School of Rock - Clark, New Jersey

Jared Friedman

Nothing but amazing things to say about this school of rock and the management team running it. My kid loves the private piano and singing lessons - Chris is patient, understanding and experienced with teaching kids the right way to learn music. Very lucky to have this in our area.

Keith Woodfin

Both my kids and I go to SoR Clark for lessons and group rehearsals. The excellent instructors and practice programs have brought my kid's musical abilities a long way. At age 13 my daughter is flying on challenging drum parts from artists like Motely Crue, Guns n Roses, Kiss, and Nirvana. My 11 year old son is playing keyboard solos on songs from Stevie Wonder, U2, Prince and others. Every season their bandmates and they work up to a live performance which keeps them motivated and is always a blast to watch. If you really want to be impressed, check out a performance form the SoR Clark House Band.

There's even a program for older guys and gals like me. I've been playing drums for over 30 years and took up bass and guitar at SoR when my children joined. It's been great to step out from behind the set and play regular live music with the other adults in the SoR program.

The staff and teachers are friendly, extremely talented and most of all patient! Joey, who runs the school, and Chris, the music director, are simply the best. Highly recommended!

Carlos Martinez

My Daughter has been going to School of Rock for Bass guitar and Vocals for going on 4 years now and she loves it. The staff and the shows are always great.

Gokul Kamath

Enrolled my daughter in the vocals and Rock 101 offered here. She is loving it and is also looking forward to explore different instruments.

Irakly Kam

As a fervent fan of the rock music genre, my excitement was palpable when I learned about the School of Rock. With its promise of nurturing the next generation of rock stars, I eagerly anticipated a vibrant atmosphere pulsating with the raw energy of budding musicians. Unfortunately, what awaited me was a dismal display of disorganization and lackluster instruction.

From the moment I entered the premises, chaos reigned supreme. The facilities were shabby and poorly maintained, with outdated equipment that seemed more fitting for a garage sale than a reputable music school. The staff appeared disinterested and overwhelmed, offering minimal guidance and displaying a conspicuous absence of passion for their craft.

The curriculum, if it could be called such, was a disjointed mishmash of irrelevant exercises and aimless jam sessions. Instead of fostering creativity and technical proficiency, the instructors seemed content to let students flounder aimlessly, devoid of meaningful direction or constructive feedback.

Moreover, the administrative incompetence of the School of Rock was truly astounding. Communication was virtually nonexistent, with schedules constantly in flux and important information routinely overlooked or disregarded. It became abundantly clear that the institution's priorities lay more in extracting tuition fees than in providing a valuable educational experience.

In conclusion, "School of Rock" fell far short of its lofty aspirations. Rather than igniting a passion for music and nurturing talent, it extinguished any flicker of inspiration with its apathetic approach and substandard facilities. Aspiring rock musicians would be wise to look elsewhere for their education and inspiration.

Vincent Cucci

My 11year old son went from not being able to hold drum sticks to performing at a local bar/restaurant with his group and, if I may say so myself, sounding great on the drums. His drum teacher Joey Cassata is AMAZING as a drummer, as a teacher and as a person. My son Nico loves School of Rock and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn an instrument. Can’t wait to see the next show.

Katie Wright

We love School of Rock, Clark! Our son is on the quiet side, but performing has given him so much confidence and it is truly amazing to see! The teachers and staff at School of Rock are so positive and encouraging - just the best!!

Roll Dice

My daughter has been with School of Rock Clark for about a year and a half now. She's 12 and has been doing the Performance Program. I'd like to share my experience with anyone who may be thinking of enrolling their child.

Amanda is the Manager. She is the face you see when you come in the door. I've never seen her without a warm genuine smile. She is kind and sweet but also thoroughly watchful over these kids. It's clear they trust and love her and mirror how she feels about them. She's amazing with the parents as well which is a huge plus. Any questions I've had have never gone unanswered. Any concerns were always addressed on the spot and always to satisfaction.

Alex is the Music Director. I've watched him take a group of kids, many who have never touched an instrument before, and turn them into a band. What that means to me is this - Many of these kids start the season as strangers to one another and end up as friends. There are so many backgrounds, so many personalities and different tastes in music - not to even mention age gaps! He puts them together and makes music - great music. He's firm and fair and the kids respect him and respond so well to him.

I have had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of the instructors. My daughter has had the pleasure of taking lessons from two of them. Mike and Josh are both talented musicians who share their time and knowledge with a new generation of budding musicians. (I'm certain that is true of all the instructors.) My daughter has learned a great deal from both of them and she looks forward to every lesson. I believe that's because they see an end result. It's not set up just to practice practice practice! The mindset is formed with a goal in mind. They know that there is a pending date at the end of every season when they get to work together with new friends and show it off! They get on a real stage in front of an actual audience and get to be Rock Stars! The instructors give them a wonderful foundation to start and continue.

The owner. I've also had the pleasure of meeting Art on several occasions in the 18 months my daughter has been there. I also find that remarkable. Although he has an incredible staff, he remains an integral part of the program. The kids in SoR know him and respect him. He has worked to offer them so much from discount concert tickets all the way up to clinics with world renowned artists (Zappa, Bumblefoot, Angus Clark)
Thank you, Art. You and yours are building something great!

Lastly, I just want to say that my daughter is thriving in this environment. Her confidence is soaring. She's with kids who enjoy so many of the same things as she does. She's made friends that I believe will be there a lifetime. She views SoR as a home away from home and the staff and students a part of her family.

I missed so much in this review, I'm sure. Go check them out and fill in the blanks yourself. You won't be disappointed.