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September Newsletter

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

A warm welcome to all our Rockschool members, old and new, who have enrolled with us this year, both at Towcester and Brackley. It is good to see so many bands getting together and students keen to have individual tuition.

We held a very successful Picnic in the Park Open Day at the beginning of September, where bands played outside in the sunshine between the showers to a large and appreciative audience. We were pleased to have a visit from the Mayor, Martin Johns, and there are plenty of pictures of the day on our website .

Thank you to the many of you who have paid your fees for this term or year. Would those who still need to do so please see Ros this Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday or make contact on 07738 974220 or at rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk regarding payment.

All students’ equipment brought to Rockschools must be PAT tested annually and Tom Mitson will be with us on Saturdays 1 and 8 October to do this. All students with electrical instruments and amps also need to bring a named extension lead to link to the power breaker supplied in each room and these need to be PAT tested too. PAT testing at Brackley will be arranged for later in the term.

Rockschools first public event this year is in support of The Brackley Try-a-Tri on Sunday 2 October at Winchester House School. Our bands will be providing live music throughout the event from 10.00am to 1.00pm. Proceeds from the Try-a-Tri will be donated to MeningitisUK in memory of Mark Tanton who was a keen triathlete as well as a talented musician. Details at www.onyourmarksevents.org and follow links.

Our Parents and Friends Association are holding their AGM on Saturday 8 October at 5.00pm in the staffroom at Towcester. All parents, carers and staff are welcome to attend and refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there.

David Taylor
Director
Rockschools

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September Newsletter – Rockschools Open Day and Registration

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Welcome back to a new Rockschools Year

‘Picnic in the Park’

Open Day on Saturday 10 September 2011

from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm

at Nicholas Hawksmoor School, Towcester

We look forward to seeing you all again at our Annual Open Day and Registration where you can meet up with friends, listen to our bands and register for the new Rockschool year.

The Parents and Friends Association will be providing ‘Tuck Shop’ refreshments but do bring your own picnic, with wine and beer if you would like to, to enjoy at our ‘Picnic in the Park’, while you listen to our bands.

Bands will be playing outside if the weather is fine, or inside in the school hall if need be. All students who have individual guitar, drum, piano and singing tuition are invited to come and listen to our Rockschools bands and to register to join a band themselves if not already in one.

The Rockschools fees for this year are £98.00 per term. However there will be discounts for fees paid on the Registration Day:

  • £30.00 discount for the year – fee £264.00
  • £10.00 discount for the term – fee £88.00

Students unable to attend on this day can still take advantage of this discount by sending a registration form with payment of either of the above amounts, posted by Saturday 10 September, to Rockschools, Old Barn Cottage, 2 Pittams Lane, Wappenham, Northants., NN12 8SP.

All cheques are payable to Towcester Rockschool.

Fees for Individual Tuition are £148.00 per term of 10 weeks half-hour lessons.

All students will need to have a new registration form signed by parent/carer and student for this year. Forms are available now to download from the website www.rockschools.co.uk.

The 2011/12 Calendars for Towcester and Brackley are also available to download.

Any bands that would like to play on the day can have a practice session from 11.30 onwards. Please let Ros Miles know if you would like to take part on 07738 974220 or at rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk.

Please remember that although this may be a non-playing day for some of you it is an important Rockschools session for you all as I want to be able to discuss with each of you the band you would like to be with and plan your goals for the year with you. If anyone is unable to see me on the Registration Day please let me know at davidtaylor@rockschools.co.uk.

Please note that due to health and safety requirements all electrical equipment used at Rockschools must be PAT tested. We will be providing a free PAT test for all students’ equipment on Saturdays 1 and 8 October.

For any more information or if you have any queries regarding our Open Day please contact Ros Miles.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday 10 September,

David Taylor

Director

Rockschools

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July News Update – The Stables

Friday, July 15th, 2011

A final reminder for our Rockschools Concert at The Stables on Saturday 16 July at 6.00pm – students need to arrive between 5.00 and 5.30pm to check in and store their instruments. Rockschool sessions in the morning are 9.30 to 11.00am and 11.00 to 12.30pm. Do remember this is an important last practice session for all bands. Individual tuition times for the morning were given last week.

