Shorewood
School of Rock

Explore School of Rock

Shorewood

Map
School of Rock Shorewood
4050 N Oakland Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 332-7625

Location Specifics

We're 1.5 blocks north of Oakland Ave. and Capital Dr.

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Hours
  • Monday: 2 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 2 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 2 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Thursday: 2 PM - 9 PM
  • Friday: 2 PM - 8 PM
  • Saturday: 11 AM - 3 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

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

School of Rock in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is proud to serve the Shorewood community—as well as surrounding areas like Whitefish Bay, Wauwatosa, and Glendale—with a revolutionary music education approach. Our quality music lessons are taught by real, practicing musicians and students can learn to rock out on guitar, keyboards, drums, and vocals, across many genres. Students can develop their skills in a supportive and encouraging environment, and gain confidence like true rock stars by jamming together in a band with friends. Our students perform at community-based events like Rootbeer Bash and Soulstice and regularly play at local venues like Cooperage, X-Ray Arcade, and Red Rock Saloon. Come join the band and visit School of Rock Shorewood today!

Programs we offer

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

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

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

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

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

School of Rock Shorewood'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 Shorewood 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 Milwaukee.

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 Shorewood 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 Milwaukee.

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

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

Kid learns to play guitar at School of Rock Milwaukee

Guitar Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids

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

Kids learn to drum at School of Rock Milwaukee

Drum Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Drum Lessons for Kids

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

Singing Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Singing Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Shorewood 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 Shorewood, 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 Shorewood 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 Shorewood, 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 Milwaukee.

Kid learns to play bass at School of Rock Milwaukee

Bass Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Bass Lessons for Kids

School of Rock Shorewood 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 Milwaukee 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 Shorewood, 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 Milwaukee 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 Shorewood, 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 Milwaukee

Keyboard Lessons for All Skill Levels

Beginner Keyboard Lessons for Kids

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

Ukulele Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher Morgan Evans
Morgan Evans
General Manager
Morgan Evans has been singing her whole life, originally inspired at a young age by talented singers in old Hollywood films. With an affinity for music from the 30s and 40s, she has special interest in female vocal harmonies. Over the past 20 years in her singing career Morgan has studied privately with both Helen Ceci and Robin Pleur. During that time she performed professionally as a solo vocalists in jazz, classical, and musical theater as well as with a 1940s USO female vocal trio. With a background in early childhood education, Morgan is well versed in working with and understanding the needs of aspiring vocalists. She believes singing allows one to connect more deeply with themselves, opening the path to their unique style and voice.

Morgan enjoys seeing singers come into themselves as they develop skills and gain confidence. She is excited to pair her passion for music with early childhood development, as the combination instills a profound appreciation for music and the performing arts. An early start is critical for setting up a healthy practice to maintain vocal integrity and longevity.

Morgan enjoys remaining versatile and has wide appreciation for all genres. She has developed a business in the greater Milwaukee area as a DJ who provides employment to women who are seeking jobs involved in the entertainment industry.

A valuable teacher and guide, Morgan has a commitment to seeing singers of all ages grow and become confident in their abilities and passions.
Studio Coordinator Lily Wenzel
Lily Wenzel
Assistant General Manager
Lily is a long time lover of the arts and grew up with a percussionist/music teacher dad who taught her and her sister from a young age to assemble and disassemble a drum kit, which his bandmates got a kick out of. Growing up in a family where music was so important, Lily has always had a unique taste, in that she’ll listen to pretty much anything- with artists ranging from her favorite band “Kings of Leon” to a newer find “Ripe.” Lily likes to spend some of her free time discovering new artists and creating playlists for various different moods and situations that she thinks need a soundtrack. Working with people and helping them discover their passion for music just like she has is what makes Lily so excited about being part of the School of Rock team.
Drum Teacher Peter Behlmer
Peter Behlmer
Drum Teacher
Peter Behlmer is a professional musician best known for his advanced drum set ability. His skills cover a wide variety of genres including, R&B, rock, metal, jazz, hip hop, neo-soul, and many more. Currently, he plays in numerous groups throughout the Milwaukee area such as, The Peter Behlmer Experience, Pocket Change, The Funk Club Wagon, The Sunkin' Suns, and Solar Plexus, to name a few. All of these groups keep him busy and active in the local scene - both playing live and in the studio. Peter began playing the drums during high school where he quickly began to receive accolades including, The Woody Herman Jazz Award and numerous A ratings at the WSMA solo and ensemble festival. After high school, he attended the Berklee College of Music and studied drum set performance for 4 years. While there, he studied under many world-renowned drummers including James Murphy, Dave DiCenso, Henrique de Almeida, Kim Plainfield, Casey Scheuerell, and many more. The skills he learned while at Berklee have helped him in his musicality and technicality on the drum set which have led to his success in the music scene. In addition to musicianship, Peter learned many teaching skills from the world’s best instructors. He uses those methods to create unique lesson plans for every student he meets. These methods create quick results and useful skills for musicians of all levels.
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Shayne Wessley
Shayne Wessley
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Shayne is a lifelong musician and audio engineer, with nearly a decade of experience in teaching guitar, bass, theory, and composition. He has a degree in Audio Engineering from Nashville’s School of Audio Engineering, and extensive studio experience ranging from Nashville’s Sound Stage Studios to his freelance recording work.

