LILA Band Program
The Lila Band Program is the flagship program of Lila School of Bands, a contemporary music school in Auckland specialising in performance-driven music education.
Our band program has helped develop:
- Parkdale – National Smokefree Rockquest Winners (2023)
- Emerson – National Smokefree Rockquest Solo/Duo Winner (2024)
We take young musicians of all ages, levels and musical styles, carefully match them into bands, and pair them with working professional musicians who mentor them weekly.
This isn’t just music lessons.
It’s structured band development.
Bands Are What We Do
Many music schools focus primarily on individual music lessons — guitar lessons, singing lessons, keyboard lessons or drum lessons taught one-on-one.
At Lila, private music lessons are available and encouraged. But our core focus is the band program.
Students rehearse weekly in real bands, learning how to:
- Play confidently with others
- Listen and respond musically
- Communicate within a group
- Lead and support as part of a team
- Perform confidently on stage
This practical, collaborative model is what separates our band program from standard group music lessons.
How the Lila Band Program Develops Musicians
Our band program builds musicians in four progressive stages.
1. Musicianship
Students strengthen their technical skills by learning and refining songs together. Whether they come from guitar lessons, drum lessons, singing lessons or keyboard lessons, they learn how their instrument fits within a full band sound.
2. Teamwork
Playing in a band requires communication, timing, accountability and leadership. Students learn how to rehearse effectively and function as a team — skills rarely developed in traditional one-on-one music lessons.
3. Creation
We provide tools for songwriting and arrangement. Bands are encouraged to write original music, develop arrangements, and discover their creative voice.
4. Stagecraft
We develop confident performers. Students learn stage presence, audience connection and how to command a room — skills that extend far beyond music.
By the time students leave high school, they are not just technically capable musicians. They are experienced performers with real-world stage experience.
Built Around Real Performance
Lila is a performance-based music school.
Every term, our bands perform live at established Auckland music venues such as Big Fan and The Tuning Fork.
These are not informal recitals.
They are real gigs with:
- Professional sound systems
- Stage lighting
- Full band setups
- Live audiences
Students repeatedly experience the energy and responsibility of live performance, which builds confidence in a way traditional music lessons cannot replicate.
This performance focus is central to our band program.
From First Rehearsal to Rockquest Stage
When Parkdale first joined Lila, they were a young band developing their sound.
Two years later, they became National Smokefree Rockquest winners.
“All hail Lila School of Bands and the help they gave to us when we were just a wee band.”
— Parkdale, 2023 National Winners
Emma Wagner — later known as Emerson — was also part of the band Fan Club, who won the Auckland Rockquest Regional Final while working with Lila.
In 2024, Emerson went on to win the National Smokefree Rockquest Solo/Duo Final.
“I would definitely recommend Lila to any young musician.”
— Emerson, 2024 National Winner
These achievements reflect consistent, long-term band development — not short-term preparation.
As of 2025, Lila is proud to be a partner of Smokefree Rockquest, delivering specialist coaching to National Finalists and contributing band development resources to young musicians across New Zealand.
Founder Jesse Sheehan is:
- The 2009 Smokefree Rockquest Winner
- A frequent Rockquest judge
- A professional musician and songwriter who has performed and toured with artists including Neil Finn and Dave Dobbyn
We understand the Rockquest pathway because we’ve lived it — as competitors, mentors, judges and working musicians.
Who the Lila Band Program Is For
Our band program is ideal for:
- Beginners ready to move beyond individual music lessons
- Students currently taking guitar lessons, singing lessons, keyboard lessons or drum lessons who want to play with others
- Intermediate musicians wanting to progress faster
- Students interested in songwriting and original music
- Rockquest competitors
- Young musicians serious about live performance
No experience? We’ll guide you.
Already competitive? We’ll challenge you.
What Parents Say
‘We’ve been with Lila for three years and have seen huge improvement in our son’s music skills, confidence and motivation. We’re really thankful for their guidance and would definitely recommend Lila to other families.’ – Gina Zhao
‘I can’t recommend Lila school of bands enough! My daughter has been attending for two years, and the transformation has been incredible. Not only has she developed a much stronger understanding of music, but her confidence on stage has soared. She used to be shy and uncertain when performing, but now she takes the stage with a newfound poise and energy.. It’s amazing to see her enjoying performing and expressing herself through music. This school has truly helped her grow both as a musician and as a person!’ – Paloma Calderon
‘My daughter has gained so much confidence and improved her skills immensely playing in her band. I would really recommend Lila School of Bands to any parent as it’s a safe and engaging environment for tweens and teens to get the experience of playing live, writing original songs and being part of exciting competitions like Band/Rock quest’ – Madeline Grayson
What a Typical Term Includes
- Weekly hour long band rehearsals
- Mentoring from professional musicians
- Song selection and arrangement
- Stagecraft development
- Performance preparation
- A live concert at a professional venue
Students don’t just practise.
They prepare for performance.
Investment
The Lila Band Program is $43 per hour band lesson, per student.
Each band consists of 4–6 members, ensuring focused development, strong rehearsal time and meaningful mentorship within a structured group environment.
Enrolment is per school term
Why Choose Lila School of Bands?
If you are searching for a music school in Auckland offering more than standard music lessons, Lila provides:
- A structured band program
- Integration with private music lessons (guitar lessons, singing lessons, keyboard lessons, drum lessons and more)
- Performance-based learning
- A clear pathway toward Rockquest and live performance
- A supportive yet ambitious environment
We don’t just teach songs.
We build musicians.
Experience a rehearsal, meet the mentors and see how the Lila Band Program works