Bands playing at The Stables include (in alphabetical order) -

  • Acropolis
  • Amp.ed Out
  • Angels Endless
  • Anonymos
  • Bad Influence
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • BHG
  • Breathe Deep
  • Buried in a Bass Drum
  • Checkmate
  • D-Fault
  • Don’t Forget Your Earplugs
  • Elsewhere
  • Epic Fail
  • Ice Cold Jalapenos
  • Ignite
  • Jo Sophie & Ben
  • Korrozion
  • Mantis
  • Mayhem
  • Not Quite Human
  • Prestige
  • Pulse
  • Raw Attitude
  • RED
  • Red Dragons
  • Shellshock
  • Short Notice
  • Six Minute Gig
  • Some Random Kids
  • Soundwave
  • State The Obvious
  • Static
  • The Performers

-plus some solo performances and other acts which will shown in the running order in the programme.

At the end of the evening there will a presentation of a very special new award, the Mark Tanton Trophy, which will be awarded annually to a student in recognition of an Outstanding Contribution to Rockschools throughout the year and in memory of a much loved former band member.

Rockschools bands have again been invited to play at the National Rock and Pop Festival on Monday 18 July at Birmingham Town Hall and there are still a few seats available on the coach which is leaving Towcester Leisure Centre at 10.30am and returning by about 11.30pm. More details about the festival from www.rockandpop.org.uk.

Rockschools bands have also been asked to play at Towcester Leisure Centre Olympics Open Day on Saturday 23 July from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Several of our bands will be performing, outside – weather permitting, at this event and there will also be a wide variety of activities inside and out throughout the day. More details from www.southnorthantsleisure.com/towcester.

Rockschools bands Prestige and Korrozion will be playing the opening set at the Brackley Festival Of Motorcycling on Sun 21st August from 11.00am and there are more details available from www.bfom.co.uk.

We will be holding our annual ‘Picnic in the Park’ Family Day at Nicholas Hawksmoor School on Saturday 10 September from 12.30pm with live music from 1.00pm. This event will include registration for our next Rockschools Year and our bands from these various summer events will be there to play.

For any more information on any of these events please contact Ros on 07738 974220 or at rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you all at The Stables on Saturday.

David Taylor

Director

Rockschools

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July Newsletter

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Final arrangements are being made for our Rockschools Concert at The Stables on Saturday 16 July at 6.00pm. Students need to arrive between 5.00 and 5.30pm to check in and store their instruments. Some tickets are still available and will be on sale for the last time at the Towcester Rockschool Tuckshop this Saturday afternoon, in the evening at Brackley on Tuesday and Towcester on Wednesday.

Please remember that students are expected to support all other bands during the concert and seating is provided for them. If any student cannot arrive by 5.30pm or need to leave before the end of the concert do let Ros know on 07738 974220 or at rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk by Saturday 9 July at the latest.

There will be Rockschool sessions on Saturday 16 July but they will be in the morning in order to allow time to prepare for the evening event. The usual 12.30pm session will be from 9.30 to 11.00am and the 3.00pm session from 11.00 to 12.30pm. This will be an important last practice session for all bands. Individual tuition will be in the morning too, teachers will inform students of the exact times at their lessons this Saturday. If you have any queries please contact Ros, as above, immediately. The last session for Brackley students will be on Tuesday 12 July at the usual time but there will be no individual tuition that evening.

Rockschools bands have again been invited to play at the National Rock and Pop Festival on Monday 18 July at Birmingham Town Hall. Bands chosen are Static, D-Fault, Korrozion, Behind Closed Doors and a solo performance from Frances Mitson. Rockschool students are all welcome to come to support our bands. We have booked a coach to take our bands and supporters which will leave Towcester Leisure Centre at 10.30am and return by about 11.30pm. Application forms for places need to be returned to Ros this Saturday. (Download National Rock and Pop Application Form)

Congratulation to Behind Closed Doors for winning the Woodford Halse Fete Battle of the Bands last week and our thanks to all our Towcester Rockschool bands who took part and played so well. Thank you too to our Brackley bands State The Obvious and Short Notice who played at Brackley Scouts Fete the same day and gave a great performance.

With such talent at Rockschools we look forward to yet another fantastic Rockschools Concert!

