Jan 30, 2019 | Franchise News
School of Rock has had a tremendous year so far, and 2019 looks just as promising.
The music franchise, which focuses on performance-based music education, averages about 20 new schools per year. In 2018, it opened 21 units.
“If you look at our development this year we have been growing in a combo of existing and new markets and part of that reason is about a third of our development has been with existing franchisees who are looking to expand,” School of Rock Chief Development Officer Tony Padulo said.
The brand has “very aggressive” plans for both national and international growth over the next year, according to Padulo.
Domestically, the brand plans to have 50 new units either open or in the development phase over the next 18-24 months. On the international side, School of Rock is targeting to open in one to two new countries this year, followed by another two in 2020.
Markets in which School of Rock already has a presence and in which additional locations are currently scheduled to open include Pasadena, California, North Providence, Rhode Island, North Miami, Florida, Boston and Round Rock, Texas.
New markets in which a School of Rock location either recently opened or will open soon include Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, New Braunfels, Texas, Louisville, Kentucky, White Plains, New York, Hoboken, New Jersey and Greenwich, Connecticut. School of Rock also opened in New Orleans earlier this year.
“Those are all new markets that we’re really excited about,” Padulo said.
School of Rock has some very specific target market goals for 2019. The company is specifically targeting the New York metropolitan area and wants to open more schools in Brooklyn. One School of Rock location in development will be in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg. San Francisco is also a key target market.
“Boston is a key target market for us next year as well,” Padulo said.
On the international side, School of Rock opened for the first time in Lima, Peru, where it’s doing “extremely well,” according to Padulo. The brand has six units in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and, in August, a School of Rock center opened in Rio de Janeiro. By the end of 2019, School of Rock will have three more schools in Brazil and an additional location in Chile.
While School of Rock would love to break into a few specific markets, it still wants to expand everywhere.
“We still have lots of room to grow,” Padulo said. “We feel there’s an urgent need for growth. It’s not market-specific because I think our market transcends any market where there’s a love of music and rock and roll specifically.”
School of Rock also developed major partnerships in 2018 that will help pave the way for a successful road ahead. Padulo said the brand is focused on “truly becoming the most influential community of music creators in the world,” and these partnerships will help the company meet that goal.
“We’ve entered into an agreement with a company called Hal Leonard, which is probably the largest publisher of music in the world. Our worldwide agreement allows our franchisees to record music and use it for their personal websites and have the rights to show the videos,” Padulo said. “Because of sync rights you typically can’t do that, but we’ve negotiated the professional rights for about 40 songs we can do. We’ve also just entered a partnership with APG (Artist Publishing Group), which represents some of the biggest artists in the world, and they are now looking to School of Rock for recruitment purposes. School of Rock is where the next generation of rock stars is coming from, and these initiatives we’ve started over the past year will help.”
Such partnerships, he said, help make the School of Rock concept an exciting and dynamic one and build a strong foundation for it moving forward.
On average, a School of Rock franchise hires 15 to 20 employees. Typically, there is a general manager, a music director, a studio coordinator and music instructors.
Padulo described the ideal School of Rock franchisee as someone who has a passion for working with children. While School of Rock has adult programs, the majority of the business is focused on its younger students.
Of course, a School of Rock franchisee must also have a passion for music.
“Those to me are the two most important parts,” Padulo said.
Franchisees must also possess the more straightforward basics, including financial capabilities and business acumen. If they have not previously operated a business, they should at least have management experience.
“This is a people business,” Padulo said. “Managing staff and having good communication skills – those are really the key.”
Padulo loves the School of Rock brand, and he’s thrilled about the success it’s had over the past year, as well as what the future has in store.
“The things that have been happening this year have been incredible new initiatives,” he said. “We have new programs, new relationships and partnerships with third parties. This gives additional visibility and clout to the brand. The results we’ve seen over the last 18 months have truly been very exciting. The new school openings we’ve had have been among the strongest openings in our history. It’s all very exciting.”
School of Rock currently has more than 220 locations operating. The startup costs of a School of Rock franchise range from $136,850 to $339,100. The franchise fee is $49,500. To learn more about owning a School of Rock franchise, visit https://franchising.schoolofrock.com/.
