Jennifer Moriarta is the owner of School of Rock Broomfield, CO. Originally from New York, she obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California Berkeley, and later an MBA from San Francisco State University. After a decade in the semiconductor industry, she moved to the medical device industry for several years, then transitioned to full-time parent to her 4 children. She joined School of Rock in 2017 where she is currently the Owner and General Manager. In addition to those 4 fabulous children, Jennifer and her husband have a lively household with 3 cats and a dog, and lots of musical instruments. They enjoy playing music together and exploring all that Colorado has to offer.    

While the opportunity to buy in ultimately fell into my lap, I would say that it was my son's involvement and being a parent that introduced me to School of Rock.

What inspired you to become a School of Rock owner?
My son was a student at School of Rock Downingtown when we lived in Pennsylvania. When we moved to Colorado, we started looking for a local School of Rock, which we eventually found. From there, an opportunity came up to purchase one of the existing Colorado locations. Buying a franchise wasn't ever really on my radar to do but when an opportunity like that comes up, you must go for it. Working from our positive experiences in PA, we jumped right in without giving it too much thought and have never looked back. While the opportunity to buy in ultimately fell into my lap, I would say that it was my son's involvement and being a parent that introduced me to School of Rock.

What do you love most about your job?
Being surrounded by music and young people. It’s the most fun job and environment that anyone could ask for. It's the energy that the kids bring. Whether it's a bunch of 10-year-olds getting super rambunctious or teenagers who are messing around, it's all fun to be around.
Now, of course, we have people of all ages at School of Rock, but when you're in a corporate environment, you tend to be with other people your age. With five-year-olds up to high schoolers and beyond coming through our walls, the constant interactions and joking around makes every day so much fun!

It’s the most fun job and environment that anyone could ask for. It's the energy that the kids bring.

What do you think is the most important skill that a successful franchisee should have?
Of all the skills I can think of, being flexible is number one. Having the ability to jump in anywhere whether you’re helping with the business side of things, like accounting and bookkeeping, or picking up a bass amp and carrying it across the football field, all tasks are crucial no matter the size of the business. Beyond that, you may have to connect with the public, parents, and others in your community. Whatever the situation, you should jump in to do what needs to be done at any given time.

What was something that came up as a franchise owner that you didn’t anticipate?
This isn't necessarily a challenging thing, but something I never really envisioned when I came on board is that I would actually participate in the program myself. Now, I have some music background, but I'm not a professional musician. Regardless, I have always felt like that was enough base of knowledge to run the business.
When COVID happened, enrollment in our adult programs took a noticeable hit. For those who were willing to stick with us, we needed some more people to join the band. Being the flexible owner I am, I ended up joining our adult program in one of the bands during COVID, initially as a placeholder to keep the program alive. Once I started doing it and saw myself improving as a musician, as well as experiencing firsthand what it’s like for our students––especially adult learners. I got hooked and have participated ever since!
Something else that I hadn’t anticipated was that the rest of my family would become involved as well. Despite my oldest son moving on, I now have a16-year-old daughter who’s involved in the School of Rock program while my husband also participates in the Adult Program alongside me. This was never the expectation, but I think it’s great that School of Rock has become a family affair for us!

Without a clear plan, big goals can feel unreachable…now I can see the real benefits of having a clear vision and breaking down goals into achievable steps.

If you had one piece of advice to give to new franchisees, what would it be?
What’s made the biggest difference for me is learning to set goals and plan. It’s easy to get lost in daily tasks, so I’ve had to shift my focus to longer-term goals. By picking a few key areas to improve and breaking them down into smaller steps, I can track incremental progress and stay on track overtime.
Without a clear plan, big goals can feel unreachable. That’s why I now set aside time for planning, and I break goals down into manageable chunks—whether for program development, growth, or employee development. The hard part is execution, but even if it takes months to see progress, at least I know where to focus next.
This approach has been a challenge for me to learn, but now I can see the real benefits of having a clear vision and breaking down goals into achievable steps.

