Prime minister-backed, award-winning online music academy teams up with Trinity College London to take music exams online
The online music education provider, RockAcad, has struck up a partnership with one of the UK’s oldest and most respected examination boards, Trinity College London.
As face-to-face music examinations could not proceed as planned during the Covid-19 pandemic, Trinity College London launched its first permanent digital examination offer in November 2020.
As part of its digital strategy, Trinity expanded its online offer, allowing students to have their hard work recognised digitally without sacrificing the academic rigour that Trinity College has become known for internationally; as a leading international examination board for music, drama, combined arts and English language.
Operating in more than 60 countries, the organisation assesses over 850,000 candidates every year.
Through a new collaboration between the two organisations, people of all ages and levels of ability will be able to study for Trinity’s Digital Grades or Diplomas through the online music academy, making RockAcad one of the exam board’s first online-only private exam centres.
RockAcad students will be able to record their performance in a familiar environment on a device as simple as a smartphone and submit their video digitally so it can be assessed virtually by Trinity’s expert examiners.
Founder of RockAcad, David Green, commented: “It's super exciting and an honour to be working with Trinity, they are such a solid international exam board, having nurtured musicians since 1877.
“We are also very excited about Trinity’s recent move to digital with their Rock & Pop syllabus. It ties in perfectly with what RockAcad is doing as we move with the times and look ahead to the future of music education.”
National Advisor for Rock & Pop at Trinity College London, Toby Davies, added: “RockAcad’s online-only teaching model is a perfect fit for Trinity and we are confident in the success of the partnership.
“RockAcad’s teaching approach will work brilliantly with the content of our syllabuses that help to develop real-world musical skills. The digital exam experience will also provide candidates with a seamless extension of their online lessons.
“As both organisations explore this digital world, they will work together to share ideas and celebrate students’ achievements.”
David Green built a successful career as a professional drummer and session musician, playing for the likes of Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, the UK X-Factor, Ricky Warwick of Thin Lizzy and Alice Cooper’s guitarist and collaborator, Tommy Henriksen.
In a poll of 114,000 readers of Rhythm Magazine and MusicRadar, Green was voted as 2016’s Best New Drummer in The World.
Having studied Trinity’s music syllabus as a young musician in the North East of England, Green has a personal connection with the education charity.
“This collaboration means so much as I studied up to Trinity Grade 8 on drums as a child, so I know how paramount they are as a structured learning course,” he said. “Those grades helped me in developing my musical skills, which in turn helped my career as a musician and teacher.”
Since its launch in 2020, RockAcad has carved a niche for itself in the music education sector. Featuring an all-star team of professional musicians who are also experienced tutors, the online academy gives its students a glimpse into the life of a professional musician and offers advice for budding musicians on how they can ‘make it’ in the highly competitive world of music.
RockAcad tutors have performed and recorded with international artists including The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart, Sam Fender, Boy George, James Arthur and Selena Gomez.
“These sought-after teachers are also very well-known session musicians and solo artists who still work at the highest levels of the music industry,” Green said. “It means our lessons are a real behind the scenes look at the music industry. Our students learn the craft of music from people who have been there and still do it.”
Toby Davies added: “RockAcad’s approach to teaching through the use of professional musicians who are still out there touring and performing complements Trinity’s Rock & Pop syllabus which focuses on the development of real skills, through real songs, resulting in real progress.
“Trinity’s Rock & Pop syllabus provides candidates with real songs from artists that will be familiar to RockAcad’s students, such as The Foo Fighters, Beyoncé and Daft Punk. Some of RockAcad’s teachers having perhaps played with the actual artists! This makes the reality of live performance, touring and music as a professional career a tangible goal for students.”
RockAcad was recently awarded the ‘Points of Light’ Award by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Since the announcement of the win, the education company has seen its demand for the lessons skyrocket.
The company is now expanding its student base internationally and introducing new teachers to its team. The latest addition is Pete Friesen, a renowned teacher and guitarist best known for playing with Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson and hard rock band The Almighty.
Pete Friesen, added: "I'm really excited to be joining the team at RockAcad and looking forward to getting started! I teach all ages and levels of ability, and will tailor my lessons to suit each individual student. I specialise in Rock, Blues and Funk; as well as slide guitar. I can also offer career advice, as well as help with equipment set-ups and recording guitars. Whatever your goals are, we will work together to achieve them."
For more information or to book a free 30-minute Free Trial Lesson with RockAcad head to: https://www.rockacad.com