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Making Creative Connections

You are here: Home / Projects / Rock On

Rock On

What was Rock On:

Rock On was a two-year music project for young people, delivered in youth clubs, housing support units and after-school clubs in the East Suffolk district – previously Waveney and Suffolk Coastal district areas.

Rock On offered rock and pop music and DJ sessions for young people, and were open to both complete beginners and those who wanted to develop existing skills and experience.

Sessions typically started with an informal, have-a-go period, followed by one-to-one tuition and then band practice.

There were several showcase opportunities for the young people to demonstrate their skills and talents, including public events at Skate Jams, a Christmas performance at the Seagull Theatre and in-house showcases in housing units and youth clubs.

All the sessions were delivered by professional music tutors, giving the participants the opportunity to benefit from their skills as teachers and their extensive experience of the music industry.

Over the course of the two years, Rock On delivered 126 sessions and engaged with over 160 young people. Participants learned to play musical instruments – principally guitar, drum and keyboards – developed vocal techniques, gained DJ skills in creating and performing mixes, and also developed composition and general performance skills and abilities.

Rock On was delivered in partnership with Access Community Trust, Lowestoft; CYDS, (Young People Taking Action) in Leiston and Saxmundham and Just 42 in Sutton Heath; sessions also took place at Alde Valley Academy in Leiston.

Designated youth workers from our partner organisations were actively involved in the sessions and trained with the music tutors to deliver Arts Awards; these increased skills, experience and knowledge will help sustain music making in youth settings, now that Rock On has come to an end.

Rock On partners:

Lowestoft and Felixstowe:

Access Community Trust

Based in Lowestoft, Access Community Trust runs a variety of youth services including housing related support and help with learning, development and employment.

Leiston and Saxmundham:

CYDS

The CYDS project is a youth open access centre for all young people aged 8 to 29 and is completely free to all young people.

CYDS is at 53 High Street, Leiston IP16 4EL. To find out more, call 01728 830716 or email cydsproject@hotmail.com

Woodbridge area:

Just 42

Just 42 is a Christian charity providing activities and support for children and young people in rural Suffolk.

For more details, contact Caroline Rutherford on 01394 380992, email info@just42.org.uk or visit their website at www.just42.org.uk

Contact:

Candida Wingate on 01986 873 955 or candida@suffolkartlink.org.uk

Further information:

Visit the Rock On blog site here

The Rock On music project was a development of the highly successful Rock Up programme: you can read the Rock Up Project Report here

Rock On was supported by Youth Music and public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England; Suffolk Community Foundation through Sabariah’s Fund; the generosity of the Jay Singers.

Youth Music logoSuffolk Community Foundation
Two adults stand behind a young girl and boy, the boy is wearing headphones and has been doing a DJ mix.

Rock On Photo Gallery

Have a look at what we've been up to, click here to see our Rock On photo gallery

Rock On News

Bye bye to Rock On

January 14th, 2020 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

A young girl is playing bass guitar whilst singing from a sheet on a music stand in front of her

With Christmas came parties, discos – and the end of the Rock On project. Over the last 24 months, we’ve run 126 music sessions, supported seven performance showcases and worked with 168 young people, as well as 19 youth workers and seven music tutors. We’ve trained tutors and support workers to deliver the Discover and […]

Silent Rock On disco at NessFest 2019

October 23rd, 2019 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

A dance hall, flooded with soft pink light and a group of young people with their arms in the air, listening to music on illuminated headphones

When the Youth Team responsible for planning NessFest – the Lowestoft Youth Festival – said they wanted more music this year, Rock On was delighted to get involved; so it was that yesterday Lowestoft Library throbbed with the rapid beat of drum and bass music, as DJs Steve and Marco ran workshops throughout the day. […]

Coppice has talent – lots of it

July 17th, 2019 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

A young boy playing keyboards, listening to himself through headphones

Last night, Coppice Court organised a Talent Show for the residents and Rock On tutors Matt and Candida were delighted to support the young people as they demonstrated their musical skills and abilities. It takes a lot of confidence to stand up and sing in front of people you know – often it’s more daunting […]

Rocking all over the place

June 19th, 2019 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

A toddler sitting on her mothers lap at the electric drum kit

It’s been a really busy few weeks for Rock On, with sessions in Felixstowe, Leiston, Saxmundham and two venues in Lowestoft. In Felixstowe, we’ve just completed a 6-week mini project, in which DJ and singer/ songwriter Sophie Tott introduced young adult residents at the Foyer to the joys of mixing their favourite tunes. She also […]

Rock On in Felixstowe

March 5th, 2019 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

A table is covered with DJ equipment, and the young participant is completely focused on playing her guitar.