Oct 3, 2018 | Featured, Franchise News
School of Rock’s presence in California is extensive. With 23 current units open, we are continuing to grow in the state. 1851franchise, a leader in franchise information, has written a piece about the expansion being planned by our Southern California franchisee Chris Czaja. Read more about Czaja’s plans to add to School of Rock’s California presence here.
Oct 3, 2018 | Franchise News
School of Rock Lima’s staff pose at their grand opening.
School of Rock is truly global!
School of Rock Lima just celebrated their grand opening. The school is our first in Peru and one of many locations developed to enrich kids and adults’ lives through music in South America. One of its owners is Jorge “Pelo” Madueño of legendary Peruvian rock band Narcosis, who took to the stage to play for everyone at the grand opening. We can’t wait to watch this new school develop!
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School of Rock Lima’s storefront is beautiful.
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A map of School of Rock’s franchises worldwide was front and center.
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The community gathered for the School of Rock Lima grand opening.
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School of Rock Lima’s owners pose with Justin Nihiser, VP of International Operations and Franchise Development.
Sep 7, 2018 | Franchise News
When it comes to classic rock, few bands have made a larger impact on rock music and pop culture than Queen. This fall, School of Rock, the leader of performance-based music education, is celebrating that legacy by showcasing the new Queen biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” in theatres November 2, 2018. The music education franchise and Twentieth Century Fox Film will team up in a variety of co-marketing programs, including PR events, in-school curriculum, promotions and sweepstakes.
On September 5, Freddie Mercury’s birthday, School of Rock is teaming up with Twentieth Century Fox Film to put on a once-in-a-lifetime press day where entertainment writers will interview the cast of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and also be invited to learn and play iconic Queen songs, taught by School of Rock staff and students. This press experience will allow writers to experience the thrill of performing Queen’s classic songs before enjoying the band’s live performance at their Las Vegas residency show later that evening.
School of Rock will also incorporate Queen songs into its current curriculum across its more than 210 schools. Students will learn traditional music concepts through the performance of Queen hits such as “We Are The Champions,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and more.
“It’s a natural fit for School of Rock to partner with Bohemian Rhapsody,” says Rob Price, CEO of School of Rock. “Our revolutionary curriculum is designed to reinvent music lessons through learning and performing classic rock. Through School of Rock’s collaboration with this film we know the next generation of rock musicians will have a greater appreciation for the legacy of Queen’s music.”
Select School of Rock locations will even be invited to private screenings of the film to celebrate the release.
This partnership will allow School of Rock students to become more familiar with Queen’s iconic music catalog while School of Rock staff guide them through the complex, inspiring songs the British band has made rock staples.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” comes to theaters on November 2nd.
Aug 21, 2018 | Featured, Franchise News
School of Rock is expanding internationallySchool of Rock’s international presence has increased significantly over the last few years and is only growing stronger. 1851Franchise, a premiere source for franchising news and upcoming franchise profiles, highlighted School of Rock’s international expansion. Recently a school opened in Lima, Peru, which is a great launch point for the continuation of the company’s presence worldwide. Read about our international growth here.
Aug 8, 2018 | Franchise News
School of Rock’s music education in action
School of Rock has consistently been named to the top of industry best lists for our performance-based music education and our success in the franchising world. Global Franchise Magazine has recognized this and published a fantastic franchise profile, breaking down all the reasons why School of Rock stands out. Click here to read about the benefits available to new franchisees and what opening a School of Rock can do for you and your community.
Jun 22, 2018 | Franchise News
School of Rock’s success as a franchise is only bolstered by our talented students.
The annual Forbes “America’s Best and Worst Franchises to Buy” list was released on June 1st and School of Rock has been selected as the second best within their investment level. This is a massive honor for the company, who pride themselves on being a truly unique franchising opportunity for investors. They outranked heavy-hitters such as Domino’s and Jimmy John’s and are the only musical franchise on the Best list. This recognition from Forbes goes to show that the School of Rock franchising model is not only effective but exceptional in its field. Coming in at number two is a high accolade that the company is tremendously excited about and sets an excellent precedent for the rest of their 2018 franchising endeavors.
