Rockschools
 

January Newsletter

January 20th, 2012

Welcome back to Rockschools for the first term of 2012. Welcome too to those who are joining us for the first time. We look forward to working together over the coming weeks.

Thank you to all who have paid for this term and could those whose fees are still outstanding please see Ros this Saturday. Fees are £98.00 for band members and £148.00 for individual tuition with cheques payable to Towcester Rockschool.

Already this term Korrozion and Behind Closed Doors have played at The Mark 11 Gig in Nether Heyford in support of Meningitis UK and this Saturday, 21 January, bands are playing at Charity Rocks in Towcester and The Y Factor in Northampton.

Charity Rocks is at The Town Hall Towcester at 7.30pm and is in support of the Mayor’s charities. Epic Fail, D-Fault and Behind Closed Doors are playing, with some Rockschools bands from past years. Tickets are available from Towcester Rockschool on Saturday afternoon and also on the door on the night.

The Y Factor is taking place at the Picturedrome in Northampton and Korrozion are performing there.

So a busy start to the year for several of our Rockschools bands and there will be more news of forthcoming events soon.

David Taylor
Director
Rockschools

December Newsletter 2011

December 2nd, 2011

We are now preparing for our last Christmas Concert at Nicholas Hawksmoor School in Towcester on Saturday 3 December at 6.00pm. The Parents and Friends Association will be again be providing refreshments for the evening with the usual Tuckshop for our students and Mulled Wine with Mince Pies for the adults. They will also be holding a Raffle, from ticket seat numbers, with prizes of M&S £50 and £25 vouchers, to be drawn at the end of the evening.

Bands playing on 3 December:

  • Amped Out
  • Bad Influence
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Buried In A Bass Drum
  • D- Fault
  • Dont Forget Your Earplugs
  • Epic Fail
  • George & Naomi
  • Haribo
  • Ice Cold Jalapenos
  • Isabelle – solo
  • Jonnie & Rosie
  • Korrozion
  • Lost Direction
  • Orange Mondayz
  • Raw Attitude
  • RED
  • SARAH
  • Shellshock
  • Short Notice
  • State The Obvious
  • Stop and Rock
  • Susie – solo
  • The Performers
  • The Question
  • Will & Charlie

Please note the bands are shown in alphabetical order and the running order will be shown in the programme. For those new to our concerts please note that 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.

If you have any queries please contact Ros on 07738 974220 or at rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk

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.

During the evening Rockschools band Behind Closed Doors will also selling Christmas Raffle tickets on behalf of Meningitis UK. They cost £1 each with a first prize of £1,000.  The current total raised in memory of former Rockschools student Mark Tanton for Meningitis UK is £20,000, of which Behind Closed Doors has now so far raised over £1,000 from their tribute CD sales and ITunes downloads. Thank you to all our Rockschools students, parents and friends who have contributed so generously to this worthy cause in remembrance of Mark.

Rockschools Spring Term will start at 12.30pm on Saturday 7 January in Towcester and in the evenings on Tuesday 11 January in Brackley and Wednesday 12 January in Towcester.

Some dates for your diaries – Rockschools bands are playing in January at two fundraising events, the first on 7 January in Nether Heyford for The Mark II gig in aid of Meningitis UK and then on 21 January at Towcester Town Hall for Charity Rocks in aid of the Mayor’s charities for Young People in Towcester and the Cynthia Spencer Hospice. More details will be in the next newsletter.

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

David Taylor

Director

Rockschools

November New Update

November 25th, 2011

We are now getting ready for the first of our Christmas Concerts on Saturday 26 November at 6.00pm. Our second concert is on Saturday 3 December at the same time. The Parents and Friends Association will be providing refreshments for both evenings with the usual Tuckshop for our students and Mulled Wine with Mince Pies for the adults. They will also be holding a Raffle, with prizes of M&S £50 and £25 vouchers for each concert, to be drawn during each evening.

Bands playing on 26 November:

  • Acropolis
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Ben & Kierra
  • Daniel – solo
  • D-Fault
  • Divided
  • Ellipses
  • Elsewhere
  • Epic Fail
  • Feedback
  • Havok
  • Jonnie – solo
  • Korrozion
  • Lost Direction
  • Lost Stolen or Strayed
  • Mette – solo
  • Mette & Daniel
  • Orange Mondayz
  • Paiste 101
  • Pulse
  • Red Dragon
  • Sophie & Jo
  • Soundwave
  • The Outsiders

Please note the bands are shown in alphabetical order and the running order will be shown in the programme. For those new to our concerts please note that 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.