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June News Update – Midsummer Music

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

Rockschools bands are now all set to play at Midsummer Music on Friday 17 June in Towcester Town Hall from 7.30pm. Tickets are available for the whole Midsummer Music weekend or for Friday night only at just £3 on the door.

Bands playing include -

  • Static
  • D-Fault
  • Ice Cold Jalapenos
  • Anonymos
  • The Performers
  • Jonnie Blunsdon – drum solo
  • Elsewhere
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Breathe Deep
  • Korrozion
  • Epic Fail

Do come and give them all your support. All Rockschools students, friends and families are welcome to come and watch our bands, and as the venue is open to the public, it is a great opportunity for our bands to play to a wider audience. The usual refreshments from our Rockschools Tuckshop will be available but do bring your own to complement these if you would like to.

The final running order will be confirmed on the night but band members are asked to be there by 7.00pm unless otherwise advised by Ros. Any queries please contact Ros on 07738 974220 or at rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk.

Tickets are also now available for our end of year concert at The Stables, at which all Rockschools bands will play. Ticket numbers are limited so do get them as soon as you can.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday night.

David Taylor
Rockschools

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June Newsletter

Friday, June 10th, 2011

We are now back at Rockschools for the last half-term of this Rockschools year. Thank you to all who have paid their fees for this term, for all who have not yet paid please could you do so on Saturday 11 June. Fees are £92.00 for Rockschool and £145.00 for Individual Tuition, payable to Towcester Rockschool Ltd.

Our thanks to the very many of you who gave your support to the bands that played at Towcester Racecourse for their Family Fun Day. This was much appreciated and thank you too to all who worked so hard behind the scenes to make the day a success.

Our next event is Midsummer Music on Friday 17 June in Towcester Town Hall at 7.30pm. Rockschools bands invited to play will be confirmed on Saturday and details will be available shortly. Tickets are available for the whole Midsummer Music weekend or for Friday night only at just £3 on the door.

Tickets are also now available for our end of year concert at The Stables, at which all Rockschools bands will play. They will be on sale from Saturday at Towcester and at evening Rockschools in the week. Ticket numbers are limited so do get them as soon as you can, they are £8.50 per ticket with no concessions.

We look forward to seeing you all and to a very successful end of this Rockschools year.

David Taylor
Director
Rockschools

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May Newsletter

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

This is a very short half-term for Rockschools so Saturday 21May is the last session until Saturday 11 June.

Thank you to all who have paid fees for this term, for all who have not yet paid fees are  required on Saturday 21 May. Fees are £92.00 for Rockschool and £145.00 for Individual Tuition, payable to Towcester Rockschool Ltd. Any queries please contact Ros on 07738 974220 or rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk.  There will be no Rockschools from Saturdays 28 May to 4 June.

Rockschools is playing at Towcester Racecourse at their Family Fun Day on Monday 30 May. Entry is free for under 16s and free passes are available for 16-18s Rockschool students and friends. Free passes need to be collected from Ros on Saturday. All band members playing and student staff helpers need to collect passes from Ros too. Bands taking part are:-

  • Prestige
  • Static
  • The Uproar
  • Epic Fail
  • D-Fault
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Fusion

Do come and give them your support.  Further details of the event can be found at www.towcester-racecourse.co.uk.

Rockschools band Korrozion are playing a 90 minute set at a charity event sponsored by Guinness at the Barley Mow, Cosgrove, MK19 7JD on Sunday 22nd May. The event is in aid of the Matt Hampson Trust. Rugby fans will know that Matt was a Leicester and England U21 rugby player who was paralysed playing rugby. They expect about 400 people to attend including some Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers Rugby stars. For more information on the trust go to www.walk4matt.org. Korrozion have also been entered in the Young Chamber Battle of the Bands with the opportunity of winning through to play at the O2 London finals.

Vote for them online at www.youngchamber.com. Click on ‘Battle of the Bands 2011’, click on ‘view and vote for the bands’ and then listen to and vote for Korrozion which are the first band listed.

A further reminder that Tom Mitson will be with us again on Saturday 21 May to PAT test any equipment students bring to use at Rockschools.

