Music and Rock School Updates

One of our All-Access bands, Whatever, is looking for a bass player.

John — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:22:51 +0000

The kids in Whatever, all 12 and 13 years old, formed a band in February of 2012 as part of Music & Rock School's All-Access program. This means they have weekly band rehearsals, instruction on band dynamics and their specific instruments, and perform regularly. Whatever has about a half-dozen live performances under their belts, a set list of about 15 songs, including 3 originals that the members wrote together, and they even shot a music video for one of them! The kids in Whatever are learning a l

April Student of the Month: Amber Leigh W.

John — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:37:25 +0000

16-year-old Amber Leigh is the total rock’n’roll package: the look, the attitude and the skills to back it up. She has been a student at MaRS for more than three years, first as a bass student, but eventually switching over to guitar within the last year. Leigh has also not been shy about trying her hand at all of our extracurricular programs; she’s participated in a few Masters Programs, a couple Studio Sessions and nearly all of our concerts.

Cigar Box Guitar Workshop with Justin Johnson

John — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:39:08 +0000

Date:

April 27, 2013 - 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Event Location:

132 Salem Towne Ct., Apex, NC 27502

Event Contact:

info@musicandrockschool.com

Introductory Workshop on the Godfather of all American Roots Instruments, the Cigar Box Guitar with Justin Johnson

One-String Diddley-Bow Workshop with Justin Johnson

John — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:23:51 +0000

Date:

April 27, 2013 - 12:30pm - 2:00pm

Event Location:

132 Salem Towne Ct., Apex, NC 27502

Event Contact:

info@musicandrockschool.com

Justin Johnson's One-String Diddley-Bow Workshop

The One-String Diddley Bow is at the heart of almost every form of traditional music in the world, and is the precursor to the modern guitar and banjo. This workshop will offer participants a chance to pick up a Diddley Bow and learn how to make their own music come to life on these uniquely simple instruments.

March Student of the Month: Diana B.

John — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:04:51 +0000

As an adult student a Music And Rock School, Diana B. is taking full advantage of performance opportunities and special programs we offer here in conjunction with her guitar lessons. She also offers an interesting take on picking up a new hobby later on in life. “I played recreational guitar when I was a teenager, but it wasn’t until I got divorced that I realized something was missing,” Diana (who requested to remain ageless!) said. “I wanted to try something new. And the guitar was portable!”

February Student of the Month: Jessie B.

John — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:59:51 +0000

14-year old Jessie B. is one of MaRS’ first non-veteran performers to be featured as a Student of the Month, which just goes to show how much progress she has made in her short time as a guitar student here. She began taking lessons in May of 2012 and when our Winter Concert rolled around in January, she jumped at the chance to perform in it.

CLOSED TODAY DUE TO WEATHER

John — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:43:32 +0000

Date:

January 25, 2013 - 1:30pm - January 26, 2013 - 12:00am

In the event that Wake County Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, we follow suit. Since students were sent home early today due to weather, and the threat of freezing rain and sleet this afternoon and evening, we will be closing for the day.

Is your music an expression of your playing, or a cyborg?

John — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:08:43 +0000

I had a group of 12 and 13 year-olds in the Music & Rock School recording studio this weekend helping them record the latest song they wrote together as a band. We had just started tracking guitars when the guitar player said something like, “can I just do the verse once then use that for all of the verses?” These kids are pretty smart, but I was shocked that their impression of recording music seemed like a cut-and-paste project where the engineer/editor, with a toolbox full of plug-ins, plays a larger roll in creating the song than the musicians themselves.

Summer Concert

John — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:39:02 +0000

Date:

June 7, 2013 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Event Location:

Halle Cultural Arts Center

Ukulele Workshop

John — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:37:04 +0000

Date:

Beginner set:

"Big Me" off the album Foo Fighters

"Breakout" off the album There Is Nothing Left To Lose

John — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:06:36 +0000

16-year-old Amber M. is the total package when it comes to performing: she can sing, play guitar, and dance. This past December marked her 3-year anniversary as a student at MaRS and in that time she has taken great advantage of our many performance opportunities. Over the past year, Amber has continued to grow and improve as a musician and expand her performance horizons even further.

MaRS Student Concert

John — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 17:23:52 +0000

Date:

January 12, 2013 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Event Location:

Halle Cultural Arts Center

Event Contact:

info@musicandrockschool.com

Please join us for the Music & Rock School winter concert, featuring performances by some of the best young musicians in the area -- our student! Solo, combo and full band performance, including sets from our student rock bands, Whatever, and The Harmonics!

Ticket information available here!

Live Performance @ Tir Na Nog - Whatever, and The Harmonics

John — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 01:12:47 +0000

Date:

December 16, 2012 - 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Event Location:

Tir Na Nog Irish Pub 218 South Blount Street Raleigh, NC 27601

Event Contact:

info@musicandrockschool.com

Two of Music & Rock School's All-Access rock bands will perform on Sunday, December 16th at 6:00pm at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in Downtown Raleigh. This event is free and open to all ages!

December Student of the Month: Grayson S.

John — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:59:05 +0000

Guitar student Grayson S. holds the honor of being Music & Rock School’s longest-running student. Grayson, 12, began taking lessons in May of 2009 right after MaRS was first established, so when we say he has participated in all of our concerts and events, we really do mean all of them!

New Year Special - 2 months of lessons for $150!

John — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:47:02 +0000

Resolve to rock in the New Year! We're running a lessons special now through the end of January for 2 months of guitar, drum, bass or keyboard/piano lessons for just $150! That's a $50 savings off our regular monthly tuition rate.

To register, call us today at 919-924-0425, or send us an e-mail here!

By The Numbers: Our Rock Band Program = More Rock For Your Buck

John — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:19:58 +0000

We are huge fans of performance-based learning here at Music & Rock School. That is why, in addition to private lessons on guitar, bass, drums, keyboard/piano and voice, we offer rock band programs, like our All-Access program, and a number of similar band programs. The objective is applying the knowledge a student gains in lessons into a practical setting. Programs like All-Access also provide interaction with other musicians, a goal-oriented setting, and live performances. The result is students tend to learn more, and at a more rapid pace, in these settings co

Unplugged @ Eva Perry Library

John — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:18:34 +0000

Date:

October 28, 2012 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Event Location:

Eva Perry Regional Library

Event Contact:

info@musicandrockschool.com

Unplugged @ Eva Perry Library

October Student of the Month: Ricky Y.

John — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 22:35:14 +0000

It goes without saying that one of our favorite things here at MaRS is watching our students learn and grow as musicians. But its another thing completely to watch as what was once a student’s simple passing interest in music grow into what can only be described as a way of life. Meet 15-year-old Ricky Y, a guitar student of nearly two and a half years.

Downtown Apex Drum Circle

John — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:53:50 +0000

Date:

October 5, 2012 - 6:30pm

Event Location:

225 N. Salem Street - Behind the Tobacco & Mule Exchange building

Event Contact:

info@musicandrockschool.com

In conjunction with the Apex Downtown Business Association as part of Friday Family Night Out, Music & Rock School will be leading a drum circle.

Friday, October 5 @ 6:30pm

Downtown Apex Family Night Out

Around the fountain behind the Tobacco & Mule Exchange building

225 N. Salem Street

John — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 23:59:18 +0000

We're honored to be featured in Cary Living magazine's 2012 Diamond Awards Issue. Music & Rock School was voted "The Best Place to Expand Your Horizons"! Here is a direct quote from the September/October 2012 issue of Cary Living, in which the Diamond Awards are featured:

Student of the Month: Cameron U.

John — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:25:00 +0000

14-year-old Cameron U. is one of MaRS’ promising up-and-coming bassists. Though his introduction to music came through playing trombone for a couple years in the school band, his decision to start playing the bass was inspired by one of the most iconic bassists in recent history – Flea, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“I watched him play.” Cameron said. “That was all it took. My stepdad showed me a video of him and I just thought ‘this guy is absolutely ridiculous.’”

Back To School Lesson Special - 2 Months for $150!

John — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:26:41 +0000

Back to school time also means back to new activities! So we're offering a great back to school lesson special for new students. Register for 2 months of guitar, drum, bass or piano/keyboard lessons for just $150 -- a savings of $50 off our regular tuition rate! We have a limited number of openings, so this offer will expire once they are filled.

To register call us today at 919-924-0425, or send us an e-mail here.

August Student of the Month: Matt D.

John — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:52:34 +0000

Eleven-year-old Matt D. plays drums, like a lot of kids his age. But Matt also plays drums in a band that has a weekly rehearsal schedule, regular gigs, writes songs, and shoots videos! At seven years old Matt began drum lessons at another area school, and credits his previous instructor, Jimmy, as his biggest influence. As Matt progressed, Jimmy encouraged him to pursue playing with other musicians in a band setting.

Ukulele Workshop: It's just plain fun!

John — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:56:45 +0000

I’d venture to say that the ukulele is more popular now than it has ever been. The instrument is featured prominently in recent hits such as “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz. Artist like Bruno Mars, Jack Johnson, Ingrid Michaelson, and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) are also using the ukulele in their music. What’s not to love, really? The ukulele invokes images of island life, it produces a jovial tone, and it looks, well, just plain cute!

Ukulele Workshop!

John — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:37:21 +0000

Date:

August 4, 2012 - 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Event Location:

123 Salem Towne Ct., Apex, NC 27502

Event Contact:

info@musicandrockschool.com

Ukulele Workshop

Saturday, August 4, 2012, 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Open to kids and adults

Got a ukulele, but not sure how to make it work for you? We've got the answers in our Ukulele Workshop! In this one-hour workshop we'll cover all of the basics to get you strumming, playing songs, and having fun with your uke!

By the end of the workshop you will have learned the following:

Student of the Month: Turner C.

John — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:53:11 +0000

16-year-old Turner C. came to MaRS for lessons in a rather roundabout way. “Some friends and I would jam together occasionally and we decided we wanted to start a real band. We had a guitarist, a drummer and somebody who played the banjo, which left me with the bass.” Figuring that he’d progress much faster with an experienced teacher as opposed to teaching himself, Turner started lessons with Music & Rock School instructor, Jacob, last July.

Summer Lesson Special - 3 Months for $225!

John — Thu, 31 May 2012 00:07:58 +0000

Looking for something to keep you, or the kids focused over the Summer? To start the season off on the right foot, we're offering a great lesson special to keep students focused on lesson until Fall! Register for 3 months of lessons at just $225. That's a $75 savings off of regular tuition. We have a limited number of openings, so this offer will expire once those a filled.

To register, call us today at 919-924-0425, or send us an e-mail here.

Miguel from Whatever performing at PeakFest 2012

John — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:52:33 +0000

Gallery:

PeakFest 2012