School of Rock Cost
What's the typical price?
For guitar lessons at School of Rock, typical pricing runs between $150 to $350 per month. It can change depending on your location in the United States and the type of guitar lesson program you sign up for.
Parent article: Guitar Lessons 101
How much do guitar lessons cost at School of Rock locations? It's a bit difficult to get a "face value" answer for this, since the price varies depending on the location, similar to Guitar Center's lesson pricing. For this article, I'll give you a broad overview of the School of Rock cost, then hone in on some of the locations closer to where I live to get a more realistic and specific price tag.
First, the broad price range for School of Rock guitar lessons is extremely wide.
Typical School of Rock Cost for Guitar Lessons
Per their FAQ guitar page, School of Rock guitar lessons range from $150 to $350 per month, depending on the location.
This includes what's described as "weekly private lessons and group rehearsals." However, there's also language about private lessons that seem separate from the group versions.
If you break weekly lessons down and assume they each last one hour, here's how the pricing looks:
- LOW END: $37.50 an hour
- HIGH END: $87.50 an hour
It's unclear what determines the discrepancy in price from one location to another. My guess is that individual instructors rates (they're likely paying a certain amount of their fee to the School of Rock organization), local economy, and age of the student, all play a role in establishing cost.
Cheaper School of Rock Alternatives I Recommend
Is it worth the $50-$60 dollars an hour? It might be, but if you don't think so, here are a few online alternatives we recommend that are far cheaper.
PROGRAM | DETAILS | RATING | TRY |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Guitar Tricks
| 92.8 RATING Detail | |
 | JamPlay
| 88.7 RATING Detail | |
 | TrueFire
| 86.7 RATING Detail |
These are programs that I have personally used and tested, both in a student and teaching context. In terms of online guitar lessons, I recommend them without hesitation.
Please note, they are also our partners that help us keep Guitar Chalk running.
You can support us by checking out a free trial via the buttons in the above table or signing up for a membership.
Finding Specific Pricing for School of Rock Locations
To get a more accurate number, we need to narrow in on some physical School of Rock locations. Since I'm in Virginia, I went to the School of Rock locations page and found four places that were somewhat close to where I live:
Start by finding specific locations in your area. In my case, Haymarket Virginia was the closest.
As you can see from the screenshot, each location listed has a LOCAL SITE button next to the city name and address. This will take you to a locations page for that particular site, which has a good deal of information on it, but still nothing about specific pricing.
Plenty of information on the Haymarket School of Rock page, but still no price.
What you'll need to do is scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see a phone number and informational email address. I emailed that address and just said that I was interested in guitar lessons and wanted to know what they charged.
Scroll down to find the contact information for your local School of Rock.
After emailing three of these places I (disappointingly) only got one response. The response made a distinction between guitar lessons for adults and kids, as follows:
- Adult: $225 monthly for 45 minute lessons (one/week or four/month)
- Kids: Response stated "pricing varied" based on age and experience
This response was a little hard to understand and even a bit cryptic, so I'll try and unpack the details.
First, let's cover the obvious math.
At 45 minutes per lesson four times per month, that gets you 180 minutes or three hours per month (fifth weeks would be included without extra charge). Given the $225 monthly price, divide that number by three to get your hourly rate: $75
Now granted, this is just one example. However, it's consistent with the School of Rock cost estimation listed on the main page ($150 to $350). There's no way to deny that $75 an hour is extremely expensive for guitar lessons, especially given the digital options out there.
Given the $225 monthly price, divide that number by three to get your hourly rate: $75
I'm not saying it isn't worth it, because I know that School of Rock is a good program. But it's definitely on the higher-end of your pricing options.
Have you tried School of Rock lessons?
Again, this is not meant to comment on the value of School of Rock lessons or whether the pricing is justified.
Personally, I've never took lessons or taught at School of Rock, so I can't really speak to that.
However:
If you've taken lessons at School of Rock or served there as an instructor, we'd love to hear your two cents in the comments section below. Did you like it? Was it a good environment? Do you know what the typical guitar lesson cost was for your location?
Feel free to share your war story.
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Written by Bobby on Lessons and Reviews
Written by Bobby on Lessons and Reviews
I’m a casual reader but read all of the comments. Since the comments seem to be about price and not quality that’s what my comment will align with.
The instructor said he was paid 20/hr per 45 minutes and 30-40 for groups. Assuming that 30-40 is flat rate for the group and not per hour for the 2ish hour rehearsal/group time means the instructor alone gets about 55 dollars a week of the 75 weekly fee.
The other 20/week(or 80 a month) goes into the school. So the school gets less than the instructors. Which isn’t what it sounds like when we’re making this into a money wise/ who gets the better end of the stick schtick convo.
