My last will and testament…

Before I die, which hopefully won’t be for at least another 20 years, I would like to see a dream of mine come true. This dream is not about my life though, it is about how many other lives we can help or influence.

More specifically, how many creative and musical people we can help to express themselves, give them a voice and nurture their natural creativity. I would like to give them a tool kit to give them greater independence and self sufficiency in an ever changing industry and economy.

It is this start in life which is so important for our young people. If we get it wrong we could be not allowing their true creative spirit to emerge. We also need to give them the skills / toolkit for self sufficiency. This means we need to prepare young people for a new music and creative industry dominated by social technology and the internet. I believe that education exists to help people develop their own skills in preparation for work and industry. Therefore, a modern university or college HAS TO BE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING INDUSTRY and JOBS in very practical ways.

In order to achieve this our academy MUST continuously develop and move as the industry develops and moves. IT must have extremely close ties with industry people and MUST NOT be education in an ‘academic bubble’ or funded by ‘research’. This is not good value for money for the students. There are very few educational organisations that have the correct balance and ‘can turn on a dime’ when its students need them to be. Most academic institutions around the world are built on INERTIA and conversatism.

From my experience ‘creative thoughts’ do not happen in a classroom. The classroom is the meeting point for all parties, where the thoughts can be distributed, explained, shared and discussed. The classroom needs redefining to the way think and behave. Learning must be a two way process. I believe that a good teacher knows when to step back and let learning take place. Learning music and creative arts needs to be approached completely differently to other subjects and therefore classrooms are more like studios. Creative places to use technology and experience.

The area of land surrounding a building is EQUALLY important to the spaces and resources inside. For a creative musician, we get inspired by meeting people and visiting places and sometimes areas for reflection and calm.

So before I die, I would like to see our humble academy in a permanent CAMPUS with a inspiring historic buildings with WIDE OPEN spaces and natural gardens for young people and the whole community to discover their musical and creative talents.

If you want to help me build this campus please email me pete.doyle@readingrockacademy.com or ring me on 07830 353136 NOW.

Thank you.. Rock on!!

Pete Doyle
Founder & Director
Reading Rock Academy – preparing musicians for the new music industry
www.readingrockacademy.com

Band Coaching with Reading Rock Academy Update

Since doing our Battle of the Schools Bands event at the Hexagon in Jan 2010.. we have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to work more closely with schools and help bands write songs and improve their technical ability. I wrote the band coaching programme with Mic Harrison , our head of drums, and we are pleased that it’s helping kids learn an instrument in a band. The kids’ are really enjoying themselves and they are really creative with coming up with ideas for songs.

It’s not easy learning to play a musical instrument, in fact, I respect anyone who tries, whatever age they start. Playing in a band requires more than just technical ability. You need to work as a team, listen to eachother, be tolent of other ideas and then put it all into a 3 minute song.  We ‘ve just had a really good session tonight with 6 new bands at The Gateway Building in Theale Green School tonight and it is inspiring to work with Kids who want to learn playing music.

Don’t get me wrong, its not always easy.. some days it takes a while to get kids motivated to play.. i know with my own kids that you have to pick the right time to lead and then the right time to back off and let them be creative.

I am absolutely amazed by the kids at The John Madejski Academy [JMA] Both year 7 and year 13 guys are so motivated to want to play music that they stay behind after school on a Friday and pay with their own money to participate in the programme. JMA have make us feel very welcome they treat us are part of the team and the kids really are fantastic. Here’s a link to the JMA arts site..  http://www.jmaarts.com/bandcoaching.html

So why do we do this?? … there can only be one answer.. and that’s to help kids learn to play music in a fun and educational way which is personal to the needs of the student..

As Leah Mills at JMA puts it… …”The Reading Rock Academy programme feels part of our Music department; it is not an “add-on”, it is very much a part of the way we deliver music in an individualised way; and together we provide opportunities for the bands to perform.”

This was the REASON I set up the music academy in the first place to help kids learn to play music whatever style they are interested in. Reading Rock Academy is not just about rock music – it is about an attitude to learning to play modern music. We don’t receive any funding for this and I rely heavily on respect from students and a good relationship with parents.  When teaching music, I believe it’s up to us teachers to make learning music fun and we have to constantly find new ways of trying to keep kids interested.

Thanks to all the parents and students – rock on!!

I am humbled and very fortunate to work with people who want to learn..playing music is a great feeling.

For More details are our band coaching programme http://www.readingrockacademy.com/Band_Coaching_Programme.html

Reading Rock Academy in the news…

Thank you to Jenny Minard for writing such a lovely piece about our Reading Rock Academy….

Reading’s School of Rock rocks

By Jenny Minard
May 19, 2010

For some, stardom might come easily… yeah right. But for most bands they will need some kind of help as they try to succeed.

That’s where Reading Rock Academy comes in.

Guitar teacher and founder of the RRA Pete Doyle has launched new band coaching sessions and they are proving so popular he is looking to expand.

“We started this in February,” he says. “And we now have eight bands that we are coaching.

“The programme lasts 12 weeks and each band member comes along for an hour each week.

