First of all we have a reminder for all students who bring any instrument or equipment that needs to be plugged in. For Health and Safety reasons we supply each room with a power breaker and one extension lead. All equipment must be run through this power breaker so each student must bring their own extension lead to attach to this. Each student’s extension lead should also be clearly named!

We also supply each band with a PA which includes 1 or 2 mics. We cannot however supply mic stands so we would ask singers to bring their own stands. Lead singers might like to bring their own mic too. We are able to offer a mic, complete with lead and stand in a carry case, for £30.00. If you would like to see a sample or place an order please see Ros any Saturday.

Thank you to all who supported our collection at Waitrose, we have now been given a cheque from them for £301.00 which we are putting towards the purchase of a lighting set which will be available for bands to use at the various gigs they are asked to take part in. Thanks too for the support given to RockVision which raised over £200.00 for the Mayor’s charities in Towcester.

The Rockschools Website’s update is now completed and there are lots more photos of all our bands for you to see there so do check it out www.rockschools.co.uk

We have again entered several bands for this year’s Music for Youth National Festival and will soon be videoing them so that their recorded entries can be submitted.

This term we have a new Piano and Keyboard teacher join us and we can therefore now offer more tuition in these instruments. There are also some places still available for tuition in Guitar, Bass, Drums and Singing. We can now offer more Singing lessons on Wednesday evenings in Towcester as well. If you are interested in booking lessons with any of our teachers please contact Ros on 07738 974220 or rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk. We still have some places for students who attend any of our Rockschools for individual tuition to join our bands in Rockschools where we cater for all ages and abilities. Please contact David Taylor at davidtaylor@rockschools.co.uk for further details.

Our guitar group for adults has started again on Wednesday evenings at Nicholas Hawksmoor School, Towcester and there are places available for any age over 18 and all abilities, contact Ros if you would like more details.

Our drum teacher, Warren Brunskill, is playing with his band, Identity Crisis, at The Red Lion in Brackley on Saturday 20 February. It would be great to see both parents and students (who are old enough to go to pubs!) there, all are welcome. For more information and details of his band go to www.identitycrisismusic.co.uk

Some further dates for your diaries are our Easter Concerts this term on Saturday 20 and Saturday 28 March at Nicholas Hawksmoor School, Towcester. If you are not available on one of those dates please let Ros know as soon as you can. The date of our Summer Concert has had to be changed due to the Grand Prix at Silverstone and the World Cup final now both being on Sunday 11 July and we now plan to hold it on Saturday 17 July at The Stables, Milton Keynes. We would like all band members to be available to play on that date. More details on all these events will be given in the next newsletter.

Meanwhile we look forward to another successful term of Rockschools.

David Taylor

Director

Rockschools

REGISTRATION, SESSIONS AND LESSONS FOR THE NEW TERM WILL BEGIN AT 12.30 AS USUAL AND THE FIRST HALF-TERM OF DATES WILL NOW BE 16, 23, 30 JANUARY AND 6, 13 FEBRUARY.

EVENING ROCKSCHOOL AT BRACKLEY WILL START ON 12 JANUARY AND AT TOWCESTER ON 13 JANUARY.

HOWEVER DUE TO THE SNOW WE CANNOT BE SURE THAT NICHOLAS HAWKSMOOR SCHOOL, TOWCESTER, WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN ON SATURDAY 9 JANUARY SO LATEST INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN ON THE WEBSITE .

Thank you to everyone who took part in our concerts at the end of last term.

Many thanks too to all in the audience for their support of the bands.  The standard of performance from all bands was excellent and your feedback was greatly encouraging. There is lots of potential for us to build on for next term, well done to all.

We still have places for students who attend any of our Rockschools for individual tuition to join our bands in Rockschools where we cater for all ages and abilities. Please contact David Taylor at davidtaylor@rockschools.co.uk for further information. There are also a few places left for tuition in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, Keyboard and Singing at all centres. If you are interested in booking lessons please contact Ros Miles on 07738 974220 or rosmiles@rockschools.co.uk.

We hope to be able to see you all again on Saturday 9 January or during the following week - but do check back for the latest details!

David Taylor

Director

Rockschools