If you have any queries please contact Ros on 07738 974220 or atrosmiles@rockschools.co.uk

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 atdavidtaylor@rockschools.co.uk for further information.

During the evenings Rockschools band Behind Closed Doors will also selling Christmas Raffle tickets on behalf of Meningitis UK. They cost £1 each with a first prize of £1,000. The current total raised in memory of former Rockschools student Mark Tanton for Meningitis UK is £20,000, of which Behind Closed Doors has raised £937 from the sales so far of their tribute CD. Thank you to all our Rockschools students, parents and friends who have contributed so generously to this worthy cause in remembrance of Mark.

We look forward to seeing you all at our Christmas Concerts.

David Taylor

Director

Rockschools

November Newsletter

November 11th, 2011

We are now coming to the end of our Autumn Term at Rockschools and all bands are busy preparing for our Christmas Concerts at Nicholas Hawksmoor School on Saturdays 26 November and 3 December at 6.00pm.

Bands playing on Saturday 26 November:

  • Acropolis
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Conor & Co
  • D-Fault
  • Divided
  • Ellipses
  • Elsewhere
  • Epic Fail
  • Feedback
  • Havok
  • Jo & Sophie
  • Korrozion
  • Lost Direction
  • Lost Stolen or Strayed
  • Mette & Daniel
  • Orange Mondayz
  • Paiste 101
  • Pulse
  • Red Dragon
  • Soundwave
  • The Outsiders

and on Saturday 3 December:

  • Amped Out
  • Bad Influenec
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Buried in a Bass Drum
  • D-Fault
  • Dont Forget Your Earplugs
  • Epic Fail
  • George & Naomi
  • Haribo
  • Ice Cold Jalapenos
  • Jonnie & Rosie
  • Korrozion
  • Lost Direction
  • Raw Attitude
  • RED
  • SARAH
  • Shellshock
  • State The Obvious
  • Stop and Rock
  • The Brackley Mix
  • The Performers

Ticket prices remain the same as last year at £5 for adults, £3 for children and £13 for a Family Ticket and will be on sale from Saturday at Towcester Rockschool and from Tuesday at Brackley Rockschool. Our Parents Assn. will be providing refreshments for the evening.

Please note the bands are shown in alphabetical order and the running order will be shown in the programme. Please contact Ros on 07738 974220 or rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk before Saturday if you have any queries or would like further details.

For those new to our concerts please note that 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.

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.

We look forward to seeing you all at our Christmas Concerts.

David Taylor

Director

Rockschools

October Newsletter

October 21st, 2011

We are now at half-term time already and there are no Rockschools between 22 and 29 October. We will be back as follows:

  • Brackley -  Tuesday 1 November
  • Towcester -  Wednesday 2 November
  • Towcester - Saturday 5 November

We are busy planning our Christmas Concerts and are considering holding them over one weekend rather than on two Saturdays. The proposed dates areSaturday 3 December and Sunday 4 December. The Sunday concert could start and finish earlier than on a Saturday to allow for school the next day. The sound system and staging would only need to be set up once and tiered seating provided for both concerts. This would reduce the workload of staff and members of the Parents Assn. considerably. The concerts would then be at the end of Rockschools term for all bands. Your opinion of this change would be appreciated at rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk or on 07738 974220.

The Rockschools Blog is now up and running onwww.rockschools.co.uk so do check it out for all our latest news. Over the holiday there is to be a serialisation of a previous student’s experiences of Rockschools in its early years which should be of interest to our current students.

Rockschools band Korrozion are launching their debut album at The Picturedrome, Northampton onThursday 27 October. The show opens at 7.00pm with Behind Closed Doors and Korrozion are playing at 9.00pm. They are also giving a live interview on Central Milton Keynes Radio on Wednesday 26 October between 6.00and 8.00pm – www.crmk.co.uk.

There are to be Towcester and Brackley Battle of the Bands events in conjunction with Vision Youth Café and The Hub Youth Café with the first date at Vision on Friday 28 October. Rockschools bands will be taking part and entries are still welcome. Rockschools band D-Fault are also headlining at a Charity Event at The Saracen’s Head in Towcester onSaturday 12 November.

Further details of all events are shown on the blog, meanwhile we hope you all have a good holiday and look forward to seeing you again in November.

David Taylor

Director

Rockschools

September Newsletter

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

September Newsletter – Rockschools Open Day and Registration

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

July News Update – The Stables

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

July Newsletter

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!

June News Update – Midsummer Music

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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