Rocksteady music school reviews

[Rachel789]

Does anyone have any experience of Rocksteady music school? I'm thinking of signing up my DS for a holiday course.

They came into my daughters school to do workshops for the kids and then sent them home with letters to do a weekly class at school.

My daughter goes to these sessions along with around 15 other kids, I pay £26 a month so it is a bit pricey but my daughter loves it.

I am not at all musical so I am glad she has shown an interest and her confidence has grown as she performs in front of the other children

My DCs do this in school and really enjoy it. They've just done a little concert for parents and it was great to see them performing- it's about working together as a band and I think seeing themselves in those roles is confidence building. It's not the same as music lessons so they won't make the same speed of progress learning the instruments (though they are learning) but as someone who grew up doing traditional flute lessons I was always terrified of performance and I think this is very good from that perspective. DS does it alongside separate guitar lessons.

I don't know about their holiday courses, but this is something to do alongside instrumental tuition not instead of. So if you all ready play guitar etc. it is great for you to play in a band. As a replacement for instrumental tuition it is rubbish, very little technique is taught. I've inherited pupils 'taught' by Rocksteady for instrumental tuition and we've had to go to back to basics and this is after 3 years of lessons. They don't believe in learning to read music or really teaching proper technique and whilst you can get to a reasonable standard without either it becomes necessary at some point. It can be fun too especially with younger pupils.
I would never let my daughter do singing with them though. Songs are often in the wrong key (due to the other instruments) and not in an appropriate style for young voices - they shouldn't be forcing or belting at their age or singing in the wrong keys.

DS1 did a year of in-school lessons with them through his infant school. He had fun and enjoyed performing in the two concerts that were held for parents during the year. As a pp said, it is great for giving the kids confidence but it is not great for actually teaching the instruments though.

DS also did the week long holiday camp last summer, it was fun for him and his friends.

If you are looking for a fun activity week with enthusiastic instructors I'd recommend it, but don't expect too much in terms of being able to play an instrument etc.

Another thing to look at is where the course is being held - is it at his school? DS attended the summer course at his school and I think all the other attendees were from the school as well, so he had people he knew there. Also check what the age mix is likely to be at the location - it might not be an issue but on the first day of the course last year an older girl (12/13 I think) was there for registration, but the venue was an infant school so the participants were all on the lower end of the age range (5 - 7/8), she ended up not attending as she felt awkward and out of place. It might not be an issue but is worth asking about if that could be an issue (you don't say how old your DS is).

Mine has done a holiday workshop. They don't really learn to play an instrument, just learn a song or two by rote and put on a little show for families on the last day. She enjoyed it - she really likes performing on stage. I have never considered letting her do the weekly one though, I don't think it's a great way to learn to either sing or play an instrument.

Thank you for all your comments. I was looking for something for him to start to be involved in making music and performing - that was fun and wouldn't put him off, so it sounds perfect.

This will be my ds's second year of going Rock Steady. He's in Y6, and plays the keyboards.

I agree with pp in that it's not a 'music' tuition in the classic sense, however my ds started out not knowing anything about keyboards. They've learnt 3 pop songs off by heart now (Coldplay and Bruno Mars) and have performed it to the school. The knock on effect has been him looking up 'how to play' songs on YouTube and tried to copy them, an new interest in pop songs and he also wants to go for proper tuition when he goes to secondary (where it's offered).

It is expensive but it's been worth it for us. My ds has enjoyed the performing (although a lot of it sounds like noise ) and has made him interested and confident to get involved with school productions.

Lisamv, I've found them very communicative and I'm very informed as to when my direct debits roll over. I was never 'sold' the fact that it's proper music tuition. This is more of a fun, team work activity and a bit different (playing in a band).

I'm sure there's better music tuition out there but for me, this is convenient as it takes place within the school/school day. Ds just wanted to try it out.

I found them an absolute Joke. They refused to reimburse me although their music teacher didn't turn up for 5 of the promised sessions. I have since pulled my daughter out and will be sure to not recommend them to anyone asking! Do not sign your child up unless you are willing to console your child every week and watch their love of music disappear.