All-Star Teaching Staff Shines at School of Rock Hinsdale

When most people think of the School of Rock performance-based music program in Hinsdale, images of youthful guitar heroes come to mind, like the righteous kids in Jack Black's hit "School of Rock" movie from 2003.

Like their cinematic counterparts, the Hinsdale students are passionate, focused and extremely talented. But to guide, inspire, and energize these underage Lords (and Ladies) of Shredding, the Hinsdale school has a secret weapon: an all-star faculty of professional musicians who avidly share their experience, knowledge, and tricks with the youngsters.

"Our instructors have the perfect combination of skills: a strong background in music from years of private lessons, practice, and classes, and real life experience from writing, recording, touring, and performing in bands," says Anne Dills, owner of School of Rock Hinsdale. "Our students really look up to our instructors as role models not just for their musical prowess, but also for their hands on knowledge of the music industry."

The School of Rock Hinsdale teachers are a diverse bunch. Several of them are in up-and-coming bands, others have toured the world as supporting acts for top tier artists, and others are experienced music educators who are pursuing college degrees. The common thread that unites them all is a love of music and a desire to impart their enthusiasm to the School's knowledge-hungry rockers-in-training.

Chris Faller - who teaches drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals at the School - has been a member of area bands that opened for such headliners as Fallout Boy, Panic at the Disco, OK Go, All American Rejects, Cage The Elephant, and O.A.R.  He’s currently a member of Company of Thieves.

Multi-instrumentalist Eric Hehr is a member of Chicago-based band Gold Motel, which have headlined in venues and festivals from around the world.  Eric’s songs with Gold Motel have been featured on t.v. shows (ABC’s “Private Practice” and MTV’s “Chelsea Settles”) and in commercials (Crayola, Labello, Supercuts, and U.S. Bank).

Patrick McKenna – a guitar, bass, keyboards, and drum instructor – is the guitarist and one of the lead singers of the Chicago-based indie pop band Girls on Bicycles.

Annie Debre, a vocal, keyboard, and guitar teacher at the school, is a member of the indie rock band Cassett. She has worked with such accomplished jazz musicians as Patricia Barber, Cheryl Wilson, and Orbert Davis and is pursuing her degree in Jazz Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Bobby Lord teaches vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums.  He was a touring member of Jack White’s band The Raconteurs, and has shared the stage with such headliners as Delta Spirit, The Punch Brothers, Butch Walker, GroupLove, Kate Nash, and Fun.  His songs have been featured on such television shows as ABC’s “Revenge” and Fox’s “Awake”, and his latest band The Deserters is working on their debut release.

“For budding young musicians who truly want to develop their skills, there’s no better bunch to guide them on their journey than the Hinsdale staff,” says Dills.  “They connect with the entire range of our students – from ages 7 to 17 – and they inspire the kids to practice, work hard, and thoroughly enjoy the School of Rock experience.”