Curriculum

The Syllabus Back to Top

The researchers for Learn to Rock have spent several years designing a specific syllabus for study which encompasses ‘best practice’ in contemporary popular music teaching and learning. The syllabus has been created collaboratively by three bodies of professionals: practicing contemporary popular music teachers, freelance session musicians/ music studio technicians and university doctoral and post doctoral researchers. The syllabus enables students to achieve their full potential through practical music making when learning about popular music but also allows for students to be creative and imaginative through their music making.

The annual syllabus is divided into 6 x 6 weeks of study where students focus on learning about one area of contemporary popular music each 6 weeks. The areas include early Blues to modern day Rap, Funk, Jazz and Latin music and encompass many other popular styles of music between 1900 and the present day.
Read about some of the artists and bands that are studied on the Learn to Rock programme.

The syllabus comprises a core and an enriched curriculum. Students study each aspect of the core curriculum each week and elements of the enriched curriculum during the course of the year.

The Learn to Rock curriculum spans three hours of guided tuition in small groups each week for which ALL STUDENTS are occupied for the duration of the three hours (including a short 15 minute break).

THE CORE CURRICULUM is comprised of four integral components:
• INSTRUMENTAL STUDY: here students opt to study one of the following instruments: electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards or contemporary popular vocals. Study each week is organised within ability groups where the students are guided specifically with instrumental or vocal technique development and improvisation skills within the discreet instrumental disciplines
• POPULAR MUSIC THEORY AND SONG WRITING: students are guided in a practical approach to understanding popular music theory. This work is developed as the students learn the skills of song writing and arrangement
• CREATIVE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY: students use both sequencing and notational music software packages to compose and record their own songs. Students are guided with the principles of using Music IT and are then encouraged to become creative in applying their Music IT skills to producing their own songs and arrangements
• BAND MUSICIANSHIP: students are grouped within abilities and are guided in band ensemble performance with the option of performing all genres of contemporary popular music from R and B to Metal, Soul to Funk, Jazz to Latin to name but a few styles. Further to this, students are guided in band leadership skills where they are encouraged to chose and rehearse their own songs

THE ENHANCED CURRICULUM is comprised of various units of study integrated throughout the year. These additional units of study include:
• AURAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT: students are coached in small groups using a practical approach with their instrument to develop their aural ability
• SIGHT READING: students are coached in reading bass and treble clef and TAB
• MUSIC STUDIO WORK EXPERIENCE: all students from year two, engage in four weeks of 3 hours per week music studio work experience. Here the students visit a local music studio and experience the activities in a working music studio. Students are given the opportunity to record their own or cover songs, use the latest Music technology and recording systems to record, edit and mix down their recordings ultimately producing a professional quality CD recording of their songs

Timetable Back to Top

Click to download the learn to rock timetable

Performances Back to Top

There are two forums for performances at Learn to Rock. First, all Learn to Rock students are guided with mini-performances within each taught session of each week. These performances are viewed by the students and tutors and all students are encouraged to evaluate their performances (either solo, band or demonstrations of compositional work) with a view to improving performing and composition techniques. In addition, Learn to Rock invites local and national band promoters and talent scouts to all public performances and masterclasses. This allows for up and coming student talent to be spotted and the possibility of the Learn to Rock bands and solo artists to be given an even wider experience in the world of commercial music production.

At the major performance, typically at the end of each academic year, Learn to Rock invites talent scouts and band promoters from the music industry with a view to providing an opportunity for performers and composers to be ‘spotted’. This can lead to band promotions, recording contracts and work within the commercial music industry.

The second forum for performance is more formal. At the end of each year the Learn to Rock students stage a public performance event in the style of a typically staged concert. The venue for which is a custom designed performance theatre. The performances are usually themed and present the opportunity for parents and friends to attend a formal event where the Learn to Rock students really show off their achievements in performance and composition.

Masterclasses Back to Top

Each year Learn to Rock invites recognised contemporary popular musicians working within the field to present a public viewed masterclass to the students. The objective of which is to enable the Learn to Rock students gain a contrasting perspective of their work in progress.

The masterclasses are sometimes during the course of the directed tuition time and sometimes as an extra event during the evening (depending on guest availability).

The guest musicians work closely with the Learn to Rock students with a particular focus. It may be working with the electric guitarists in developing aspects of improvisation or with the Drummers in working on technique. It may be a composition masterclass where students present their work in progress using a live band and the guest works with the student and the band in developing aspects of the composition. It also may be with a band from the band musicianship classes where the guest would work on aspects of band performance. There are many masterclass situations, the above mentioned ones are just a few examples of the programme of masterclasses that we offer to the Learn to Rock students.

Exams Back to Top

Students at Learn to Rock do not have to undertake any examinations on their chosen instrument. However, there is the option for students to apply their knowledge and skill to presenting themselves (with or without the guidance of an external instrumental tutor) for practical examinations. Further information on this can be provided through Learn to Rock.

During Year two of the Creative Music Technology classes, students begin work on the BTech course in Music technology. Students follow the syllabus for the BTECC course, but there is no compulsion for students to be presented for assessment if they do not wish to do so. However, we do strongly support all students in the presentation for assessment in this area (if they wish to pursue this) which eventually leads to a formally recognised national qualification