Advanced Rock Out
2025 - 2026 Invitation Information

Advanced Rock Out is exactly what it sounds like, an advanced version of our wildly popular Rock Out program. ADV rockers form bands that meet once per week for the school year, and these bands, or variations of these bands, often last for 3 - 5 years. The involved rockers make dramatic progress with their playing, further develop and push their artistic, social, and public speaking skills, and the bonds that are made between band members in these projects are deep and lasting — not to mention the many friendships that develop between ADV parents.

ADV rockers and RBL Supergroupers (our highest level bands / players), who are at least 14 years old, become first candidates for RBL's CIT program in the summer and many of these rockers have become RBL staff. Basically our ADV and Supergroup rockers become the leaders at RBL, setting the tone and sharing RBL culture from which other younger / newer rockers will learn and grow.

Expectations
ADV rockers are expected to have a main instrument, to take lessons (don’t stress on this yet if your rocker is not currently taking lessons), to be studying and practicing on their own outside of class (yes, YouTube is a valuable learning tool in this capacity), and to make their attendance at band practice a priority in their schedule. ADV bands will write original songs and stories, they'll learn classic RBL songs, they'll have art projects as desired, they'll be included in RBL video projects from time to time, they record their songs, and they will have guaranteed spots at our RBL Holiday Show, RBL Facemelter shows, spring ADV RO showcase, as well as others show opportunities as they arise.  

Our ADV bands are truly special. Joining one is a unique opportunity that is only offered to a handful of young rockers each year. We'd be honored to have your donkeys with us. 

Below is a Basic ADV FAQ. After you read the info below, please talk with your rocker, share this invitation with them, and then kindly connect with Brian with their questions and / or decision.

ADV RO FAQ:

What is the age group for ADV rockers?
9 - 14 years old. All ADV bands are a mix of age, gender, and ability.

How many ADV bands will there be this school year?
There will 4-6 bands this school year depending on the number rockers. Each ADV RO class time hosts two bands simulataneously.

When will ADV RO meet?
Currently the Friday bands meet from 4:30 - 6:30 & Saturday bands from 9:00 - 11:00. With enough interest we will be adding a Wednesday 4:30 - 6:30 class as well.

How will the members of each band be decided?
Once the day and time preferences are established per rocker and the instrument slots filled, I will confirm each rocker’s spot per rehearsal meeting day / time. When we start in September, all rockers will be mixed into various groups so that we can see how certain personalities and talents work together. From there we will build out what will become the final band lineups - this generally takes about 3-4 weeks and the final bands will be established by mid-October.  

There are many factors that could impact a band's membership including: age, ability on an instrument, years with RBL, behavior, friend groups, rivalries, siblings, parent relationships, developmental issues, the number of instruments already in a given band, level of interest, attitude, etc… 

Is there a difference between the bands / days / or meeting times?
Not really. All the bands will be awesome. However, as they come together each will develop their own particular band dynamic. 

How are the rehearsals structured?
Each rehearsal is 2 hours long. The first 20 minutes are usually spent connecting socially, clowning, goofing off, and relaying any important info. The rockers will have 90 minutes of focused, project-based creation, and the last 5-7 min are usually spent wrapping up, sharing notes for the next meeting, and putting the castle back together after the bands have destroyed it. 

How many rockers will be in each band?
RBL is odd by design. In the rock world, a band with more than 5 members is considered a large band. Our ADV RO bands can be as big as 18 rockers, and are more like rock and roll orchestras. Most of our ADV bands start at around 15-16 rockers. The die-hard rockers go the farthest and end up on the RBL Supergroup track.

How many rockers per instrument group will be in each band?
It depends who is interested and what instrument they play. All instrmument sections will have multiple players so that the rockers can learn together, push one another, learn other’s styles, and make friends.

Reliably drums are THE most popular instrument and we can have up to 5 drummers in a band. It's not ideal for gigging, but it's so fun. It offers unique opportunities for polyrhythms, and when our drummers come together they never fail to impress. 

We tend to cap keyboards at 4 per band, guitarists at 3 per band, bassists at 2 per band, and we can have singers for days. 

You mentioned RBL Supergroups above, what are those and is my rocker a candidate for those projects?
RBL Supergroups are bands that meet 2xs a week. These are for our die-hard, lifer rockers, who have shown an undeniable commitment to their instrument and to RBL. Because they meet more frequently, and because these rockers commit to RBL above other activities, these bands make remarkable progress, they are incredibly prolific, and they become as legit as any working adult band - often significantly better than many working adult bands. 

Here is an example of one of our most senior Supergroups, CHILD.

ADV RO is the step before Supergroup. Once your rockers prove themselves in this capacity they can be considered for a Supergroup in the future. 

How much is ADV RO? 
For the 2025-2026 school year ADV RO is $360 per month (plus merchant fees) with September - May payments.

Yes, we offer sibling discounts. 10% if a sibling is in our lower level classes, and 30% for siblings in ADV RO / RBL Supergroups.

No, we don't have an official financial aid program, but obviously if your rocker is on this list we care about them and we do our best to help where we can. 

How will payment be handled?
ADV RO payments are done via a monthly auto-payment. After the bands are confirmed, I’ll be sending the auto-pay details. This will need to be completed before September 1 and, once completed, you don't have to think about it for the rest of the school year. 

But wait, my kid is a soccer player, hip hop dancer, theater geek, shellfish collector, speech impediment debate captain. What if they have a conflict between their many passions?
This is the age when rockers need to start making hard choices. RBL bands are participatory endeavors, one has to be present for them to happen. That doesn't mean they can't miss practice now and then, but if they will be absent regularly due to their American footballroom dancing team's rehearsals, then maybe an ADV RO band isn't right for your rocker. 

How long is the commitment to an ADV RO band?
One school year. The 2025-2026 schedule runs from the week of September 15, 2026through the RBL Facemelter, our huge rock and roll spectacle, which will occur on May 16 & 17, 2026.

Most of our bands, or variations of those bands, last for 3-5 years, some have gone even longer. 

Once I confirm my rocker’s interest, is their spot guaranteed?
Not quite yet. The spots will be guaranteed once there are enough replies to build the bands officially. We will be shaping the bands as replies come in, and there will be more interest than spots available, so it definitely serves your rocker for you to reply sooner rather than later.

When does my rocker have to commit?
We'd appreciate replies from everyone as soon as possible and there should be a reply by date in the initial invite email. We are currently in the process of building the bands, and will prioritize spots for those who reply first. 

Can we test it out ADV RO band before committing?
Come now, you know that's not an option. If your rocker isn't already sold on RBL at this point, then there is most likely something wrong with them. Please check with your physician. 

Can my rocker’s friend join?
We are open to welcoming all young rockers who are committed to an insrtrument and excited to be in a band. To be considered for ADV RO all rockers must be vetted by our staff. The best way to do so before we begin in September is to have those rocker’s parents enroll them in RBL Summer.