PopRock Academy offers a free first class for Acting, Dance, Music, and Writing. Restrictions apply — contact the front office at info@poprockacademy.com or call (626) 282-7625 for details. New music students also receive 50% off their first paid lesson.

No. PopRock Academy is month-to-month with no long-term commitment required. The one exception is the Hip Hop Competition Team: once accepted, families are financially responsible for the full season's tuition and fees regardless of reason, including illness, injury, or relocation.

Private music lessons at PopRock Academy are $90 for 60 minutes, $71 for 45 minutes, or $48 for 30 minutes. Semi-private lessons are $31 per person for 30 minutes. New music students receive 50% off their first lesson.

Group acting classes are $56 per class on a monthly subscription for ages 8 and up, covering Fundamental, Intermediate, Advanced, TV/Film/Commercial, and Voice Over. Fundamental Acting for ages 5-7 is $28 per class. Private acting lessons are $62.50 per 30-minute session; semi-private sessions are $40 per person per 30 minutes.

Entry-level group dance classes — Hip Hop 1, Break 1, and KPop 1 — are $28 per class on a monthly subscription. Hip Hop 2, Hip Hop 3, and PopStar are $42 per class. Private dance lessons cost $65 per 30-minute session with a Dance Director, or $55 with a Dance Instructor. Adult drop-in classes are $20 per class.

Yes. The 3rd group class enrollment and beyond is discounted 50%. Private lessons count as one qualifying class toward this discount threshold.

Yes. A one-time $50 registration fee applies to all new students under 18. Students who withdraw and later re-enroll must pay the registration fee again.

Students 17 and under are charged an annual performance program fee on September 15 each year: $175 for the first acting or dance class, $150 for the second, and free for additional classes. Music students pay $100, waived if the acting or dance fee is already paid. Students enrolling April-May pay a partial fee of $50; summer enrollment (May 16-July 31) is complimentary.

Tuition is due the 1st of each month and is processed automatically via Opus1.io and Cardpointe about 10 days before the billing date. Enrolled students paying by ACH pay no surcharge; credit and debit cards carry a 3% surcharge. A $40 late fee applies for payments 3 or more days past due, with an additional 1% per month after 30 days.

No. Tuition is non-refundable. Recital fees and competition team fees carry an absolute no-refund policy for any reason, including illness or withdrawal.

For group classes, students have 3 months from the missed date to make up the session in any class of the same duration that is age- and level-appropriate; make-up credits expire after the last day of the paid class period. For private music lessons, no make-up or rescheduling is available. Students enrolled in private acting or dance may attend a group class as a substitute for a missed private lesson.

Submit a completed PopRock Withdrawal Form to the front desk by the 15th of the month before your last month. The final month is not prorated. All make-up credits must be used before the last day. Students who return after withdrawing must re-register as new students and pay a new registration fee.

Piano lessons are available starting at age 4. Sessions run 60 minutes weekly, with an option for two 30-minute sessions for younger students. PopRock Academy is an official Roland dealership and a Steinway partner — piano recitals are held annually at the Steinway of Pasadena gallery on a Steinway grand piano. Students have won the Golden Classical Music Awards.

Singing and voice lessons are available starting at age 4. The curriculum covers Classical, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Pop, and Rock with an emphasis on healthy technique and proper vocal placement — no strain. All music students are included in Show Choir or Instrumental Jam ensemble. Two annual recitals are held in June and December, free for family and friends.

Drum lessons are available starting at age 3. Mini-Drummers is a 45-minute group class for ages 3-4; students need their own drumsticks and drum pad. Private drum lessons begin at age 5 and run 60 minutes weekly or as two 30-minute sessions. Both acoustic and professional electric drum kits are available at the studio. Two annual recitals are included.

Guitar lessons start at age 7 because that is when most students can manage the instrument's size and complexity. Lessons focus on contemporary styles — studio, jazz, pop, and rock — in weekly 60-minute sessions, or two 30-minute sessions for younger students. Ensemble playing and two annual solo recitals are included. Students must supply their own guitar.