As others have said though – the overhead. You provided virtual options but virtual options do not provide the same offerings as in person and we all know that to be true. Also it seems we’re looking at individual vs school lessons which isn’t the same either. Additionally this for-profit program provides an actual music school. Any musician knows how valuable “studio time” is and that is most of their cost in their endeavors. So for 80 bucks a month you have access to a range of instruments, instructors and experience. Plus, you have peer to peer support which across all realms of success, mental health and growth is the most valuable for many minds. That 80/mo makes sure that lessons aren’t missed if the instructor is out, general business costs for building and employees, which any business owner knows is insane especially when your business involves children, and their connections which we always assume to be priceless (right, lol).
So less than a third of the profit goes to the school. Most goes right into the instructor.
If you’re interested in racing cars it would make more sense to pay the money for specialized racing school than to be told it makes more sense to just hire a local driving instructor whose full time job is teaching 15 year olds the difference between their left and right.
In conclusion, and because I’m forever a hipster, it’s about the experience. Of course a kid wants to jam at the school of rock. Sometimes you’re just pasting for the experience. Not everything has to be nickel and domed into whatever it’s fair to ask for payment for experience.
First, the pricing will definitely vary depending on where you live. Your numbers seem pretty accurate for where we are, in the seat of bucks county where it is not cheap to live. However, what you were getting For that weekly cost is much, much more than what you have described as just a weekly lesson. My son has been going to school of rock for five years. He’s always been very musical and has In one way or another been producing his own music since he was two years old, without exaggeration. So having a level of talent in the music department, will definitely benefit a child to get more out of the program. This may be where the “skill level” and cost comparison comes into play. If you have a low skill level you’ll most likely take 45 minutes a week, as your skills grow it will probably boost it up to an hour at a discounted price and include the performance program which is Basically at the cost of the show fee, Which tends to run About $100 a season. With this, they receive an additional two hours per week of immersed performance with the group/style of their choice that is offered that season. They offer several options so the kids are all broken up into different groups of which at the end of the season they have two final concerts typically all included in that price. This immersion process is worth the extra money. I can’t state it enough. For the right child of course. My son had never played drums before but wanted to play drums and I was looking for a place for him to go. There was a summer camp offered and at the last minute I requested him to join although he had no more than a few months of fourth grade drums. They listen to some of his music that he makes and they took him anyway into that camp. I knew he was having fun throughout the week. The camps immerse you Monday through Thursday typically from 10 to 3, were they just play the instruments. By the end of the week I was hoping that he would be able to struggle through the song at least that the other kids could show off their stuff. He was playing “hit the lights” by Metallica. I wish I could share the video with you through this message. When my eight-year-old was able to perform the song after having no previous experience on drums from just four days, I can’t tell you how blown away I was. At that point they offered him up a free month because they wanted him in the program. He now is an a very advanced drummer, plays bass, keyboards, is working on guitar now and singing. He produces his own music, and is involved in a few different bands. He produces the music of others as well. He has music published on Spotify and such. He has met several friends through the program and during these concerts they can all switch around and play different instruments. If someone is missing a kid who has never played the song before can step up and within a very short period of time is filling in and playing the song. My son as a freshman, is a jazz drummer for the high school jazz band. He is someone that his band teacher knows well just know his music no matter what. When he sat for an audition he showed advanced skills and theory that surprised his teacher. His teacher played a difficult jazz piece for him and then asked if he could play it, to which my son repeated what he had just heard minutes before. Yes it take some talent, and dedication from the child. Although my son loves music plays all the time I will not say he is a dedicated to practice student. But that is the glory of the performance program and lessons throughout the week (As you take more lessons you will receive deeper discounts) as they are always playing music and always exposed to it so it’s very difficult for them to get rusty. So in my honest opinion, although school of rock may be on the higher end of lessons what they offer is much greater than what we have experienced with lessons from any other source with our other children. If you want your kid to be able to pick up an instrument and play it which will keep them involved and wanting to learn to play that instrument school of rock is definitely the best choice. They teach through immersion, with the kids learning to play songs immediately that they want to play. It is a misconception that school of rock does not teach music theory, I have heard this from some people before, it is up to the parent and the student to choose the type of learning that they want. If a kid has no interest in music theory but wants to learn how to play the instrument the teacher will teach them how to play the instrument. But like my son, if they want to learn both they will teach them whatever they want to know. I apologize for any typos as I haphazardly voice texts from my phone. One more note, and no additional cost, they offer a house band for the kids as they get more advanced. This house band will travel to different venues and perform throughout the community. They also offer many opportunities for the kids to bring their own bands if they have them or want to form them with their peers at school, to perform at different places as opportunities arise. None of this cost extra money. SOR is very much a family. And to watch advanced students play in a show with students who may have special needs and watch that child shine because they are part of some thing, we’ll it’s pretty heartwarming.
