We teach electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and singing in our custom-built music studio in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
Our Rockschool lessons for 7 to 17 year olds are taught in a rock-band environment. Students have a one hour lesson in guitar, bass, drums, keyboard or singing, and spend 50 minutes learning new techniques on their instrument followed by an exciting 10 minute jam session where students get to put what they have learned into practice, performing 2 rock or pop classics in a band with the other students.
Rockschool lessons are taught on a 2:1 basis with a maximum of two students per tutor, except for singing lessons which are taught on a 1:1 basis. Rockschool lessons for 7 to 17 year olds take place on Saturday mornings (10am, 11.10am and 12.20pm), on Tuesday evenings (5.10pm, 6.20pm and 7.30pm) and on Wednesday evenings (5.10pm, 6.20pm and 7.30pm).
We also offer mini rockers sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4.30pm to 5.00pm. These are special half hour sessions especially for 5 to 7 years olds.
In addition to our Rockschool sessions, we also offer 1:1 lessons for all ages (including adults) – please contact us with your preferred day and time and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Our music lessons run for 50 weeks per year. We continue throughout all school holidays, with the exception of Christmas/New Year when we close for 2 weeks.
Our unique Rockschool lessons get students playing in a band from their very first lesson! Students spend 50 minutes learning new techniques on their instrument followed by a 10-minute jam session where they get to put what they have learned into practice – performing 2 rock or pop classics in a band with the other students.
Rockschool lessons are taught on a 2:1 basis with a maximum of two students per tutor, except for singing lessons which are taught 1:1 in a designated sound proof singing room.
We have a fantastic array of professional instruments available for students use, including left-handed, short scale, 1/2 and 3/4 size guitars and bass guitars, Marshall and Blackstar amps, Roland and Yamaha keyboards and Yamaha drum kits.
Our special half hour Mini-Rocker sessions are made especially for 5 to 7 years olds and include their very own jam session at the end too!
We have a fantastic range of instruments available for new students of the mini-variety, including half and three quarter sized guitars, smaller scale keyboards and electronic drum kits.
Mini-Rocker lessons are fun, energetic and a fantastic way to get your children into the excitement of performing music from the very beginning!
One to one music lessons are perfect for students wishing to work towards graded music examinations, or for advanced students who wish to work on expanded and specific techniques in their chosen instrument.
We offer one to one private music lessons in guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals, studio engineering and music theory.
Instruments and professional equipment are available for all students to use, however you are more than welcome to bring your own equipment along to lessons with you.
We are able to offer one to one lessons around the clock, seven days a week to suit your requirements.
Lessons are charged at the following rates, paid by standing order at the beginning of each calendar month.
30 mins lesson – £15 per session
1 hour lesson – £25
One-off classes / pay-as-you-go rates
30 mins lesson- £18 per session
1 hour lesson – £28 per session
We are Sharon and Gemma, mother and daughter and directors at Birmingham Rockschool!
We opened our first music school in February 2008 out of a passion for music and inspiring performance, and our enthusiasm has only grown in the years we have been operating. We started from humble roots with one school in Solihull on a Saturday morning, and now operate seven days a week in our very own custom built studio!
We only employ tutors that have exceptional skill and an outstanding love for passing on their musical knowledge to the next generation of rock superstars. All our tutors are certified awesome so take a look below to meet the team!
Gemma has a BTEC National Diploma in Contemporary Music and Performance, a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) a BA Hons (1st-degree honours) in Performance Industries (Music-Vocals) and a BTEC Lvl 3 Award in Education and Training under her belt.
She is the co-director of Birmingham Rockschool, and has been a vocal coach and singing teacher for over ten years, guiding students through everything from musical theatre to extreme metal. She also runs our adult Rockschool Choir and Rockschool performances throughout the year.
Outside of the school, she is the vocalist for prog-power metal band Dakesis and heavy metal tribute band WomenOwaR, co-owns CapsaArx Recording and Rehearsal Studios and lectures vocals, performance and music business at ACM Birmingham.
Emma Green is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist trained in both contemporary and traditional singing, piano and guitar.
She is the creative director and choirmaster for our awesome Youth Choir, and teaches almost all of our junior singing students.
Emma has completed a BTEC National Diploma in Contemporary Music Performance and holds a grade 8 certificate in vocals.
Matt has been a guitarist since 2006 and working as a professional musician since 2009.
With over 10 years experience as a touring guitarist with UK progressive metal band Dakesis, as a highly demanded live and studio session musician and music tutor. He has taught for Birmingham Rock school since 2009 and as a guitar and music production degree lecturer for ACM since 2018, after receiving a BA Hons 1st in music production the same year. He also holds a BTEC National Diploma in Music Practice and Technology from South Birmingham College
Malachi has 13 years of experience under his belt playing piano and keys in a variety of styles and specialising in jazz, film music, funk, fusion, rock, pop and R&B. He has a range of musical skills and has worked as a composer, producer, sound engineer and arranger. Outside of Rockschool, Malachi leads Jazz-fusion band Hybrid Orkest.
He holds a Level 3 BTEC Diploma in music from AMS Birmingham and is soon to graduate from ACM Birmingham with a BA Hons in Music Performance.
