equipment
The music industry continues to change. Not just the styles of music that people expect to hear but also how they now want to hear it! Performing and recording music has also changed dramatically. Digital Technology now means (in the right hands) recording professional quality demos or albums, can be done without the need to work in large studios.
It is essential that all modern musicians embrace this technology and have at least a good working knowledge of it and the influence it has on today`s music industry. The Academy makes sure its students have the opportunity to work regularly with the latest levels or versions of both instrument and software/hardware technological changes.
Equipment our students use
Virtual learning Environment
All of our centres benefit from our very own Virtual Learning Environment, or VLE. This allows our students to study all lessons on line and creates a paperless classroom. Students can download every lesson, piece of music or even access a library of tunes, they will use during performance classes. Everything is there, Practice diaries, lesson plans, lesson guidance, even student forums. This is accessed by our students via a simple password given to them at the beginning of the year.
Guitars and amplification
All Guitar and Bass students are expected to bring their own instrument to all classes. The Academy centres do have a good supply of Yamaha acoustic guitars, used primarily on the acoustic guitar and songwriting modules, plus several electric basses and guitars for jamming or occasional use.
Amplification is more varied and dependant on the set up of the particular centre. We exclusively use Peavey and are very well resourced with various PA`s, guitar, Bass, and practice amps.
Drums and cymbals
Our drum departments have both electronic and acoustic drum kits. The Yamaha DTX electronic kit is used as the backbone of our day to day teaching. Acoustic practise is done primarily on Stage custom kits and performance lessons and gigs are played on the fantastic Maple and Birch Absolute kits. We use a mixture of Zildjian A, A custom, K custom and Z cymbals for different circumstances.
iMAC suites
Every Academy centre has an iMAC midi- suite, comprising of G5 Mac computers, Pro-Tools software, Digi-design mixing desks and Syballius notation software. These are patched through to a “live room” to enable students to record their work.