When is a DJ not a DJ? When she’s a guitar tutor. Last night at the Foyer in Felixstowe, DJ Tallulah Goodtimes stepped away from the decks and turned to her other great passion – that of being a singer/songwriter. We were joined by two young musicians, both hugely talented and keen to learn more, […]

Rock On rocks at the Seagull Theatre

December 10th, 2018 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

Two girls playing keyboards

Our Coppice Court Rock On band have played their first public gig – and they were totally fantastic. They performed at the Seagull Theatre as part of a Christmas show organised by Graeme Syed and Lee Johnson and to an audience of more than 100 people. Of course, there were the pre-performance jitters, but when […]

Rocking On in Lowestoft

September 26th, 2018 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

A young girl with long braids sits at a keyboard, sunlight from the window illuminating one side of her face

What a lovely Rock On session last night at Coppice Court in Lowestoft – and how hard all the young people worked. From the moment we arrived to our last wave goodbye, the children were there, eager to make music together. With one song already nailed, and another shaping up nicely, the band will soon […]

Rock On DJs perform live in Saxmundham

September 3rd, 2018 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

Two adults stand behind a young girl and boy, the boy is wearing headphones and has been doing a DJ mix.

Following our Rock On summer holiday programme of DJ sessions at CYDS youth club in Leiston, two young people took to the stage and really rocked at the Saxmundham Family Fun Day on Bank Holiday Sunday. Despite the weather (it poured steadily, all afternoon) the young DJs got people rocking to their mixes and whooping […]

Getting ready for the Saxmundham Skate Jam

August 22nd, 2018 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

Two women working at a DJ desk

DJs Sophie Tott and Marco Spina have been working with participants – and youth workers – at CYDS in Leiston, helping them prepare for live DJ performances at the Saxmundham Family Fun Day on Sunday, 26th August on the Memorial Field in Saxmundham from 2pm onwards. And as some people, for example Cheleigh, one of […]

Sharing the music – sharing the love

July 11th, 2018 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

Two young boys with guitars, one showing the other where to place his fingers on the fret board

Last night was the last Rock On music session at Coppice Court in Lowestoft before we all break for the summer, and whilst the drums beat and the guitars wailed, it was the quiet moments that really rocked us. Like the one pictured here, with a young participant showing another lad how to play a […]

Rock On at Sam’s Cafe in Lowestoft

April 25th, 2018 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

Rock Up participants joing Matt Shepherd on the new Rock On session at Sam's Cafe

Last night Sam’s Cafe rocked, as we launched the first session of our brand new music project for young people in Lowestoft. The project, Rock On, was devised in partnership with Access Community Trust (ACT), and provides drop-in music sessions for young people attending youth clubs run by ACT; Rock On will also provide sessions […]

£71,000 National Lottery award helps us support young people through making music

April 23rd, 2018 by Suffolk Artlink (Edit)

We’re thrilled to have been awarded £71,000 of National Lottery funding, through Youth Music and supported by Arts Council England, to run a two-year music project for young people and adults living in disadvantaged areas in the Waveney and Suffolk Coastal districts. We know that making music can make a huge difference to people’s lives. […]

Rock On music sessions start in Lowestoft

April 16th, 2018 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

We’re really looking forward to our first Rock On music session at the Globe Youth Club, Sam’s Cafe in East Bevan Street, Lowestoft on TUESDAY 24TH APRIL, from 5pm – 7pm. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced musician wishing to learn more – come along and meet our music tutors, Matt and Dan, […]

Rock On lifts off in Saxmundham

February 16th, 2018 by Candida Wingate (Edit)

Thrilled to be working with DJ Sophie Tott aka Tallulah Goodtimes on the brand new Rock On music project for young people, kicking off at the Youth Booth in Memorial Road, Saxmundham on Monday, 19th February from 4:30 to 6:30pm. Meanwhile, Rock On in Lowestoft starts after Easter, where it will run regular, fortnightly sessions […]

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Two adults stand behind a young girl and boy, the boy is wearing headphones and has been doing a DJ mix.

Rock On Photo Gallery

Have a look at what we've been up to, click here to see our Rock On photo gallery

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