Adam’s lifelong passion for music and rhythm drew him to start drumming in his early teens, and he has virtually never stopped since.
He has toured the UK with several bands, and has several album and EP releases under his belt. Adam plays all styles from Folk, Jazz all the way through to Black Metal and Grindcore, but with a true passion for Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal.
Adam recently obtained a 1st BA (Hons) in Performance Industries (Music) from the University of Wolverhampton. In 2010 he gained a HND in Music Production at the University of Northampton and is adept in sound theory and recording techniques.
Asif that wasn’t enough, Adam also runs a music production company called Seventh Sky Media who make music and lyric videos for bands all over the world, and is co-owner and engineer at CapsaArx Rehearsal and Recording Studio.
Adam plays drums for prog-power metal band Dakesis.
Tom has been playing drums for about 9 years, which may well be about the time he started growing his hair, purely coincidental.
He has played in several bands, played many shows and broken what has to be thousands of sticks. Tom loves most kinds of music but is truly passionate about rock and metal. He has a level 3 ‘performing musician’ qualification gained from Access to Music in Birmingham.
Sam is a multi-instrumentalist who teaches guitar, bass and drums with a range of specialist skills and experience – from live rock-band performance to classical composition.
Starting out as a singer/songwriter from a young age Sam spent his late teens gigging around the circuits in the north east and Scotland alongside artists such as Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, The Joy Formidable, Tommy Reilly and O’Emperor.
Sam went on to work with strongback productions on a year-long historic music project composing one original work and 3 arrangements of historic songs that have gone on to be used in an educational textbook.
He is in his final year at ACM Birmingham, studying for a BA Hons in Music Industry Practise.
Nyah has a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Music Performance, and a BA Hons Upper Second Class in Music Performance.
Nyah has been trained in contemporary singing for over a decade and is a versatile vocalist and tutor. She has 10 years worth of experience in live performance and has been in multiple bands spanning a range of genres such as rock, pop, metal, soul, funk, pop-punk, blues and folk.
Most recently Nyah has been performing in her cover band Imperfect Storm, and has performed backing and lead vocals for metal band Fury both live, and on their latest album The Grand Prize.
Nyah Ifill Instagram
Imperfect Storm Facebook
Fury “The Grand Prize” on Spotify
Jake Elwell has been playing guitar since the age of 6 but really got into the instrument when the first Guitar hero was released in 2005! Ever since, his passion for the craft has been honed in many bands of different genres, and he now plays lead guitar for tribute band WomenOwaR and heavy metal band Fury who regularly tour and perform at festivals across the UK and Europe.
Jake graduated from ACM Birmingham with a 2:1 BA Honors, and has been teaching guitar, bass and music theory for Birmingham Rockschool since October 2017, as well as working as a private guitar teacher with his own home studio.
Jade is a versatile vocalist, tutor and performer with past experience in a vast variety of styles from musical theatre to choral music to heavy metal.
She has experience teaching in a variety of settings to all ages- from leading a classroom of KS3 students to 1:1 private tuition with adults. Outside of teaching, Jade frequently circuits the Birmingham metal scene with Prog-Djent band Verb The Noun and worked as an ambassador for music school ACM, where she graduated in 2020 with a BA Hons in Music Industry Practice.
Verb The Noun (Facebook)
Verb The Noun page (Instagram)
Student Testimonies
“I was about to give up on my singing lessons as I didn’t feel I was making any further progress. I’ve been with Jade a while now and have rediscovered my passion for singing. I’ve learnt so much and am challenging myself more than I ever thought possible, an hour doesn’t seem long enough now. Thanks for giving me the confidence to believe I can sing.”
“Only had 3 lessons with Jade I think I’ve made massive improvements in a short time fantastic instructor”
“I’ve had lessons with Jade for a few weeks now and I feel I’ve made tremendous improvements in a short amount of time. On top of that, the lessons are very informative but most importantly a lot of fun!”
Since learning guitar at Birmingham Rockschool 8 years ago, Charlie has since studied music at BOA and is currently in his final year of studying for a BA Honours Degree in Music Industry Practise at ACM Birmingham.
As a former member of punk band Sketch, Charlie gained years of performing experience with headlines at venues such as the 02 Academy 3, Sunflower Lounge and 02 Institute 3. Charlie is a versatile guitar player but his favoured genres are rock and metal.
Bands such as Metallica and Megadeth have influenced Charlie from an early age.
So many opportunities to show everyone how much you rock!
As well as performing in the weekly jam sessions, all Rockschool students take part in at least two huge Rock Shows every year, performing on a big stage in front of family & friends.
Every Christmas, we put on a special seasonal performance for all the family including all your favourite festive songs, and we get spooky every Halloween with our Rocktober Frightfest!
With the growing popularity of adult 1;1 singing lessons, we also throw special Vocalist Showcase theme nights for our adult singers at the nearby Tower of Song venue twice a year.
All students also get the opportunity to perform at community and public events throughout the year. In the past, our students have performed at carnivals in Solihull, Shirley, Kings Norton, Kings Heath and Northfield, at Home of Metal, Romstock, Festival In The Park, Happy Valley Festival, Artsfest and many more.
