Musical tuition for contemporary small ensembles has been offered through the MEP’s Rock Band program since 2011. In 2019 we had approximately 20 bands being tutored through the program with multiple performance opportunities and some graduates – The Hot Heads, Haze Trio, The Citizens for example – enjoying significant success in the wider world.
Students in Rock Band work with approximately four other students in a pop/rock band lineup – usually drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, vocals etc. Each band rehearses intensively under the guidance of a tutor for one period on Thursdays or Fridays, leaving class to do so (with the timetable of rehearsals rotating to minimise missing multiple periods of the same subject). The bands usually start by learning contemporary rock/pop songs they like, but there is a strong focus on encouraging and assisting students to create their own material, and it’s not long before they’re playing songs they’ve written themselves. Guitarists and bassists need to use their own instruments but keyboards, drums (not drumsticks), amps, mics etc are available at the school.
Students can either nominate other students they want to play with, or be allocated a group to be part of by the Rock Band director. They need to have some familiarity with their instrument and regular private tuition is essential.
Performance opportunities include community festivals, MEP concerts, City to Surf, school assemblies and functions, local council events, WAYS concerts, band competitions and our annual Rose Bay Rocks gala.
Questions about Rock Band? Contact seanwindsor@gmail.com
RBSC Music Ensemble Program 