David Taylor
Director
Rockschools

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May Newsletter

Friday, May 13th, 2011

Welcome back to Rockschools for the Summer Term. Thank you all for your hard work and support at our Easter Concerts and to the students who all performed so well. Once again the standard of performance was excellent and we had lots of encouraging feedback from audiences on both nights. Welcome too to those students who are joining us this term for the first time.

A reminder to all who have not yet paid, fees for this term are now due and payment by Saturday 14 May is requested. This is a short half-term so prompt payment would be appreciated. Fees are £92.00 for Rockschool and £145.00 for Individual Tuition, payable to Towcester Rockschool Ltd. Any queries please contact Ros on 07738 974220 or rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk. There will be no Rockschools from Saturdays 28 May to 4 June.

We have lots of events planned for this term beginning with a day at Towcester Racecourse. Rockschools has been invited to play at the Racecourse at their Family Fun Day on Monday 30 May where they will be running a Rockschools Race. Bands taking part are:-

  • Prestige
  • Static
  • The Uproar
  • Epic Fail
  • D-Fault
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Fusion

Do come and give them your support. The event is for all ages with gates open at 12.00 and racing starting at 2.00pm. Entry is free for under 16s and we are being given free passes for 16-18 year old Rockschools students and their friends. All who would like passes need to order them from Ros on Saturday 14 May to collect on Saturday 21 May. Further details of the event can be found at www.towcester-racecourse.co.uk.

Tom Mitson will be with us again on Saturdays 14 and 21 May to PAT test any equipment students bring to use at Rockschool which has not yet been tested and does not have a passed sticker. Would all students with electric guitars, bass, keyboard or electric drums also remember to bring their own named extension lead which can be plugged into the extension lead with circuit breaker supplied by Rockschools so that each room can access one circuit breaker and Tom will then PAT test these too.

Another successful Rockschools band, Korrozion, have been entered in the Young Chamber Battle of the Bands with the opportunity of winning through to play at the O2 London finals. Please give them your support and vote for them online at www.youngchamber.com. Click on ‘Battle of the Bands 2011’, click on ‘view and vote for the bands’ and then listen to and vote for Korrozion which are the first band listed.

Thank you for your continuing support for Behind Closed Doors and Meningitis UK. The launch of their CD Gone Too Soon was a great success and it is on sale now in several music shops in our local areas. If you ordered a CD at the Easter Concert and have not yet received your copy please see Ros. There are also more copies available for any still wishing to purchase.

Other events our bands will be playing at include Midsummer Music on Friday 17 June, our end of year concert at The Stables for all bands on Saturday 16 July and the National Rock and Pop Festival on Monday 18 July. Tickets for The Stables concert will be available shortly.

Meanwhile we look forward to a very happy and productive Summer Term.

David Taylor
Director
Rockschools

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April Newsletter

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Our second Easter Concert is being held at Nicholas Hawksmoor School, Towcester at 6.00pm on Saturday 2 April. Tickets are still available from the Parents Association at the Tuck Shop and each ticket is a numbered entry to the Grand Prize Draw.

Bands playing on Saturday 2 April are:

  • Acropolis
  • Amped Out
  • Anonymos
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • BHG
  • Buried In A Bass Drum
  • Checkmate
  • D-Fault
  • Don’t Forget Your Earplugs
  • Epic Fail
  • Frances & Fusion
  • Ignite
  • Josh – Solo
  • Prestige
  • Pulse
  • Quantity
  • Raw Attitude
  • Red Dragons
  • Shellshock
  • Some Random Kids
  • Sophie & Jo
  • Static
  • The Bandits
  • The Performers
  • The Uproar

Please note: these lists are in alphabetical order and the running order will be shown in the programmes.

Bands attending Rockschool at 12.30pm may go home at 3.00pm and return at 5.30pm, or if necessary may remain at Rockschool until 5.30pm. However, they may not leave the premises so will need to bring plenty of food and drink with them for the afternoon and evening. Bands attending at 3.00pm will need to remain in the school for the start of the concert. Parents and carers wishing to bring in food (i.e. McDonalds etc.) for students must do so by 5.30 at the latest as food cannot be eaten in the Hall. All bands will sit in the Hall to watch others perform throughout the concert.

