Programs > Rock School
Rock School
This program offers courses and workshops for young people aged 11 to 16 years that provides training, development and performance opportunities in contemporary music, focusing on the instruments and format of the classic rock band: electric guitar, bass guitar, vocals, and drums, with some opportunities for keyboard players. Rock School began as a week long summer holiday workshop in 2007 and has grown to become an ongoing and very popular activity at Music For Everyone.
Rock School bands have performed at a number of major public events and venues in the ACT, including the National Multicultural Festival, the Tuggeranong Moon Festival, Floriade, ACT Youth Week, New Acton and Belconnen Arts Centre. Bands have also competed successfully at the Australian National Eisteddfod and the School Stars Band competition of CIT’s Micfest.
Smokefree Rock School Holiday Workshops
Workshops are run for one week of both the January and October school holidays. Youth aged 11 to 16 years with some experience on electric guitar, bass guitar, vocals or drums are invited to apply. At this workshop, participants develop their instrumental, performance and song-writing skills, with the expert guidance of a team of experienced Music For Everyone tutors and Canberra-based band musicians.
Participants are formed into bands that work on a number of songs over the course of the workshop, including covers and originals. The workshop ends with a showcase concert for family and friends, plus at least one performance opportunity for the bands at a festival or event in Canberra, such as Floriade or the National Multicultural Festival.
Applications for Rock School open approximately two months before each workshop. Only a limited number of places are available for each instrument type, and once applications are opened they are filled on a first come / first serve basis. To join the waiting-list and receive information about Rock School, send an email with your name, age and instrument to enrol@mfe.org.au
2009 October Smokefree Rock School Holiday Workshops
Workshop: Tuesday 6 October - Saturday 10 October
Floriade Concert: Sunday 11 October Floriade Commonwealth Park
2010 January Smokefree Rock School Holiday Workshops
Workshop: Wednesday 27 January - Sunday 31 January afternoons (TBC)
For detailed info on workshop dates and to download application forms, visit Special Events
Rock Academy
After Rock School, a number of places are made available to participants who wish to continue rehearsing and developing their bands. The selected bands attend a regular after-school program each Friday of the school term. Music For Everyone organises a range of additional performance opportunities for the Rock Academy bands, including gigs at Ainslie Arts Centre, festivals and other events. Bands are assisted and mentored by experienced tutors each week. Rock Academy is only open to a limited number of graduates of Rock School.
For info on upcoming Rock Academy and Rock School performances, visit Special Events
Photos of recent Rock Academy bands can be found on Flickr