By: Hayden Sutter

The Rock Band elective is “rockin’ it out” every other day, and it has been rumored that even the teachers are dancing through the halls as the music transcends and echoes outside the door. The elective is supervised by Mr. Paul Caputo, but most of the students consider him more of a fellow rocker than an ordinary teacher. For those students who crave even more adrenaline-pumping rock and roll, the School of Rock program in the town of Syosset is another hot spot. Here, musicians can elevate their musical abilities and truly take them to another level. 

To explain more about these two programs, musically experienced students expressed how they were shaped as musicians. Sophomore Caden Cremer, who is a student in the School of Rock program and currently enrolled in AP Music Theory, said, “I think music is definitely my biggest hobby and taking these classes has allowed me to pursue it more professionally and seriously, so I appreciate that about the classes.” These students also had opportunities to perform at exciting venues in prestigious locations. Two of the popular songs that Caden performed in front of live audiences were “Piano Man” by Billy Joel and “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. Freshman Ava Rzonca, who is also enrolled in the School of Rock program, said, “Sometimes, we do perform at different places. Last spring, we performed at the Bowery in New York City, and we also regularly perform at the Bellmore PlayCenter.”

As a direct result of the participation and hard work students put forth in these programs, many accolades and awards have been earned. Junior Jake Marin said, “I created an original song, and it got picked for All-Eastern. I think I was one of 30.” Jake plays the drums and has been honing his skills for over 10 years and counting. It is clear that music is more than just a hobby, but rather a lifelong passion for Jake. The common thread among the three musicians was feeling rewarded when their music was able to inspire others to pursue their musical dreams.