Feb 18, 2018 | Featured
School of Rock franchisee review: Steve McFarland, Carmel, IN
Indiana consultant unexpectedly finds his passion while flipping through a magazine
It had never entered Steve McFarland’s mind to go into franchising. As a successful consultant, McFarland wasn’t even looking for another business. But when he happened across an ad for a School of Rock franchise in Inc. magazine, he just thought: “Cool.” Five years later, he and his daughter and General Manager, Elyse Causey, run one school in Carmel, IN, and another in Fishers, IN. “I thought it was a great idea that I wished had been around when I was young because I would have loved it,” says McFarland, who admits he has zero musical background. Like so many of us, though, McFarland has always loved music. And as a savvy businessman, he saw School of Rock as a great investment. Read more about his journey in this School of Rock franchisee review:
School of Rock franchisee, Steve McFarland had his daughter and GM, Elyse.
What drew you to School of Rock?
It was totally out of the blue. I didn’t really have an interest in being part of a franchise. I saw this ad in Inc. magazine and I just thought it was a cool idea. I got in touch, we met with the executives and other franchise owners. Ultimately, I bought a School of Rock because of the impact we have on these kids’ lives. We just had our five-year anniversary in Carmel, and we just opened the Fishers location in 2016. It’s still growing, and we’ll be looking for other opportunities with School of Rock as well.
What’s your musical background?
None. Unless you count air guitar. I grew up with classic rock ‘n’ roll. My profile says I played with Van Halen, KISS, Aerosmith and Rush. I’ve been playing air guitar.
So why did this brand resonate so much?
What we’re focused on is the mission of School of Rock, which is inspiring kids to rock on stage and in life. We live that pretty seriously. Whenever I get together with people running my schools or get together with my teachers, we always start by asking ourselves how we are inspiring the kids. Are the kids leaving inspired to learn more, practice more and play other genres? Most of the kids who come to School of Rock are just drifting through school, they’re not plugged in anywhere. Their parents are frustrated. They’ve tried band, they’ve tried soccer — nothing sticks. They feel like failures. They send their kids to School of Rock and now they’re plugged in, they’ve got a network of friends, they’ve got mentors in our teachers, they’re performing on stage, they’re confident. Their parents are over the moon.
One mom came up to me and said, “I don’t think my daughter could have made it through another year of high school without School of Rock.” She didn’t have any friends and she just wasn’t plugged in. There were tears in this woman’s eyes. Now her daughter is confident and she has friends and she is plugged in. She’s found her passion.
How does School of Rock help you build a better business?
One way they help is through the marketing program and getting leads as people are looking for a place to go. The second is our annual franchise convention. The biggest value you get from being a part of a system like the School of Rock franchise is connecting with other franchise owners and seeing what they do and how they do it. It may not exactly fit for us, because Indiana is a little different from Seattle or New York or Nashville. It’s not a Subway where you make a chicken sandwich the same way at every place. The kids are different, the schools are different. There is some formula to what they do, but there’s a lot of latitude.
What’s your process for hiring the right kind of instructors?
We do an initial phone interview. We have them come to the school while show rehearsals are going on, and we see how they react in our space. It’s high energy. Awesome. Incredible. If they don’t have a reaction, we don’t go any further. If they don’t say, “Wow, I loved that those kids are awesome,” then they’re not right for us. I want their energy and love for music to be contagious. That’s what I’m looking for; that’s what our kids are looking for. They want to learn from a touring musician who loves music like they do. You can’t get that on YouTube.
I love the fact that we have creative people and you can be part of a franchise that allows you to be entrepreneurial and creative at the same time.
What makes School of Rock unique?
Here’s an example. We now do Demo Days, an idea we “stole” from another franchisee. We had one last Saturday and 17 people showed up. We signed up 10 of them. Why it works is we advertise — bring your kid in and in 10 minutes we’ll have them playing in a band. We give them a quick lesson on an AC/DC song like TNT, which is just three simple chords. The parents cannot believe it. They’ve got their phones are out, their jaws are open, they’re watching this 11-year-old who’s never played guitar performing a song with a group of kids.
