The Pop Rocks Program is geared towards young, aspiring and beginning music students ages 5 to 7. During the 6-week program, Pop Rock students will explore music in a comfortable, non-intimidating, creative, and expressive social atmosphere centered around enjoying contemporary pop and rock music of the last 60 years.

The Young Rockers Program is our beginning rock band program geared towards aspiring and beginner music students ages 8 to 12. Young Rockers experience the RiverCity Rock Star Academy’s unique methods of combining weekly band rehearsals with a private lesson in an instrument of their choice — guitar, drums, bass, piano, and/or vocals. Students learn music fundamentals, theory, and techniques by focusing on chords, scales, notes, rhythm, riffs, rudiments, and more by learning songs that they know (or at least their parents do) in a fun, active and supportive environment. 

Our 2019 Winter Rockers Session will feature our popular mix-tape format that allows students and teachers to develop a diverse set list of songs that cover all flavors of rock and popular music such as classic, prog-rock, punk, indie, emo, grunge, post-punk, and much more. The 12-week Rockers Program is for teens ages 12-18 of all musical abilities (beginners, intermediates, & advanced) guitar, bass, piano, drums, and/or vocals. In addition to weekly rehearsals, Rocker students also receive a weekly 30-minute private lesson with our staff. Rockers will perform their songs at a preview show, as well as at the end of season show. We offer the most complete musical experience in Salem at the best value. Come rock with us!

Students in the Metal Mania class will learn and perform songs from all metal genres and will learn how to master the specific techniques commonly found in most types of metal music. With the help of professional instructors, they will assist the student with enhancing their skill level, knowledge, and aptitude for their given instrument(s) or voice in metal music. Open to intermediate and advanced students in guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. Metal Mania students will have the chance to learn and perform songs of some of the great metal bands from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s, including Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, System of a Down, Gojira, Mastodon, and many other heavy hitters of the metal world. Come rock with us! The program includes a weekly three-hour band rehearsal, a weekly 30-minute private lesson, a preview and season-ending show for family and friends at local music venues.

The RiverCity Renegade Program is for adults 21 years of age and older of all musical abilities from first-time beginners to advanced musicians looking to play in a band once again. This program is a performance program geared towards adults learning songs and performing as a group. Throughout the program, the group will learn to play, study and perform a wide range of genres and styles including Rock, Blues, Soul, Funk, Punk, Folk, and more. At the end of the 12-week program, the adult students will perform a set of music for their family and friends at a local venue. 

The Royal Rockers (Royals) Performance Group is an audition-only, skill and experience-based program for advanced students ages 14-20. Students of the Royals group will have a multitude of opportunities to perform at community and private events/parties, in addition to their performance showcases for family and friends. This program is designed to give students the experience of a real working band and further excel their confidence and passion for music.