a ball playing songs. Thanks so much.

The best way for young musicians to learn!

These kids are learning the music written by the greats that inspired today's greats! They learn hands-on with their peers in a fun way to not only learn to play, but learn to play with other musicians!

The kids have a great time while learning to play.

Lifelong skills and relationships are born here. The staff shares their passion for music and are very professional and accommodating. Wish I had this type of exposure to music when I was growing up!

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