Amped alumni
Many of our students continue making incredible music well after they leave Rock School's hallowed halls. Meet the Rock School graduates who learned their first riffs with us — and are now shredding on stages across Worcestershire and beyond.
Jack Ryland-Smith
Musician
"For me, Rockschool was more than just learning to play the drums in a band. Its was the highlight of my week. As a student, I couldn’t wait for Saturday mornings, when I’d meet up with my bandmates, Alex and Aly, to jam to our favorite artists like Metallica and Trivium. Those early experiences not only fueled my passion for music but also laid the foundation for everything I’ve achieved since.
Now in my mid-30s, I’ve had the privilege of performing with bands across the UK and Europe, supporting renowned artists such as Inglorious and Graham Bonnet. I’ve played in a Thin Lizzy tribute band Dizzy Lizzy, worked as a drum technician, and even progressed to stage management at the Breaking Bands Festival a few years ago.
Looking back, I know that every musical journey has to start somewhere and for me, that starting point was Rockschool. It’s an incredible opportunity for young musicians to experience what it’s like to play in a band, perform on stage, and develop the skills and confidence needed to become a performing musician.
If you’re a parent, I strongly encourage you to get your child involved. Let them discover the joy of making music, performing live, and being part of a creative community that could shape their future and open doors for their futures."
Anthony tustin
Former student & tutor
"As a former tutor at Bromsgrove Rock School, I have had the privilege of helping students unlock their musical potential in a truly inspiring environment. Worcestershire Rock Schools create a truly supportive and creative space where students of all ages and skill levels can grow as musicians while building confidence and performance skills.
It’s so incredibly rewarding to see students progress, from mastering their first song as a band to performing as part of an end of term show. The supportive environment made the teaching here not only fulfilling but also fun to be part of. I’m proud to be have been part of such an amazing team that nurtures passion and talent, helping students achieve their musical ambitions of rocking out!"
7 Year War
"The original lineup of the band all met at the Worcester rock school and thoroughly enjoyed having some fun learning new songs together to play in front of all our parents with the help from Dean. We enjoyed playing at Worcester rock school that much we decided to see how far we could get as a band now fast forward to 4 years later from September 2021 we’ve now played so many gigs including festivals like breaking bands, slaughterhouse festival, beermageddon and many more!
Along the way we’ve been fortunate enough to build our very own fan base which has massively helped us record our debut album ‘Seas of Nebula’ and along the way we’ve also now been labelled as “best metal band in Worcester” and “heaviest metal band in Worcester” by google which has absolutely blown us away!
We are eternally grateful to Dean and everyone at the Worcester rock school who introduced us to each other because without them 7 Year War would have never existed."
Check out "Seas of Nebula" - the debut album from 7 Year War.
Listen on Spotify
Follow 7 Year War for updates