In a (2022) feature for Shoutout Colorado, you mentioned how there is a “community created” within the walls of a School of Rock location. I was hoping you could share more about that.
School of Rock is very different from traditional music lessons, which focus on one-on-one instruction with a single teacher. While we also offer one-on-one lessons, our program emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, where students learn to play with others, communicate, and build friendships. There’s a strong social aspect to our approach.
We encourage students to connect with all our instructors, not just their lesson teacher. Over time, they join different groups, work with various show directors, and interact with students of all ages and skill levels. The student lounge becomes a social hub, where they see familiar faces and form bonds with both peers and teachers.
This sense of community is key to what we do. Many students meet like-mindedmusicians here and go on to form their own bands outside of School of Rock,which we consider the ultimate success. We also see families get involved—oftenstarting with one student, and soon their parents and siblings are joining intoo. It all contributes to a strong, supportive community, which is just asimportant as music education itself.

This sense of community is key to what we do…which is just as important as music education itself.

Beyond the SoR community that you’ve built, are there other ways you/your franchise are involved in the local community?
Most of our performances take place in the community, and we offer nearly all of them as free, public events. This not only helps us promote what we do but also provides live entertainment for anyone who wants to enjoy it. Our House Band is particularly active in the community, often performing as an opening act for larger bands or at fundraisers and local events. Recently, they participated in holiday shows, including a tree lighting event and a parade, offering entertainment to the public in a variety of settings.
Beyond performances, we are committed to supporting local schools. We donate to galas, silent auctions, and spring flings, contributing items like lessons or music camps. This allows us to give back to the communities that support us while also helping to raise funds for important school programs. It’s a small way for us to show appreciation for the families who choose to be a part of School of Rock.
Currently, we are running two holiday donation drives. One is for a Broomfield organization that collects gifts for children who might not otherwise receive much for Christmas. We’ve set up a donation bin at our location, and it’s been a great way for our community to give back. The second drive is for Rise Against Suicide, a local nonprofit that provides mental health services to youth in the area. This cause is especially meaningful to us, given the challenges many of our middle and high school students face.
In addition to our charitable efforts, we stay connected to the broader community through organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and other local groups. This involvement helps us stay informed about what's happening in the area and ensures we're always supporting the growth and well-being of our community.
A key part of this is our connection to the local music scene in Denver. Many of our instructors are gigging musicians with their own bands or personal projects, and we do our best to promote them. Personally, I love live music, so I make it a point to attend their performances when I can. We also encourage our adult students to show up and support our instructors, and it's always great to see a group of them at the shows. This shared experience strengthens our sense of community, both within School of Rock and in the wider music world.

A key part of this is our connection to the local music scene in Denver….This shared experience strengthens our sense of community, both within School of Rock and in the wider music world.

Is there anything coming up that you are particularly excited about?
If we had met last week [this interview was conducted on 12/9/24], I would have said I was most excited about the Parade of Lights in downtown Louisville, Colorado. It’s a small-town holiday parade, but this year, we took part for the first time. We had a float with students performing music, which was a huge undertaking. It's been a goal of mine for several years to get our band into a parade, and now we’ve finally done it. The kids have made history for Broomfield School of Rock by participating, and it was a huge success.
Looking ahead, this weekend is our end-of-season show, which we do only three times a year. During this event, our performance groups play their full setlists, and over the course of two days, we’ll have around 15 hours of music performed by 10 different bands. We’ve booked a venue for both Saturday and Sunday, expecting about 100 to 130 students to perform in their individual rock bands. It’s a massive undertaking—almost like planning a wedding, but with a lot more rock and roll—and I’m super excited about it!

Who are some of your biggest influences?
One person who really stands out as an inspiration is Tom McKee, a fellow School of Rock franchise owner in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The first time my son and I attended a School of Rock show, Tom provided us with such a great experience that it became a key factor in our decision to open our own location here in Colorado. I’m not sure if Tom realizes the impact he had on us, but he runs an amazing program with a strong community at his school, and I definitely look to him for inspiration as I build our own community here.
In addition to Tom, I rely a lot on my husband for support. While he’s not technically a business partner in this venture—he has his own business to run—he is incredibly level-headed and good at helping me keep perspective when things feel overwhelming. His advice and steady presence are invaluable as I navigate the challenges of running my own School of Rock location.

The Colorado School of Rock community is incredibly supportive…It’s reassuring to know that we’re in this together, supporting one another along the way.