We give them the real band experience, playing on stage. When we can take beginners and do that, it’s an incredible marketing tool. We’ve done three Demo Days. We signed up eight at the first one, four at the second and 10 at our last one. That’s 22 kids in nine total hours.
Who is your competition?
Our competition is not other music schools. Somebody who’s not into what we’re doing, I’ll send them down the street to one of those more traditional schools. I refer them all the time, if that’s what someone wants to do. If they want to never have to tell their kid to practice ever again, they come to School of Rock.
We compete with football and marching band and drama. And everything else the parents want their kids to get involved in.
Students at the Carmel, IN, School of Rock perform
What do you like most about being involved in a music-related franchise?
The music’s awesome; these kids are freaking good. The bigger thing is when you look around the room and you see the parents and relatives and friends beaming and crazy at one of our shows. A standing ovation is not uncommon. That’s how I know we’re having a good show. They’re hanging around other parents who are showing them, “Here’s my son playing at the RCA Dome (former home of the Indianapolis Colts) and here’s my daughter at the state championship.” Now they have their own brag book. Here’s their kid playing Pink Floyd’s The Wall at the Deluxe Room at Old National Centre (a live music venue in Indianapolis).
Since you’ve kept your day job and your daughter is handling the day-to-day as General Manager, how much time do you spend in the businesses?
I’m at both schools at least one day a week. We have a leadership team meeting where we talk about what’s going on that week, and once a month I get together and do a strategic meeting. I also have a meeting with the teachers once a season, and I personally interview every teacher. That teacher is my brand; they’ve got to get it right.
How many teachers do you have?
About 20 to 22 in Carmel, and 10 to 12 in Fishers. Carmel has about 180 students right now, and Fishers has almost 100 students. We’re not open on Fridays and Sundays, so we still have some opportunities to grow.
What has been your School of Rock ownership experience?
I think the way School of Rock is set up today, there’s a loose foundation around what we do. There’s a structure but also lots of flexibility to do what works for your market and your school. That allows you to have more of an entrepreneurial spirit with what you do. You can talk to some other owners and try some the things they’re doing and see what works.
The best idea is sometimes a stolen idea. We do not have to invent everything ourselves. You have room to be creative. The leadership is there to help you.
I heard from an owner who had owned other franchises. He was expecting a big three-ring binder with everything he needed to do — why, when, what songs to pick, how to book a venue. He was expecting a full formula. He got a structure, but not an exact formula. I wouldn’t want that.
To learn more
You can read more franchisee reviews on our blog, and you can also explore information about our franchise in our research pages. To start a conversation, please fill out the form below and one of our franchise development representatives will be in touch with you quickly.
Oct 26, 2017 | Explore the Business Model
Our trailblazing learning franchise is changing the way people think about teaching music to children
School of Rock, the 20-year-old learning franchise that teaches music to kids by focusing on fun and performance, has been recognized as one of the Top 20 Education Franchises by Small Business Trends.
We are often recognized by trade publications and industry experts for our pioneering work in the field of music education for children. For instance, we’ve been named to Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious Franchise 500 rankings for several years in a row and were the No. 1 Child Enrichment Franchise for 2017. We have more than 190 rock schools in nine countries, and we continue to be the largest music school franchise in the country.
We make kids feel like rock stars, but at heart we’re a learning franchise that teaches music in a way that instills children with confidence.
“We are very proud that our dedication and continued success in the children’s music education business are so consistently recognized by people who follow our industry,” says President and CEO Rob Price. “School of Rock has been around for nearly 20 years, and that’s because our performance-based model of music instruction is effective.”
Our students perform about 4,000 live shows a year, and they are as thrilled to be on stage playing classic rock songs as their parents are to see them apply what they’ve learned so quickly.
Why franchisees love us
Phil Christie, a singer-songwriter for most of his life, remembers when he first discovered School of Rock in 2013 when the franchise opportunity was featured on CNN. Something clicked for him.
“If I was going to open up my own business, I wanted it to be something that I could truly be passionate about, and taking on something where you’re literally changing the life of a child is frankly a huge honor,” says Christie, who today owns the School of Rock in Woodland Hills, CA. “To get to wake up every day and own a business that offers that is enormously fulfilling.”
