S2 E9: Something About The School of Rock

This week Melissa is joined by Melanie and Patrick of School of Rock. They talk about the music programs they offer, their experiences at Abbey Road on the River, and watching the next generation of Beatle fans learn about the greatest band of all time.

Melanie tells us about how deep the love of the Beatles runs in her family. She talks of sharing this music with her sons and taking them to Beatles events as children. This led to her finding Abbey Road on the River and how our beloved festival became a tradition in her family. Eventually, they moved and opened a School of Rock in Louisville. 

Patrick shares with us what it is like working with the kids and what their experience is like as students. Students receive weekly lessons, while also having weekly practices as a group. They are able to grow as students and performers with parallel lessons and rehearsals. He tells us that the students usually have around a month to prepare for Abbey Road on the River. He also teases a bit of what he is working on for AROTR 2023, including a set that travels through the Beatles timeline which he calls an oral history of the Beatles. 

Both Melanie and Patrick share how Abbey Road on the River impacts the kids at School of Rock. As they say, the stage is the best teacher. AROTR gives these kids an excellent opportunity to play to large audiences in a festival setting. They are able to show their skills, learn by doing, and also learn by getting to observe the other talented musicians at AROTR. Fans and performers alike come together to share their love for the music. Older fans get to watch in real time as the next generation carries on the music that unites us all. 

The three discuss getting to watch the kids learn about the Beatles. Many kids have just one notion of the early sixties, Ed Sullivan Beatles. Patrick tells of the fun he has introducing the kids to the entire discography and being able to identify an individual student’s interest and then drawing a line from that interest to the influence of the Beatles. Melanie also tells us of a Beatles focused summer program that they offer. She describes it as an intensive, Beatles all day, five day event (that sounds familiar!)

We can’t wait to see the talented students perform at Abbey Road on the River in May! For more information on School of Rock’s programs and upcoming shows, visit their website here.


Don’t forget to follow Abbey Road on the River on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for up to date news about the festival and even more Beatles content!

Get your tickets here!!!

Additional Sources:

Raymond Jones Article

Cellarful of Noise- Brian Epstein










Producers: Gary Jacob, Melissa Brumm

Editor: Emily Clopton

Theme Music: King Mixer



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Melissa Brumm