Joining the Academy

 

The Groove Academy offers an experience of a lifetime! Joining this academy is like joining a family - a community of musicians working together in an on-going learning and growing adventure, where each family member has their special role to play on the journey. We strive to provide maximum opportunities for our groove agents (students) to share their talents with others. Our ambitious schedule requires commitment, teamwork, hard work and lots of enthusiasm!

Can I join the Groove Academy?

If you think you've got what it takes to make a contribution to the team, we'd love to hear from you. It is more important to us that you are courteous and have a good attitude to learning and working in a team than how well you can sing or play at this stage. Having said that however, it is very important that we can see you have good musical potential that we feel we are able to help you fulfil.

I love music and I know I'd love to perform but I'm quite shy. Will this be a problem?

No. We welcome any talented, trustworthy, teachable team player between the age of 11 & 18. Shy, introverted people can fit in just as well as the not-so-shy extroverts. Some of our highest achievers are actually quite shy! Believe it or not!

I can play an instrument but I don't have any grades. Can I still join?

Sure you can! We do encourage folk to take Rock School grades and we endorse their syllabus but we don't require that you take any exams.

I can play an instrument pretty well but I don't know how to sight read. Will I still be able to get involved?

Of course. In some ways we feel this can even be a good thing and our coaching methods don't rely very heavily on reading the dots. This does however depend on the instrument and its application. We tend to find notation very useful for teaching horn players and other melodic instruments their parts but to be realistic, most pro guitarists would be overwhelmed by a score! How about we teach you how to read a chord chart instead?

I can sing / dance but can't play an instrument. How will this affect my chances?

Not a problem. We place just as high a priority on our vocalists and dancers as we do on our instrumentalists. We are not a dance academy but are able to offer exciting opportunities for dancers and choreographers. Our vocalists enjoy many solo and harmony singing opportunities.

We also dedicate significant time to helping our agents learn other instruments.

I can't play or sing and don't think I have much musical talent but I am very interested in music technology and would really enjoy an opportunity to be involved in some way. Is there place for me in the academy?

Certainly. If you possess the personal qualities we are looking for and have a good aptitude for technology with a creative flair, we have opportunities in our sound and multimedia teams that may interest you.

I already learn an instrument with a music teacher. Will this conflict with my Groove Academy objectives or disadvantage me in any way?

No. We respect the role that private music teachers play in developing your technique on your instrument, your theoretical understanding and reading skills. We encourage all groove agents to attend lessons with a music tutor (inside or outside school). Our role is to complement their work by providing opportunities to help you apply what you are learning and develop your craft further.

If I join, what's involved? How will I fit in? What will be expected of me?

When you come onboard you will join our Groove Agent Collective group as a groove agent. Your regular attendance at our weekly Synergy sessions, Collective rehearsals and optional X-TRA workshops & clinics will maximize your learning and performance opportunities. You will be rewarded for your initiative, loyalty and hard work with more responsibility and opportunity.

A simple give & take model we use in the academy:

You give        We give                       You give         We give

RESPECT  =  RESPONSIBILITY   =  RESULTS  =  REWARDS

The Collective is a friendly and inclusive group where you will learn a great deal from the efforts and knowledge of your fellow groove agents, but more importantly where you will be able to help and inspire others by sharing your talents, enthusiasm, knowledge and experience with them. We encourage senior groove agents to mentor younger agents, look after smaller Breakout groups and lead activity groups.

In addition to working and performing regularly with the Collective, you will be encouraged through objectives and kinship to collaborate on many Breakout projects. This will involve working in a band / vocal group / dance group / ensemble, composing, recording and producing songs or even music videos.

We look forward to you helping represent the Groove Academy in the most positive way and welcome your creative and innovative ideas and suggestions that you feel will help us become even more effective in our mission to 'build community through music'.

Will I cope with the pressure?

We're not unreasonable and encourage a healthy balance between school commitments, homework etc. and social time. We want you to feel refreshed when you go to school and refreshed when you arrive at Groove Academy sessions. We are sensitive to the well-being of everyone in the academy and although we have high expectations we won't give you more than you can handle.

We try to take a personal interest in all our members and encourage good, honest communication - where you feel you could come directly to us as friends and share any concerns. Obviously we would like to see you taking responsibility for your Groove Academy commitments - which are intended for your benefit and not for your peril!

Unless you are already involved in many extra-curricular activities at school and outside school where there may be a possibility of you feeling over-extended if you were to join us, we're certain that you'll find the Groove Academy a joy and not a burden - a place where there's life, energy and lots of fun!.

What do I need to do to apply for membership?

Once you have submitted the form below, we will be in touch shortly to arrange a brief and informal audition where we will also chat to you about why you would like to join, answer any other questions you have and get to know you a little bit better.

If you are invited to join after your audition, you will need to print, read and complete the contents of the membership pack and return it to us with your membership fee within two weeks.

We're really looking forward to hearing from you!