School of Rock Chapel Hill starts the new year off with a blast

School of Rock is a music education program with franchises all over the world. It currently has over 350 schools and 62,000 students enrolled in the program. The school provides music lessons after school for all ages, but primarily kids and teens. The Chapel Hill franchise first opened in 2017.

The school focuses on performance-based music education, preparing students to be on stage and their future participation in bands. However, it also teaches students about confidence, teamwork, accountability and time management. 

Students take a weekly individual lesson on their instrument with an instructor and get into group settings to learn the dynamics of being in a band. Rock 101 is the beginner group with students ages 8 to 10 and Rock 201 is another beginner group with older students, from ages 11 to 13. More experienced students audition every summer for The House Band, a more exclusive class that focuses on live performance.  

“A lot of young people are going through things, figuring out who they are, figuring out where they stand on all kinds of topics," David Joseph, owner of the Chapel Hill franchise of School of Rock, said. "And, regardless of gender, race, pronouns, religious affiliation or lack thereof, if you love music, you're welcome at School of Rock." 

The House Band plays at various events, including the Carrboro Music Festival and Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival. Every year, they also go on a weeklong summer tour along the East Coast. 

On Sunday, School of Rock hosted their 2025 Blast-Off show to start off the year at Local 506.

Students in all three classes — Rock 101, Rock 201 and The House Band — performed at the 2025 Blast-Off. The House Band performed three sets, including music by Kings of Leon, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and more. 

The show gave the beginners an opportunity to get onstage and build their musical confidence. For some of the performers, it was their very first show. 

“We've, in the past, had a kid really almost in tears, 'I don't know if I can do it,'” Joseph said. “But then we encourage them, and I mean, we don't force anybody to do anything that they don't want to, but with encouragement, and we hope that they decide to get on stage, and every time they do, they come off the stage with a huge smile on their face.”

Students are constantly preparing for live shows, with rehearsals every week of the year for their various events, including the Blast-Off. 

Joseph said that the program provides a positive, fun and valuable experience for the kids. The growing, passionate community is dedicated to enriching their lives through performance-based music education.

“Music is my entire life," JJ Meacham-Helbert, a student in the performance program and The House Band, said. "If I didn't practice or learn music every single day, I don't know who I'd be."

Joshua Bosworth, a student in The House Band, said his favorite part of performing is being on stage with his friends.

"We look at each other for signals and cues, and the communication aspect of this is just really fun," he said. 

House Bands from the Chapel Hill branch and other branches of School of Rock will be performing again on Feb. 16, at the 6th Annual Cupid’s Jam at Cat’s Cradle to help provide food and education for families in Orange County. 

“Rock 'n' roll is free-spirited,” Joseph said. “It's live music, it's fun, it's loud, and people make mistakes. That's what happens in live music. But you learn what to do if you drop your guitar pick, or your drumstick breaks, or the mic cable drops out. You got to keep moving, and it's how you respond to adversity: that's one of the greatest lessons of playing live on stage."

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