The Acting Conservatory includes Fundamental Acting (ages 5-17), TV/Film/Commercial Acting (ages 8+), Voice Over Acting (ages 8+), Audition Coaching, and Private Training. Students have booked professional roles on Netflix's Squid Game, The Bold & The Beautiful, Jane the Virgin, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Toyota, and Verizon campaigns. Industry Showcases provide performance feedback from working directors, producers, and actors.

No prior acting experience is required to enroll in TV/Film/Commercial Acting, though co-enrollment in Fundamental Acting is strongly recommended. The class focuses on camera-specific skills: eye lines, micro-expressions, body positions, and on-camera auditioning technique. Students must be at least 8 years old.

Yes. All new Hip Hop students must begin in Hip Hop 1, which requires no prior dance experience and covers basic hip-hop elements, stretching, strengthening, and weekly choreography. Advancement to Hip Hop 2 or 3 requires instructor approval after completing Level 1, or a paid placement audition.

Yes. All Jazz and Contemporary dance students at PopRock Academy are required to be enrolled in the Ballet program as well. Ballet classes are available for students ages 5 to adult.

Yes. Voice Over Acting classes are available online in addition to in-person at the studio. The curriculum covers commercials, animation, dubbing, looping, video games, and audiobooks, and was developed by Paul Kwo — whose credits include Everything Everywhere All At Once, Shang Chi, and Black Panther. In-person students record in an industry-standard recording booth each week.

The Music Conservatory offers private lessons in Voice, Piano, Guitar, Drums, Songwriting & Composition, and Audio Production, plus ensemble classes including Show Choir, Instrumental Jam, Rock Band, Mini-Drummers, Drum Circle, and Musical Theater. Faculty hold degrees from USC, Northwestern, Cal State Northridge, DePaul, and the University of Michigan. PopRock Academy is an official Roland dealership and a Steinway partner.

The Dance Conservatory offers Hip Hop (Levels 1-3), Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, private training, and audition coaching for students ages 5 to adult. All dance teachers have professional performance experience. Dance students are expected to take at least two classes per week. Performance opportunities include the Annual June Recital and festivals throughout Southern California.

The Hip Hop Competition Team is a competitive dance team with group, solo, duo, and trio options. For the 2026-2027 season, entry auditions are June 13, 2026; placements are August 29, 2026. The season runs September 2026 through June 2027. Group season tuition is $2,190 total ($219/month). The first fall competition is Dance KAR Anaheim on September 27, 2026.

Families accepted to the Hip Hop Competition Team are financially responsible for the full season's tuition and all committed fees — with no exceptions for illness, injury, relocation, loss of interest, or schedule conflicts. The credit card on file is automatically charged upon withdrawal or after 2 consecutive unexcused absences.

PopRock Academy students have booked professional roles in Netflix's Squid Game, The Bold & The Beautiful, Jane the Virgin, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Elemental (Pixar/Disney), Everything Everywhere All At Once, and more. Music students have performed with the Walt Disney Hall LA Youth Philharmonic and won the Golden Classical Music Awards.

Audition coaching with Paul Kwo is $36 per 15 minutes for current students, $41 per 15 minutes for alumni, and $50 per 15 minutes for non-students. Coaching with other PopRock instructors is $31.25 per 15 minutes for enrolled students and $36 for non-enrolled students or alumni. Self-tape sessions are $30.

PopRock Academy was founded in 2011 by Paul Kwo, a veteran Hollywood actor known for the recurring role of Martin Yip in the God's Not Dead film franchise. His screen credits include Everything Everywhere All At Once, Shang Chi, Black Panther, Crazy Rich Asians, Fresh Off The Boat, and Scrubs. Paul is also a composer, pianist, author, and voice artist with credits in Call of Duty, Resident Evil, and Red Dead Redemption 2.