To learn from the master
Rock Lab Lessons
Because the Rock Lab approaches music instruction using Dave Wilbur's methods, the lessons are structured for results. The typical Rock Lab student can (and consistently does) go from not playing at all to performing in the end-of-semester concert in as little as 10 weeks. The summer semester is 10 weeks. Both the Fall and Spring semesters each last 15 weeks. Former students have gone on to earn music scholarships to prestigious schools and universities, perform professionally with national-level acts, be employed as professional studio musicians, and have been recruited into the highest levels of military bands.
Individual Lessons for Guitar, Bass, Drums,
Piano, Keyboards, Voice
The Rock Lab Method applies to music students at every skill level, and takes each student from their current playing level up to a professional level. Here's what you can expect in our lessons for Guitar/Bass/Keyboards:
- We use the Rock Lab Method book to teach basic music concepts plus the common things about music and your instrument that everyone has to learn. You'll learn music theory in the context of songs and learn to read music the Rock Lab way—backwards, or chords first, then standard notation.
- We show you how to apply those music theory concepts to playing songs that you want to play, whether your interest is in rock, blues, country or pop.
- We help you put what you've learned to practice in a group setting (rock band classes).
At the Rock Lab for Guitar, Bass, and Keyboard students, there are five levels of instruction.
Level One
Level One of the Rock Lab Method takes you as a newbie/beginner from "Hey… this is a guitar!" through the Open or First Position chords into note names, Power chords and Barre chords, then a discussion of the concept of the I, IV, V chord progression and "Playing 'Da Blues". Level One also teaches you how to read tablature as well as introduces you into reading standard notation by easing you in to reading Rhythm Notation first. Level One also teaches you how to read chord charts/lead sheets so that you can follow the musical road map with repeats, D.S. Al Coda, etc.
Level Two
Level Two of the Rock Lab teaches you how to start soloing via improvisation using scales, first over " 'Da Blues" and most "Rock" songs using Pentatonic or "Blues Scale" soloing, then branching out into rudimentary Diatonic Soloing using the Major Scale. Level Two also teaches the basics of finger-style playing and introduces the basic theory behind the construction of the Major Scales and modes. You will also learn basic standard notation skills to supplement the basic rhythmic skills learned in Level One as well as more about road maps in chord charts and lead sheets.
Level Three
Level Three of the Rock Lab Method teaches you basic chord construction using triads, sevenths, ninths and such. Level Three also teaches the arpeggio fingerings for all of those chords, and how to apply what you're learning to soloing and improvisation.
Level Four
Level Four of the Rock Lab teaches you the Diatonic modal systems (and resultant chord systems) of both the Major and Natural Minor Scales in a simple, concept-by-concept approach, otherwise known as "Dave's Bionic Diatonic Chart O' Terror." More than once, students who have worked their way through the Chart O' Terror have tested out of University-level music theory classes.
The Chart O' Terror also includes information that enables you to transpose a song to any key, to dumb down or jazz up a song by adding proper sevenths and other extensions to chords. The Chart also teaches you how to identify and play and solo over all Rock/Pop chord progressions as well as basic Jazz chord progressions. We use The Chart to teach you how to read and play the Nashville Number system, which is increasingly used in various styles of music.
Level Five
Level Five of the Rock Lab Method features the Rock Lab Book of Jazz and teaches you the basics of Jazz, how to identify and play chord families as well as soloing over all Jazz chord progressions. Level Five also includes the history of jazz and the various styles of music typically included at a Jazz gig, and instructs you on how to play those styles.
Free Lesson Fridays
Try before you buy!
We want our students and parents to make an informed decision when choosing a music school, so we offer a 30 minute lesson with our Director, Dave Wilbur, for FREE!
To schedule a FREE lesson call us: 801-226-5566 or fill out our free lesson form below.