“I also bring other specialists in on the sessions such as vocals, drums and bass tutors.

“We will write a song together and I help them with chord structure, soloing, arrangements of music, dynamics and performance. We put the bands together based on experience and musical interest.”

full article is available here

http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/music/local_bands/s/2071322_readings_school_of_rock_rocks

Calcot Rocks !!!

Sun was shining in Calcot and the kids rocked at the church community event today. Thank you everyone for coming and see us and having a go on the drums , guitar or singing today..

I think we all had a good time and enjoyed rocking out in the sunshine..

I hope to see some of you in the academy very soon..

take care and keep rocking…

Hire us for your summer events…..

If you are holding any summer fetes/family days / corporate events/ community events around the Reading area and you want to offer professional taster guitar, bass, vocal and drum lessons  … please email us.

Our professional team will come along and help you add a new twist to make your event extra special and successful. Services include taster guitar, bass, drum or vocal lessons, music workshops and team building sessions or even coach a band to play a  song.

Reading Rock Academy will be present at the following events and we will keep this post updated as more events get booked… Come along and say hi to us… you may even get a taster guitar or drum lesson.

Sat 15th May – Free Community Event in Field next to Savacentre J12 M4 from 1-4pm
Fri 23rd and Sat 24th July – Marvellous 2010 – Family Festival, Wellington Country Park

To book our teaching event team please call us on 07830 353136 or email us info@readingrockacademy.com

This is a new service from Reading Rock Academy.com – making  music fun

Reading Rock Academy invited to launch of ‘Get on Track’ at John Madejski Academy

I was honoured and humbled to be invited to the John Madejski Academy on Tuesday this week. It was the launch of the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust [DKH Trust]  – ‘Get on Track’ programme for coaching kids to achieve their dreams.

After a warm welcome from the Head, Kate Shaw, we were treated to an inspiring speech and video presentation from Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir John Madejski himself. It was very humbling meeting them and I certainly felt inspired to do more to help kids get on in life in Reading. 

In fact , Tuesday was a revelation for me, I realised that doing simple things really well can make a big difference to young people’s lives. I sometimes get confused with all the local authority projects and initiatives but the message from Kate Shaw, Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir John was simple. Everyone is good at something… we can all help young people to find out what they are good at and then encourage them to make a living from it.

I see many good people in Reading in our local schools and community… they all inspire me [you know who you are so I won't embarass you here on my blog!]

We were all given a card to make our own pledges … and here’s mine..

 ’To build the best music academy for the young people in Reading’…

simple and plain english as I can’t do big words… but if I can encourage people to pick up an instrument and starting playing and writing music, then I will be happy… this is the reason I want to devote the rest of my life to encouraging kids and adults to learn music and enjoy performing it and hopefully getting them to make a living from music.

We’ve started doing the band coaching programme now at John Madejski Academy [JMA] on Friday afternoons and I want to work more with the JMA to help extend this programme to more students and hopefully the local population too. If you want us to help in your school please click on the contact us page on my site www.readingrockacademy.com and ring me.

New 12 week band coaching programmes

Reading Rock Academy is now starting 12 week band coaching programmes for all ages and any abilities. We find you other band members of similiar age and ability and put you into bands for a 12 week programme. If you are already in a band and want to improve your song writing and performance we have a programme for you too.

The programmes will be 1 hr weekly sessions for £10 per session. Each week you will have a band coach with you helping to arrange the songs, hint and tips, studying areas for improving performance and musicianship. During the programme you will also benefit from specialist tutors on bass, guitar, keyboard, vocals and drums so you are able to get high quality instrumental tuition too.

Come along at this Saturday at The Gateway at Theale Green School at 11am to find out more about the programme and meet some other band members and register for the programme.

A night to remember – kids rocked The Hexagon …!

Saturday 23^rd January 2010 will be a night to remember for the 8 school bands that took part in the 1st and historic Reading Rock Academy’s Battle of the School Bands 2010.

(pictured left to right, Matt Bew [The White House Studio, Yelow Fever Band, David Briggs, MD of Dawsons Music in the middle of the band]

The winners, Yellow Fever, From Matthew Arnold School in South Oxford walked away with £5,000 for their school music department, thanks to Dawsons Music in Reading. Yellow Fever also won the chance to record a professional CD at The White House Studio in Reading and the 2010 Title Reading Rock Academy’s Best School Band.

It was a close competition with all the bands playing their heart out. I  have a feeling that we will be seeing these bands come back next year to try and win the trophy from Matthew Arnold School. We tried to make the whole day a special experience for them by helping them with media training and photography shoots. We wanted the kids to feel like rock stars for the day.

I would like to thank my  loyal friends and family who helped put the show on to try and raise as much money as possible for Prior’s Court School for Children with Autism in Newbury.  I owe a great deal to all the people behind the scenes at The Hexagon staff who worked hard to get this competition off the ground, against all odds.

I would also like to give a very special thanks to the judges who gave up their time to help judge the bands, especially, Nick Heyward, who delighted the audience at the end of the show with an acoustic performance of ‘Fantastic Day’. It truly was a fantastic day!