Have you found yourself becoming a mentor? If so, what ways has your support improved the development of your mentees?
I wouldn’t say I’m formally mentoring anyone, but the Colorado School of Rock community is incredibly supportive. I'm really grateful to be part of an area where all the owners can lean on each other. While we don’t have a traditional mentor-mentee relationship, we all collaborate and share information, bouncing ideas off each other whenever needed. It’s reassuring to know that we’re in this together, supporting one another along the way.
Personally, I’m fortunate to have a very stable staff, some of whom have been here even longer than I have, since I started in 2017. Over the years, some of them have advanced in their careers, taking on roles like director, assistant general manager, or senior instructor. It’s been amazing to see them grow, and I try to encourage that development by promoting people and giving them more responsibilities, especially as the school continues to expand. I’ve learned a lot from everyone here, and I always feel that whatever I offer, I gain just as much in return.
Ultimately, I focus on leading by example. I strive to maintain a positive tone and set a good example for my staff and students. As the school grows, I’ve learned to trust my team more and delegate responsibilities. By creating a positive environment and fostering growth, I hope to inspire others to follow suit and contribute to the success of the school.

Can you recall an experience that made an impact on you?
Early on in my experience as a School of Rock owner, I knew my son had a great time here, but I didn’t realize the extent of the impact we could have on students until I was truly immersed in it. There’s something incredibly powerful about witnessing a student's transformation, especially when parents come up to you, sometimes with tears in their eyes, sharing how their child, once shy, introverted, or scared, has blossomed over just a few months. To see them standing on stage, playing with confidence—whether it's pounding the drums or rocking out with their band—is a feeling that never gets old. And the thing is, it happens almost every time, which speaks volumes about the work we do here.
The magic isn’t just in the individual teachers, though they play a huge role—it’s the entire structure of the program and the supportive environment we create. Kids are vulnerable, and sometimes they don’t want to show it, but when they break through those barriers and accomplish something they thought was impossible, it's amazing. Often, their parents don’t even realize what their child is capable of until they see it firsthand. Moments like these are what truly keep me going, and it’s what makes all the hard work worth it.

The magic isn’t just in the individual teachers…it’s the entire structure of the program and the supportive environment we create.

What is a cause that you are passionate about?
I tend to lean into causes that support mental health, especially after the challenges we saw during the COVID years. It was a really difficult time, and we witnessed some upsetting struggles among our students. While it was an extreme situation, being able to provide an outlet or a sense of stability for those kids was meaningful. It made me truly appreciate the importance of mental health and how much of an impact we can have, even in small ways. Although my background is in engineering and not psychology, I’ve come to understand just how valuable a little support, structure, or even someone to talk to can be fora child in need.
This is why we support organizations like Rise Against Suicide, which provides vital mental health services for youth. Additionally, School of Rock has partnered with the Society for Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), which is an organization I fully stand behind. While our school has thankfully not been directly impacted by suicide or similar issues, many others have, and it's a serious concern that I don't take lightly. I believe that whatever we can do to help or raise awareness in this area is essential, and I’m committed to supporting those efforts.

I tend to lean into causes that support mental health…I believe that whatever we can do to help or raise awareness in this area is essential, and I’m committed to supporting those efforts.

What is something surprising that people might not know about you?
Something surprising that people might not know about me is that my background is in engineering and technology. I have a degree in electrical engineering and computer science, and spent many years working in Silicon Valley, as well as in the medical device industry. Most of my professional career has been incorporate environments, focusing on engineering and project management. Music, on the other hand, was always just a recreational outlet for me—something I loved but didn't pursue professionally. In fact, when I was deciding on a college major, I almost chose music but ultimately went the route of technology. Now, here I am, running a music school, and I think it’s fascinating how those two worlds have come together. People might not realize that I spent so much time in the tech and corporate side of things before fully diving into the music world. But I think the problem-solving skills from engineering and project management help me in running a business like this.

Describe an interesting hobbyor pastime that you have.
An interesting hobby I have is practicing yoga. It's a great way for me tobalance the busyness of being a business owner and take time to relax. I workon my flexibility, and I can even do the splits—something I like to show offwhen the mood strikes!

If you could play with any bandin the world, who would you perform with? Would you want to play a specificinstrument?
If I could play with any band, it would definitely be Liz Phair. She's one of my favorite artists, and I’ve always loved her music from the '90s. If I had the chance, I'd want to be the drummer for her on her next tour—that would be adream come true!