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Mrs Sue Blunsden – Vocals

Miss Laura Hemming – Supervisory and Piano

An accomplished performer and teacher, Laura Hemming has a long association with music in Northamptonshire.

As a performer she is best known as a pianist but she also sings and plays electric bass guitar and clarinet, as well as being a sought-after accompanist.

Her experience of playing in competitions and at prestigious venues such as London’s Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, Wales’ Millenium Centre, Cardiff’s St David’s Hall and the NEC in Birmingham, has proved invaluable to her students and colleagues alike.

Trained as a teacher at Bristol University, Laura now teachers a wide range of music in Northamptonshire primary and secondary schools including curriculum music, ensembles, clarinet and choirs as well as individual piano lessons. Her private teaching includes piano, aural and general musicianship and she supervises and coaches bands at Rockschools, filling in as an instrumental teacher as and when required.

Miss Amy Clayton – Piano /Keyboard

Amy studied piano and clarinet at Royal Holloway, University of London where she received her Bachelor of Music degree. Since she graduated, Amy has worked extensively with children, teaching and running workshops in London and Northamptonshire.

Amy has been teaching piano and keyboard at Towcester Rock School since January 2010 and is qualified to prepare students for Rockschool, Trinity and Associated Board (ABRSM) examinations.

Lessons are tailored to the individual needs and wishes of the pupil, progressing them through exams or enabling them to play for pleasure, if they prefer.

Mr Chris Hardwick – Drums

Chris started drumming at the age of ten. He attended Towcester Rockschool, passed his grade 8 and then, in 2009, graduated from Drumtech College, London with distinction and the “Overall Best Drummer of the Year” award.

Chris has performed all over the UK with various bands covering a variety of different styles. Towcester Rockschool gave him his first opportunity to play competitively and he subsequently moved from rock to jazz, playing with the Northamptonshire Big Band.

In 2005 Chris returned to pop/rock material and, as part of ‘The Click’ and ‘Planet Hokum’, played large numbers of gigs in the UK and recorded 2 studio EPs.

Chris’ session work started whilst he was still at DrumTech College when he was given the opportunity to record with ‘Still Life’.

He has recently returned from a UK tour with ‘Unkle Bob’ (an Indie/pop/folk band, originally from Glasgow), supporting Tim Booth (lead singer of James), and is now recording in Portugal and Wales.

Mr Warren Brunskill – Drums

“My dad was a jazz and big-band drummer back in the fifties and sixties and I have him to thank for my passion for drumming!
 
I have been playing drums for over 30 years and I have been teaching for the last 10 or so.
 
I make sure that all my students are able to read drum notation, have a good sense of the feel and pulse of a tune and that they learn to play drums in a way that complements both the song and the other members of the band.

I try and ensure that students understand what they are playing, why they are playing it, and why it works musically. I believe that continued practice results in improved performance but we must retain a sense of fun!
 
As an active performer in a variety of bands including www.identitycrisismusic.co.uk, I can bring to my students a real sense of what being a drummer in a live band is all about! 
 
The Rockschools environment is a great place for students of all instruments and I am always thrilled to see my drummers develop and take part in Rockschools concerts throughout the year – it’s just a wonderful feeling to be able to help them on their way to being a better drummer!