LATEST NEWS

DOWNLOAD THIS PAGE AS A WORD DOCUMENT (zipped file - 88k)

NEWSLETTER APRIL 2008

Welcome back to the skool that can’t spell its name properly! Ain’t no time for the summertime blues, cos – oo ‘er missus, we’ve had developments!

DEVELOPMENTS
Rok Skool was started in Autumn ’06, to provide an exciting environment where young people could explore their musicality. Since then we’ve expanded madly, but the opportunity to advance from tuition, to playing in one of our bands has thus far been limited. But this is one of the main reasons we’re here, after all – to give kids the chance to rock out together!

So we’ve adjusted our thinking to make the band scenario more attainable to all Rok Skool kids, once basic chords have been mastered, a steady drum rhythm held, bass basically plonked and a song sung in tune. We’ve tried our best to match age groups and levels of ability, so no new band member need be fearful. Fun is the name of the game.

A stonking five new bands combust into life this term, including a Dads band! (a bit like the Father’s Race on Sports Day, isn’t it?). Called Keef, they take their name from the disinterred-looking guitarist in the Strolling Bones – er…Rolling Stones. For all our bands, the immediate goal ahead is only too real, guaranteed to sharpen musical skills and focus the mind. I refer, of course, to…

‘SKOOL’S OUT 4 SUMMER!‘
This is the moniker of our third Rok Skool show. Loads of great feedback from the last one, but it wasn’t much fun for the kids all being stuck backstage, when they weren’t performing. This time, if all falls into place, they’ll be watching the show up until, then after they take part. We’re working on it. We’re also exploring the idea of a ‘decades’ theme, so maybe we will all get the Summertime Blues after all!

Our show is at Clair Hall once more and we’ve fixed the date for Wednesday July 23rd – the day most schools break up. That way – hopefully - we won’t intrude upon your family holidays. And our young performers get to experience the combined joys of breaking
up for the longest of hols - and playing live to an audience, with ‘sold-out’ signs up outside – all on the same day! Due to demand, we’re offering tickets to participants first, on the basis of three per family. General release will be from June 1st .

MAGIC PROMOTIONS
After a productive meeting with Tim French of Magic Promotions, we have been given an hour long Rok Skool Showcase, on Town Day, in August. The showcase will feature highlights from our Skool’s Out 4 Summer! show on The Broadway’s main stage. Tim reckons three thousand or so people will be milling around, so it’s a great opportunity to sock it to Haywards Heath and show the town what we’re all about.

Furthermore, one of our bands – The Dysturbed – will be performing a 40 minute set in Victoria Park the day after Kathryn Jenkins’ performance, on the same stage. See ‘Dates for your Diary’ below, for all details. We hope you will all come along and add your most raucous and demented support!

ROK SKOOL PICNIC
With three of our bands performing on Dane Hill Rec. for Village Day, Leon and I had the idea to turn it into a Rok Skool Picnic… a kind of harassed Roadies Convention, all huddled under umbrellas with fishpaste sarnies! Whether you are involved with the bands performing that day or not, we hope you will still turn up bearing boiled eggs and plonk, to celebrate the fab community we have become. Pass the Branston …

VOCAL COACHING
Pat is constantly researching techniques and incorporating them into her teaching plan. Her aim is to develop students’ voices to the fullest, looking to bring on each person’s unique individuality and develop the voice they already have. She has wonderful people skills, so relax, if you’re nervous about singing but itching to give it a real go.
Pat has also decided to make herself slightly available during the day (outside of her Rok Skool teaching hours) - so if there are any adults out there who would like to develop their voice, get in touch and go for it – she’s good!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY / UPCOMING GIGS
Sunday 22nd June, DANE HILL Rec, from 12 noon (Scoop, Rascal, The Tuesdays)
Saturday, 28th June – OATHALL FAIR (crikeymikey, The Dysturbed + 1 other band)Sunday, 6th July – VICTORIA PARK, time t.b.c. (The Dysturbed)
Wednesday, July 23rd – CLAIR HALL, 7:30pm, ‘SKOOL’S OUT 4 SUMMER!’
Sunday, 24th August – THE BROADWAY, 1pm (Rok Skool Showcase)

PHOTOS
Another wave of photography is upon us, not that there’s much wall space left! One piccie of each child or band will go up, with parents able to choose from contact sheets any photos they wish to order, nicely mounted, still at £7. Order with Leon.

SUMMER SKOOLS
We will be running three 2 day, and three 3 day Summer Skools during the school holidays, from 10a.m. till 3pm, featuring plenty of Music, Games and Fun!
Dates:
- Summer Skool 1 (3 day): July 28th, 29th, 30th.
- Summer Skool 2 (2 day): July 31st, August 1st
- Summer Skool 3 (3 day): August 5th, 6th, 7th
- Summer Skool 4 (2 day): August 8th, 9th
- Summer Skool 5 (3 day): August 26th, 27th, 28th
- Summer Skool 6 (2 day): August 29th, 30th

MACARIS @ ROK SKOOL
We’re continuing to expand the range of stock we carry in the shop. If there’s anything we haven’t got that you require, just let us know and we’ll get it in for you.

WWW.
Our website is proving to be cyberspace’s equivalent of the Forth bridge – it constantly needs updating! As well as some of the new photos, it’s our aim to get clips of our bands and solo artists up there (on YouTube too), So if any of you definitely don’t want a picture, or footage of your child up on the ‘net, don’t hesitate to tell us.

And now (mighty roll on the drums from George) …Let us Rok!

Herry