Apart from this, Shayne was the singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter of Nashville-based rock band The Founding Daddies, whom he performed and recorded with extensively between 2018 and 2020. He has also worked as a DJ
and stagehand. Now based in Milwaukee, Shayne is pursuing a handful of musical projects both as an artist and producer, while sharing his passion for music with his students at School of Rock Shorewood.
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher Rory Sterbenz
Rory Sterbenz
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Rory has been a part of the School of Rock community for almost a decade. Originally from the Chicagoland area, Rory learned guitar, vocals, piano, and a bit of bass during her time at School of Rock, and was a part of multiple bands. She has been able to use her skills to teach guitar privately and has now joined the School of Rock Shorewood team!

Rory is currently studying art education at University Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and is happy that she is still part of the School of Rock Community where she can give kids the same awesome experiences she had at School of Rock growing up.
Loren Wollerman Singing Teacher, Piano Teacher
Loren Wollerman
Vocal Teacher, Piano Teacher
Loren has gravitated towards music her entire life and loves having the privilege of passing her knowledge onto budding musicians and performers. Loren considers her most accomplished instrument her voice and has been singing and playing piano since the early age of 4 years old. She is self taught on guitar and therefore has developed a unique personal style of playing.
Throughout adolescence, she became involved in musical theatre, choir, and band, as well as becoming interested in songwriting. She pursued those interests through high school as well as becoming involved in State Solo and Ensemble receiving a starred first for a Vocal Solo.

Upon graduation Loren was honored with a vocal music scholarship and attended Viterbo University in LaCrosse, WI majoring in vocal music performance with a piano minor. While at Viterbo, she studied classical voice under Jean Saladino.
Loren moved to Madison, WI to pursue an Engineering and Music Production degree at MMI. During this time she got involved in a bigger more diverse music scene and started performing live with her band and gaining notoriety in the Madison music scene.
In 2007, she attended a songwriting festival in Sturgeon Bay, WI hosted by Pat Macdonald of the Grammy award winning band “Timbuk 3”.

It’s a week-long songwriting camp that takes place at Macdonald’s Holiday Music Motel which contains a recording studio.
Artists gather from around the world to play spin the bottle and group up in a collaborative songwriting effort. All songs being written, recorded, and performed at the end of the week for a 2 night show. While attending the festival in 2008, Loren and her band caught the ear of Jane Wiedlin of the legendary girl band the Go-Go’s. Wiedlin relocated to Madison for a stint and started performing as Lady Robotica with Loren’s band being her back up band. Jane also produced and performed back up vocals on Loren’s first original album.

After relocating to the Milwaukee area Loren began teaching private vocal and piano lessons. During that time she has coached multiple students through state solo & ensemble competitions, auditions, and students of all skill levels, emphasizing healthy vocal production. Today, she can be found performing with her original rock band Moon Rebels in and around the Milwaukee area.
Erik Stolpe Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Erik Stolpe
Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Erik's love for music began early on as a child in New Jersey. After a few years picking up basic keyboard by ear, he enrolled in piano lessons and joined his school concert band as a woodwind player. It wasn’t until he first moved to Milwaukee as a young teenager that he found the guitar, began playing in rock bands with classmates and wrote some of his first songs. At age 15, Erik moved to Dallas, Texas and met a number of friends who became lifelong musical companions. His resume as a performer includes everything from traditional church music to progressive metal. In 2016, he found a home at the Dallas School of Rock and is happy to have joined the Shorewood team after moving back to Milwaukee to be closer to his family. He continues to write and record music and lives to share the love of music with others.
Drum Teacher Michael Sulcer
Michael Sulcer
Drum Teacher
Michael Sulcer is a professional drummer and drum and percussion instructor, with over 22 years of experience. Throughout his career, he has played for entertainers such as smooth jazz artists Mark Allen Felton and Mike Philips, MCA R&B artists K-Ci & JoJo and Lauryn Hill, jazz artists Diane Schurr and Nell Carter, and the Ray Charles orchestra to name a few.