Rockschools band Behind Closed Doors will open the Concert by playing ‘Gone Too Soon’, which is their tribute song to former band member Mark Tanton. Their CD will be on sale from Saturday at Rockschools and the song is also available now as a download from ITunes at:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/gone-too-soon-single/id427583555

Our thanks to Steve Morton and Toby Smith of Angelic Studios whose generosity made this recording possible and to those who helped with production and marketing, everyone giving their services free of charge, which means that all money raised from both the CD and iTunes will go to Meningitis UK in Mark’s name. The more downloads there are the higher it will be in the iTunes charts and the more there will be raised for Meningitis UK in Mark’s memory. So please download now and ask all you know to do so too.
All students who attend any of our Rockschools for individual tuition are most welcome to come to our concerts and if any would like to join one of our bands we have places available for all ages and abilities. Please contact David Taylor at davidtaylor@rockschools.co.uk for further information.

Our Summer term starts on Saturday 7 May at Towcester and on Tuesday 3 May in Brackley and Wednesday 4 May at Towcester in the evenings.
Our Summer Concert is on Saturday 16 July at 6.00pm at The Stables, Milton Keynes, where we would like all band members to be available to play. Further details will be available next term but a reminder that Towcester Rockschool will be in the morning from 9.30 on that day.

Enjoy our final Easter concert and we look forward to seeing you again next term.

Wishing you a very happy Easter Holiday,

David Taylor
Director
Rockschools

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Rockschools Easter Concerts

Friday, March 25th, 2011

Our first Easter Concert is being held at Nicholas Hawksmoor School, Towcester at 6.00pm on Saturday 26 March with the second one on Saturday 2 April. Tickets still available from the Parents Association at the Tuck Shop and each ticket is a numbered entry to the Grand Prize Draw.

Bands playing on Saturday 26 March are:

  • Bad Influence
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Breathe Deep
  • D-Fault
  • Elsewhere
  • Epic Fail
  • Frances
  • Ice Cold Jalapenos
  • Korrozion
  • Mantis
  • Mayhem
  • Not Quite Human
  • RED
  • Short Notice
  • Six Minute Gig
  • Soundwave
  • State The Obvious
  • Static
  • The Uproar

Bands playing on Saturday 2 April are:

  • Acropolis
  • Amped Out
  • Anonymos
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • BHG
  • Buried In A Bass Drum
  • Checkmate
  • D-Fault
  • Don’t Forget Your Earplugs
  • Epic Fail
  • Ignite
  • Josh
  • Prestige
  • Pulse
  • Quantity
  • Raw Attitude
  • Red Dragons
  • Shellshock
  • Some Ransom Kids
  • Sophie & Jo
  • Static
  • The Bandits
  • The Performers
  • The Uproar

Please note: these lists are in alphabetical order and the running order will be shown in the programmes.

Bands attending Rockschool at 12.30pm may go home at 3.00pm and return at 5.30pm, or if necessary may remain at Rockschool until 5.30pm. However, they may not leave the premises so will need to bring plenty of food and drink with them for the afternoon and evening. Bands attending at 3.00pm will need to remain in the school for the start of the concert. Parents and carers wishing to bring in food (i.e. McDonalds etc.) for students must do so by 5.30 at the latest as food cannot be eaten in the Hall. All bands will sit in the Hall to watch others perform throughout the concert.

Many thanks to all Rockschools parents and students for their support of ‘Mark’s Charity Gig’ at Campion School on Wednesday. Our Rockschools bands played fantastic sets and the event was a huge success in raising funds for Meningitis UK in memory of Mark Tanton. The song ’Gone Too Soon’, written and recorded by Mark’s band members, Behind Closed Doors, is about to be released as a CD and will also be available as a download from ITunes and preorders for the CD can be placed on Saturday at the concert, with all money raised going to Meningitis UK.

Our Summer term starts on Saturday 7 May at Towcester and our Summer Concert is on Saturday 16 July at 6.00pm at The Stables, Milton Keynes, where we would like all band members to be available to play. Further details will be available next term but a reminder that Towcester Rockschool will be in the morning from 9.30 on that day.

We look forward to seeing you at the first of our Easter concerts.

David Taylor
Director
Rockschools

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