UpStart Rock Program

Upstart Rock Program

Fuel Your Talents

The UpStartRock is geared for children who love rock n’ roll and can’t wait to see what it’s all about.

Keys to Life’s rock and roll program offers the following to students of all ages:

  • Practice with your peers and grow as a group

  • Play drums and/or sing in addition to playing your primary instrument

  • Participate in fun and exciting public performances

  • Learn about song arrangement and stagecraft

  • Delve into the mysteries of live sound, microphones, and amps

  • Learn and practice how to protect your hearing!

All UpStartRock students are required to take private lessons in their primary instrument in addition to being in the band.

USR 101: Ages 5-10, Rehearsals at our East side locations

USR 101 is suitable for kids who want something more than classical music and method books, want to play with their friends, or perhaps require extra motivation to practice. 

USR 101 introduces young children to all of the important aspects of music, including:

  • The intricacies of properly warming up 

  • Auditioning 

  • Learning by ear 

  • Playing to a common beat 

  • Helping one another

Under the guidance of their teacher, students choose the music and usually write one original song that they perform. The teacher arranges the songs to fit the skills and interests of the students, and they choose the name of the band by consensus. USR 101 performs twice a year at a show open to the public.

Requirements for the Program:

Past experience with music lessons: Previous experience will greatly assist students in their comprehension and technical ability. Students are also required to take private lessons and get additional help from their private teacher.

Practicing at home: All USR students are expected to practice their USR music at home as much as possible. For drum students who don’t have drum sets at home, “air drums” or a make-shift setup are perfectly acceptable for practice.

USR 202: Teen Takeovers: Ages 10-18, East Side Rehearsals

Every spring our motivated tweens and teens gather for four rehearsals to practice as an ensemble and put on an amazing show!

Some features of the show:

  • A unifying theme

  • A student M.C.

  • Student/Teacher combos

  • Original music by the students

  • Audience participation

  • Costumes, surprising instruments

  • Faculty Band performance

Preparing for the big day: Rehearsals begin with comprehensive warm ups that include:

  • Breathing exercises

  • Vocal warm-ups

  • Stretching

  • Moving to a beat and rhythmic exercises

Students then practice their songs with teachers and parent helpers in class rooms and on the main stage. Often, students, not just teachers, will listen to each other and give feedback. Practices last more than two hours. Students are responsible for their music, instruments, gear, and helping other students learn their parts.