Michael matriculated from California State University Long Beach, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance and jazz studies concentration. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts – Africana Studies, History of African American Music. Michael studied drum performance under the mentorship of Billy Moore at the Billy Moore Studio of Percussion in Los Angeles for ten years.

Michael is a respected drum instructor. He has over a decade of experience teaching drums and music theory in elementary, middle, and high schools. Michael also provides private drum instruction. His curriculum is rooted in teaching basic drum set and percussion fundamentals while incorporating all music genres. He also teaches big band jazz reading, jazz improvisation, Latin jazz, R&B, smooth jazz, blues, and rock.
Drum Teacher Michael Koch
Michael Koch
Drum Teacher
Michael has been drumming in bands and performing in public for years in Wisconsin. Almost all of his bands have been original projects, although he recently auditioned for the drumming throne with Road Crew (a modern-country cover band) and got the gig! Road Crew performs regularly in southeastern Wisconsin.

Several of his original local bands have released recordings including Dorian Gray, Your Indentured Servants, and Luminol, among others. Michael is especially proud of The Mike Benign Compulsion with their five full-length albums. He was also the drummer in Eric Blowtorch and The Inflammables; the band released Quality Items in 2020, which is probably the first triple vinyl LP ever released by a Milwaukee band.

With Pam Pam Club, Michael also recorded a CD in Düsseldorf, Germany, where he worked for seven years. He has performed with groups on stages in London, Switzerland, and many cities in Germany. He is one of the German instructors at Marquette University, having earned his Ph.D. at Northwestern University, and he is certified as a translator.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher Noah Bayer
Noah Bayer
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Noah Bayer has been a multi-instrumentalist musician since the age of 5 when he first started taking piano lessons. He studied with Margaret Otwell and Lou Cucunato throughout schooling, where he was classically trained and then developed an affinity for writing rock and jazz music. Noah won state at the Wisconsin Young Composer's Competition twice during elementary school. He participated in the State Honors Choir for two years in high school and participated in jazz band, choirs, and percussion ensemble. He taught himself guitar and bass, and he took vocal lessons throughout high school and college.

Recently, Noah began playing as a multi-instrumentalist (mainly keys, bass, and guitar) for the Ridge Community Church, and he plays in multiple local and touring Milwaukee-based bands. He has released two albums and an EP of his own music and has been a contributor to three other albums/EPs of Milwaukee musicians, with more on the way every year.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher Hunter LoBianco
Hunter LoBianco
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Hunter “LoBi” LoBianco is a multi-instrumentalist musician and educator with a vast knowledge of the guitar, bass, drums, vocal performance, and keyboards. Hunter has over 8 years of real-world experience working as a full-time nationally touring musician, performing on stages across the country and around the world.

Hunter prides himself on his ability to connect with pupils through the common language of music, allowing the teaching technique to adjust to each student's learning style.
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 Works!

My kids are having fun, making friends and working as a team. They've been practicing and getting better. Their confidence has grown considerably and our whole family enjoys the experience.

Professional and Knowledgeable Instructors.

They are so passionate about teaching kids music.

I love everything about School of Rock.

I like the availability of adult lessons. However, I especially like what is done with the kids. They are amazing performers!

Lessons really work for my son.

My son LOVES his guitar lessons! They listen to his questions, apply lessons to his concerns and challenge him.

The staff and instructors have nothing but love for the students.

Love everyone and everything about School of Rock Shorewood! The staff and instructors have nothing but love for the students and their personal goals - whether musical or not. Fantastic program and definitely worth checking out for yourself.

My four-year-old son enjoys his lessons.

My son has really taken to his lessons! He is only four years old, but has really enjoyed taking lessons and learning about the guitar! We love School of Rock.

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