School of Rock is very distinct from traditional music lesson providers and other music education franchises. “You can recognize our brand the minute you walk into one of our schools,” says Price. “It’s about setting up the tone of mastery and excellence and tolerance and inclusiveness.”
If you’ve got a passion for music and a passion for helping to improve kids’ lives, School of Rock may be the right franchise for you.
Price says he and his team are emphatic about the rock school’s approach to music, and franchisees agree. That philosophical buy-in is important. “If you teach music, you believe in your method and you hope to educate as many kids as possible with that approach because you passionately believe that’s the right approach. That’s where we are at School of Rock, and we’re looking for franchisees who feel the same way.”
To learn more
If you’ve been exploring the idea of owning a learning franchise for kids and you’re passionate about music, we’d love to talk to you. You can also discover more information about our franchise in our research pages. To start a conversation, please fill out the form on this page, and one of our franchise development representatives will be in touch with you quickly.
Aug 13, 2017 | Featured
Rock and roll is supposed to be fun. School of Rock encourages our students to let loose and have a good time on stage.
My daughter looks forward to coming to every class! It’s the only thing she will not miss unless she’s ill! The fact that they get to learn every instrument and be with other children in their age range is just such an amazing opportunity for their self-confidence, which is key! My daughter just went on the stage and sang with her band, and she did an amazing show! She has just grown so much since starting this amazing program!
— Bonnie Saavedra, parent, Huntington Beach, CA
I like how you get the kids playing songs right away. I hated music lessons as a child because of the boring way they taught it. So I guess it all boils down to it being FUN!
— Valerie Picchi, parent, Geneva, IL
Students at School of Rock are taught to play a song before they learn to read music.
Every person at School of Rock is a motivating and positive influence on my kids! From the lessons and performances and interaction with other talented youth, it has been a very rewarding experience for our family.
— Karen Farrell, parent, San Diego
The lessons are made to be fun, to allow the kids to play music before becoming too academic as traditional music schools do. As in life, we learn to speak before reading and writing. School of Rock gets you to speak music before having to read and write music.
— Maurice Brisebois, parent, Winnipeg, Canada
I love watching my son learn to play, but more than anything, I love watching him LOVE what he is doing! He loves to sing rock songs and loves playing them, too. He has only done it for 7 months now, but he is hooked. It is so fun to see his confidence grow each time he gets up on stage to perform. It is building his confidence and self-esteem so much. I am so thankful to all of the great teachers there who have made a difference for my son.
— Christen Garb, parent, San Francisco
We have tried other music programs and this was the first where Jake has progressed and done so well. The instructors are top notch and really care about the students. This is a rare and awesome thing. I could not say better things about Mike and his team!!!
— Zoraida Walker, parent, Brooklyn, NY
Amazing group of talented instructors! Those rehearsals are the most fun I have all week, hands down! Great community of people coming together to play music and have fun. I could not be happier with my experience at School of Rock!
— John Welch, adult client, Fairfield, CA
Everyone at School of Rock is invested in teaching kids that learning to be a musician can be a blast.
My daughter has a place where she belongs and flourishes. School of Rock has helped her grow and is like family. We love it. Thanks, School of Rock!
— Crystal Marquez, parent, Lubbock, TX
Well-run and fun program for all ages. We are now able to live out our dreams of being rock stars!
— Al Abolhassani, parent, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
The teachers get my kids. They know their strengths and their foibles. And they always treat our kids’ growth as students like they are in it for the long haul as much as we are!
— Amber Dorko, parent, Philadelphia
School of Rock empowers kids to be the best musicians and performers they can be. It provides a fantastic, supportive environment that can literally change your kid’s life. If your child is interested in music and music performance, School of Rock is the best place to start that journey, and they will love every minute of it!
— Laura Goldstein, parent, Eden Prairie, MN
Learn more
While these School of Rock customer reviews don’t tell the whole story, they are representative of our client feedback systemwide. You can learn more about School of Rock franchise opportunities by exploring our research pages. You can also fill out the form on this page to download our free Franchise Report and start a conversation with one of our franchise development representatives.
