The Teacher Zone

Chris and Tyler go big on the topic of teaching vs mentoring. An episode you dont want to miss!

The Big Why at Los Rios Rock School (An in depth look into a premier performance program)

At Los Rios Rock School we have built our renown Live program over the last nine years step by step. Now we help hundreds of students play 250+ songs at over dozen professional venues per year. For more information please visit: www.LosRiosRockSchool.com or see live performances on our YouTube.



FIRST AND FOREMOST – Our Mission, Vision and Values as a culture and school are adamant upon selecting who we will enroll at our school. WIthout the right student/families the extraordinary results will not happen.

No price on website
Phone call with owner
Owner led tour designed for the student
Student Sent home to think about it and see if this is TRULY for them and are ready to truly invest into who they are and who we are as a school.
Private Mentorship is the core foundation

1 hour a week lesson private lesson program/ High Trust Mentorship
Tuition, Communication, Learning and Practice through TeacherZone
Access to live rooms during privates with multi instrumentalist instructor – working on actually playing and experiencing what they learn across from their teacher.
Learning to speak the language of music with another accelerates
Learn to count in – song structure – Good tone – good rhythm
Mentorship on how to interact with other musicians
Mentorship on how to lead or be led in jamming environments
Ultimate Gear etiquette knowledge – keeping gear in tip top shape and sounding its best
Instructors help students prepare and execute required audition video for the desired level of performance group


Jam 100 (for beginners if needed)

1 hour every saturday with RSVP available to all new students (rsvp ensures the right amount and types of instruments to work together
No live show – So no stress for the nervous students
Students already understand how to play together due to their private instruction with their teacher and live room experience
Curriculum/Songs are the audition material to get into our Jam 101 Live Performance Group
1 to 2 LRRS directors with help of advanced Jr Counselor lead the youngsters through the sections of the songs together in one of our live rehearsal rooms or stage.
Kids get to meet other kids in the same boat and level and start to form friendships


Player Audition and Selection Process – Program Director



Audition Videos to be turned into Program and Curriculum director 30 days before the next show if you’re new or you want to move to a more advanced group
VIdeos Reviewed and and results sent to the family via teacherzone
If kids do not make it their instructor is informed and starts the mission to find out why and keep moving forward to prepare for next audition.
150 students are placed into their groups. Many stay in the same groups and some move around for different reasons.


TEACHERZONE groups are created by our ops manager and the CHAT is initiated before the big meeting to get the kids ideas flowing for the next production


The BIG MEETING



(1st 45 minutes) Players and their families gather in our Lobby/Performance Venue (around 100 or so make it on average out of the 150)
Owners and Staff all on stage with a microphone welcoming everyone!
We have the Rookies come on stage with all the LRRS staff and owners and they introduce themselves to the owners. Their name, age, school, music teacher, and a fun fact (sometimes up to 20 rookies)
Then we have the veterans take the microphone and give the rookies advice. The under 12’s first and then the over 12’s
Then we review the last show season (quality, attendance, flow, etc)
Then we talk about the theme for improvement or change for the new semester. How can we be better?


SONG SELECTION



(next 60 minutes) PLAYERS THEN BREAK OFF into their groups and start the song selection meeting with their directors
They put their songs in the mix and the director adds them to a Spotify playlist
They go through each song choices played through the PA speakers and start to vote on songs
The final verdict is a 5 song jam 101 list or a 11 song 102/advanced set list
QC check on the set for vocal range, music skill level, inappropriate content etc


SMARTSHEET



Band Directors log all players into smartsheet by Song Name, Student Name, and instrument. They may be on a few different songs and a few different instruments. Maybe even a few different groups. (such as horn sections that travel to each group)
Once complete the directors give the green light to the program director.
In all private lessons the instructor searches smartsheet by that students name and EVERY project he or she was assigned to will come up with options for notes and direct line item project updates from band director to private instructor and vice versa.
Charts and music are gathered or made by private instructors and assigned in TEACHERZONE
Students practice all required material through teacherzone at home and with their instructor in the live rooms or private offices
Jam 101, 102, Advanced, Classic Album Series

Jam 101 –

List Audition examples——->



7 to 10 students per group (guitar/bass/keys/drums/vocals/back up vocals)
1 hour rehearsal with a Director and Jr Counselor every Saturday (CLOSED 1st SATURDAY)
They pick their own 3 to 5 songs with their directors help
Each player plays on at least 2 of the songs especially the one they chose
Director QC’s the song list (no swearing, or inappropriate content, and especially making sure the players are within the songs skill level to succeed.
Average about 9 to 11 rehearsals
Perform at the BIG SHOW! Pro show Real Venue Friday or Saturday nights
Jam 102

List audition examples



15 to 20 students
11 songs chosen by the group
2 hour rehearsals Saturdays (closed 1st Saturday)
Two band Directors
9 to 11 rehearsals
QC set list
Perform the Big Show


Advanced Groups

List audition examples



15 to 20 students
11 songs chosen by the group
2 hour rehearsals Saturdays (closed 1st Saturday)
Two band Directors
9 to 11 rehearsals
QC set list
Perform the Big Show

Chris and Tyler Podcast on site at Summer NAMM 2018! They jump into the topic of identifying and creating relationships with the leaders in your community to help your business thrive even more than before! Special guest Warren Huart from Produce like a pro and special mention of Chris Bates interview with the President of NAMM and Canadian Music Lesson Power House Cosmo Music!

Chris and Tyler dig into some of the different threats within our industry and talk about how to eliminate them!

Chris Bates and Tyler Marolf go deep into culture strategies that improve rentention within our business's. Learn new ways to hold on to your students and staff longer!

Chris Bates and Tyler Marolf dive into the secrets of Sales and Marketing in thier very succesful performance academy and lessons studio. Hear about the road they took to get Los Rios Rock School from $300k to $900k from 2013 to 2017.

Roles and Org Charts PART 1 of 3

Creating a Lesson Business that Lasts!
Our goal is that we all continue to love what we do and have the life we’ve always dreamed of. We essentially have the best “lifestyle” business imaginable. Most people are very jealous of us (if they only knew)

Three part podcast...

What does creating a lasting business look like?
Part 1: Roles (Organizational Chart)

#1 Roles Necessary at our Studios

Mandatory things to implement with staff to create a lasting business:
Write it down = Contracts, Technology
Stay Connected = Monthly Meeting
Teamwork = Delegate, NO GOSSIP

School Roles:
Vision and Hiring (Tyler and Chris)
Big Challenges (Tyler and Chris)
Sales and Marketing (Tyler and Chris)
Metrics (Tyler and Chris)
Delegated
Accounting and Bookkeeping
Program Director
Director of Curriculum
Office Manager
Inventory Control
Facilities Manager
Janitorial

This is a very deep podcast with a very real subject. Join Chris and Tyler on their journey through the darkest day in the history of their music school and the solutions they had in place to overcome.

Putting Students First - Top 10 Ways

Attendance (Are students showing up?)

Reminders (How are we reminding them about a lesson, practice..etc.?)

In Lesson (What are we doing to make sure our lessons are impactful?)

Practice (How are we encouraging and monitoring practice?)

Family Involvement (Are we engaging and involving the families?)

Purchases (What are we encouraging them to buy/lease on their journey?)

Communication (How are we talking with them outside a lesson?)

Flipped Learning (Are you giving students direct access to the knowledge when they’re not with you?)

Community (How are you creating a community for your School?)

Performance (Are you doing everything you can make performances special for your students?)

Chris Bates is on location with Dave Simon the owner and creator of Kidz Rock, Jr. Rockerz and Dave Simons Rock School in St Louis, Missouri