Your cost assessment leaves out the weekly band rehearsal, which is about 2 or 3 hours. So my student gets a 45 minute private lesson, plus 2 to 3 hours a week in a band rehearsal. It is definitely a lot to swallow every month unless your kid is really into it. However, the band model does work well, and they seem to progress and engage and enjoy it more than private lessons without the social element. However, if that price isn’t enough, I’m also having to pay $100 a quarter for the end of the quarter concert. Ouch, I thought they’d throw that in but what am I going to say – “no son we can’t afford the performance fee”? Overall, SOR is probably a great way to go for a year or two but all the time hoping your kid gets in a band on his/her own so you can pull back to a private lesson somewhere that won’t set you back a car payment every month.
We just visited the SOR in Webster Texas today and before any discounts it’s $305 per month per child , for a total of $610 per month, for 1 lesson each per week plus 1 band practice a week. After a few discounts we were quoted it dropped to $540ish a month! If we just want lessons it’s $438 per month! This is for beginner lessons for a 10 yo & a 14 yo. I have no doubt the school may be worth it however these are monthly car payment prices and definitely walked away with sticker shock and two bummed out kids….the search continues.
Are you guys trying to find something for in-person lessons specifically, or was it the band practice/comradery that they’re looking for?
Of course, having lessons in a teacher’s living room is going to be a lot cheaper because there’s little overhead. A local SOR has to pay an initial franchisee fee, up front commercial rent, invest in remodeling the space, pay for local permits, advertise, hire, etc. It’s a scary amount of initial costs, and will take a lot of students and patience to make that money back. (For the record, I don’t own or work for one.) Keep rocking, everyone!
I am a guitar instructor at a Virginia area School of Rock. We are only paid about $20 an hour average; that means $20 per 45 min lesson and about $30-$40 per group class. My coworkers are talented gigging musicians, with many trained at music schools. It’s frankly suspicious as to why School of Rock is priced so high when their staff is paid so little.
Mark – thanks for sharing this insight. We would have had no way of telling what instructors are paid otherwise.
I usually do not participate comment chains, but I think need to make some clarifications on the instructor payment comment…
Here is the why instructors’ wages are around 20/h:
The school manages all instructors’ schedules, cancellations. and customer complains, school onboard instructors with extensive trainings, and overall, the school is a business that has to cover the cost of commercial rental, depending on your area, I am in Southern Carlifornia, the rental is about 11000/month, and the franchise fee, marketing cost, Payroll, Tax, and numerous cost just like any other business or schools out there have to cover.
Only thinking about 70/h lesson but instructors only get paid for 20/h may sounds unfair, it will be if that is the case that you have some one come to your house to teach you lessons. But it is not the case for School of Rock with Patented method of teaching, more than 300 schools across 15 countries. Again, its not just somewhere teaches guitar lessons…
Thanks for the insight, Maki. Well said.
You should write an article for us and make your case. 😉
I wonder how they come up with this pricing. The cost of living for your location is twice my area, yet I was quoted $300 per month!
Where are you located?
I hate to fuss about their program too much (I think what they’re doing is really good), but I will say it’s hard to tell exactly what you’re paying for, and the pricing seems kind of hit or miss.
I’m only interested in the adult program here and lets pretend there’s no virus now and they were open for business as usual. The School Of Rock website says 1 weekly lesson and 1 weekly group rehearsal. Say the actual lesson is 45 minutes. Is the rehearsal 45 minutes as well? Does the monthly price, whatever it is, say $225 at location X, does that also include the qty of (4) 1x a week 45 minute rehearsals ? What if you already knew how to play an instrument but never played in a band setting, would you be able to pay for and attend rehearsals only, just so you can get experience with playing in a band or would you have to attend lessons as well so that you were instructed what/how to play in the rehearsal part of it. Why is there no information out there about these details? The short of it is, I’m trying to find music lessons that are all about playing with others in a band setting right away so as to then finally have that experience to then go out and seek a band to try out for.
Ted – my guess is that the details exactly how this is handled would depend on the SOR location you’d be attending. I believe that $225 price DOES include the rehearsals, but I don’t know if you can do only the rehearsals without lessons. I also don’t know exactly how long those rehearsals are. Which SOR location are you closest to?
My son plays keyboard at SOR. We pay $240 a month for one 45 minute lesson a week and one 2 1/2 hour rehearsal. My son has been playing classical piano since he was 5 but never played rock or anything other than classical pieces with his past instructors. He loves playing with other kids (ages 11-18) in his band. The lessons explore music theory and how to talk music with band mates. It’s expensive (more than his travel soccer monthly fees) but I don’t know where else he could get this experience.
Thanks for sharing. I agree that the experience is unique, and could be worth the investment for some folks.