READY TO ROCK – SLIGO’S “SCHOOL OF ROCK”
Aug 29 2011: Sligo’s very own “School of Rock” offers a whole range of courses for all levels in vocal, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and saxophone. Sligo School of Rock, formally known as Sligo Contemporary Music School (SCMS) is located in St Edwards School, Clarion Rd Sligo. In 2011, the school entered its fourth year of “Rockschool” tuition, and reopens for business in mid September, with another addition to the teaching faculty in new Sligo resident Dave Flynn, who has been making quite a name as a performer in Sligo this past year with his superb appearances in the show “An Evening with Sgt Pepper” and with the group Anything Goes.
ROCKSCHOOL
The teaching syllabus used by the School of Rock comes primarily from “Rockschool ” (TM), a UK-based internationally successful education company. It offers the opportunity of achieving internationally recognised grades in instrumental performance. Catering for all ages (from 7 upwards) and all performance levels, SCMS takes its students on an instrumental performance course which provides basic theory and instrumental technique whilst concentrating on specific performance pieces. Most styles of rock and pop are covered by the Rockschool course, with Grades from debut entry level all the way to Grade 8.
SCMS was set up in 2007 by well known Sligo bassist Eddie Lee and his drummer colleague, Dubliner Ken McDonald. “The Rockschool syllabus uses simple tunes right from the start, so that the student gets the thrill of learning tunes as soon as they have basic technique” says Eddie, known for his performances with Sligo acoustic group NoCrows and along with colleague Ken McDonald as the rhythm section with jazz trio The Odd Couple, and Anything Goes,” …so the whole course is very performance-oriented, its all about having fun playing music”. Rockschool also provides examiners for students wishing to take Grades in their chosen instrument, and SCMS had twenty-five successful students sit recent performance exams.
SCMS at present offers instrumental courses in electric and acoustic guitar and bass (Glenn Garrett & Dave Flynn), electric and acoustic bass (Eddie Lee), drums (Ken McDonald), keyboards (Eddie Lynch), saxophone (Stan Burns) and vocal (Dave Flynn ). Classes take place at St Edwards after school hours, from 3.30pm to 9pm midweek. There is no upper age limit. Beginners to advanced students are catered for.