I’ve  already booked the Hexagon for Jan 22 2011 and taking entries now for the 2011 competition. Just visit our website and just email me your details for next year’s competition.  I’m still waiting for the final numbers but I think we managed to raise several hundred pounds for the charity so everyone wins !.

A dvd of the performance will be available for sale shortly to help raise more funds for the charity.

I would like you thank his special guest performances from Kendal Sant [Debut single out next month], The Quotes [Reading’s finest band tipped to become very big] and SOTA [performing arts school] for entertaining the audience during the judging.

The Reading Rock Academy is now offering ’10 week band workshops’ for kids and adults in local schools and halls. For more details and to book your place on a course please visit www.readingrockacademy.com. New courses start Feb 22 2010.

For the very latest news please follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/therockacademy or my blog http://readingrockacademy.com , www.myspace.com/readingrockacademy

thanks to Douglas Coulter of Ceol Picture Company for the pictures.

The Hexagon Show 23 01 2010.. my story continues..

Big news… Mark ‘Tufty’ Evans has agreed to be the fifth and final judge , thanks to Nick Heyward – you are a gentleman Nick.

‘Tufty’ and his studio have worked with many world famous artists such as BoyZone, Melanie C, Geri Halliwell, Robin Gibb, Will Young, Julian Lennon, Status Quo, Joe Cocker to be name but a few – click on this link and look at these artists… [http://www.wispingtonstudios.com/clients.html]

He will be the fifth and final person to join the judging panel for an event that is growing by the hour.

Everyone in Reading is helping me to put the show together.. it is now a very special charity night supporting school bands and special guest performances from local artists such as The Quotes [they will be BIG trust me - even a humble dyslexic guitar teacher like me can spot talent when they see it].

“The event  will sell out” , they tell me, but I say I won’t be happy until 731pm on Saturday night when all seats are sat on.

Please don’t wait to buy tickets on the door, you may get disappointed and i don’t want anyone to miss this historic show. Just spoke to the Hexagon.  I don’t want riots outside the Hexagon trying to get in on Saturday night!!

If we can sell every seat then we will be able to raise money for music sensory equipment at Prior’s Court Autistic School in Newbury. [The kids are really cool in there]

I’m trying to get this event to run smoothly but we have had nothing but obstacles in our way, first came the snow, then the school closures, bands disqualified not reading the competition rules, judges not able to make it.  I thought that everything was against me.

I can’t sleep, and I can’t eat.. i would like to go for a run but I keep thinking of more things to do.. my little  in rock academy in my home town of Reading  was inspired by the Jack Black Film .. ‘school of rock’ .. – I wish Jack Black could be here on Saturday – can someone sort this out please I’m maxxed out at the moment…

THANK YOU

Forget ‘City’ status Reading should go for Kingdom status – with friends around me like this i feel like royalty thats for sure!!!

Let’s hope the school bands performing will have a great time on saturday – please come along and support them – otherwise this effort will be in vein.

Pete

For the very latest news please follow me on twitter www.twitter.com/therockacademy

Nick Heyward and Stuart Epps confirmed as Celebrity Judges…

Nick Heyward, Haircut 100 and singer songwriter will be one of the judges at our 1st battle of the school rock band 2010 competition.. Haircut 100 were a very successful band in the 80s and Nick is enjoying a successful career as singer songwriter and will join us at The Hexagon THIS SATURDAY 23 JAN 730pm

Nick’s site is www.nickheyward.com

Stuart Epps has also kindly agreed to judge the too – so this is shaping up to be a truly unique event. Can’t believe tickets are only £5 plus booking fee. All profits donated to Prior’s Court School.

Stuart’s site is www.stuartepps.co.uk

Stuart Epps’ musical career began in 1967 as a 15-year old office junior at Dick James Music. He quickly moved up the industry ladder to become Chief Engineer at DJM Studios, then later toured the USA with Elton John as personal assistant.

Epps was involved from the start when Elton’s producer, the late Gus Dudgeon, built The Mill Studios on the banks of the Thames, near Maidenhead. It was not long before Dudgeon asked Epps to become Chief Engineer, Studio Manager and Producer.

Some of Epps’ most noteworthy clients have included Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Chris Rea, George Harrison, Mick Fleetwood, Barry White, George Michael, Mark Owen, Cliff Richard, Twisted Sister, Brian Adams, Oasis, Kiki Dee, Robbie Williams, Bill Wyman and of course Elton John.

In recent years he has continued to work with big name artists to great acclaim, as well as helping a host of promising new and up-and-coming artists to sound their best, both on demo recordings and in full studio productions.

With decades of experienced garnered from working with the very best musicians at the top of the industry, coupled with a real love for music, Stuart has an intuitive knack for knowing just what will make each track sound most authentic, a deep understanding of musicians and their needs and a clearheaded, dedicated approach to getting the job done.

Tickets are £5 and available in advance by calling The Hexagon box office on 0118 960 60 60.  Tickets are selling fast so don’t wait the last minute – this is a unique competition… and you will miss a chance to watch 8 talented school bands competiting for £5,000 for their school and the title of Reading Rock Academy’s best school rock band 2010, plus 3 very special guest performances.