Keyboard Lesson at AIMMS School of Rock with Narmon Tulsi (left)

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Keyboard/Piano
Singing
Guitar
Drums

Did you know that keyboard and piano are a bit different?

A piano has weighted keys, which means there is some resistance when you press the keys down so you develop certain strength in the hand muscles over time.

A keyboard has no resistance when the keys are played. The keys press down very easily which means that you do not develop the same strength that you would with piano.

If you're not sure if you want to learn Keyboard or Piano it is usually best to start with piano then it is easy to change to keyboard if you wish.

It is not so easy to go from keyboard to piano because of the weighted keys.

Keyboard is used more for string sounds or brass sounds in a band but this does not mean that it can't be used for piano sounds as well.

Most keyboards have from 10 to several hundred different sounds you can play with including Drums, Guitars, Basses, Orchestral Sounds, Organ and Piano and a variety of Sound effects.

Both instruments can be used for all styles of music including Blues, Rock, Classical and funk.

At the school we have Electric Pianos and Keyboards for you to use for your lessons

Our excellent teaching staff is ready to help you with all your questions and provide any advice you need when buying an instrument. Our teachers will make you so comfortable that all your nerves will disappear in no time.

Your piano/keyboard teachers:

David Jacquier
Todd

Call 8223 5888 now to arrange a lesson.

Singing Lesson at AIMMS School of Rock with Tom Leech (seated)

Did you know that when you sing a Pop, Rock, Country, Blues or a Jazz song that you must use techniques different to Classical Singers?

There are so many different ways the human voice is used in the world depending on cultures and styles of music. At the school we teach you how to sing with confidence using safe, healthy technique which is appropriate for all the modern styles of music.

All our singing teachers perform in bands and have enjoyed long careers performing in the Rock/Pop/Jazz/Country and Musical Theatre areas.

You would not try to learn how to sing Rock or Pop from a Classical Teacher any more than you would take your Ferrari to be serviced by a Holden mechanic.

Musical Theatre
Musical Theatre is another area where AIMMS School of Rock specialises. Particularly with so many of the new musicals coming along being Rock/Pop orientated: Mamma Mia, Fame, Grease etc.

We also do songs from such renowned musicals as Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Gilbert & Sullivan, Gershwin and so on.

Our singing students are diverse:

• those who have been asked to sing at a relative's wedding or party and want to do a good job
• those who just want to feel a little bit more confident to get up and sing if they go out to Karaoke with friends
• serious professionals who need to maintain efficient technique when singing up to 40 or more songs a night 3 or 4 nights a week
• and those who just love to sing and want to learn more about their instrument and build up their self confidence.

We know just how nervous you feel about having singing lessons. It's a very personal thing and it can be very scary to sing in front of someone you've never met before.

So we ease you in and treat you as an individual. You'll be surprised how quickly you will start to feel comfortable with our wonderful singing teachers.

Your singing teachers:
Tom Leech
Vince Contarino
Adrienne De Kuyer
Diane Dixon
Chris Rektsinis
Belinda Smith


Let us help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Call 8223 5888 now to arrange a lesson.

Electric

Guitars for sale at
Rock Music
(downstairs from
AIMMS School of Rock)

Acoustic

Guitar Lesson at AIMMS School of Rock with Steve Williams (left)

Did you know that you only need to learn 3 or 4 chords on the guitar and you can then play several hundred different songs?

It would normally take only 2 to 3 weeks to learn these chords if you practice.

You could play everything from Savage Garden to every Blues song ever written.

And, yes, you can learn to play Billy Joel's song "Piano Man" on the guitar.

There are 4 main types of Guitar.

• Nylon String Acoustic
• Steel String Acoustic
• Electric
• Bass

Nylon String Acoustic is a Classical Guitar that is used for finger picking or Flamingo style guitar playing. However, it can still be used for playing that favourite Rock Riff or song that you would just love to be able to play. It is more an issue of the type of sound which the guitar makes that defines when we choose which guitar we want to use.
Nylon is often used as a beginner's guitar because the strings are softer on the fingers and make it a little bit easier in the early stages of learning.

Steel String Acoustic is the favoured guitar for the Folk artist for playing around the campfire and is the dominant acoustic in all Rock, Pop, Blues and Country music.

The Steel String is a louder acoustic guitar than the Nylon String and stylistically more versatile. The steel strings are a bit tougher on the fingers than the nylon.

However, it is a closer step to the electric and will build better hand strength overall. You can finger pick with a Steel String as well.

Electric is where most aspiring Rock, Pop, Jazz and Funk artists need to start.

With electric guitar you can play with distortion, chorus and a myriad of other wacky sounds that can be created using an electric guitar. These sounds do not come with or in the guitar, they come in special sound modules or in the amplifier that you would need to purchase separately. (Check out Rock Music for Guitar/Amp Package deals)

If an electric guitar is not plugged into an amplifier it is very quiet and cannot be used efficiently as an acoustic.

However, you can still practice with it; just very quietly. The Electric has very light steel strings which makes it the easiest on the hands and fingers of all the guitars.

This can make your learning curve faster.

Bass guitar has 4 strings instead of 6 like the above guitars mentioned.

The Bass is considered a Rhythm section instrument rather than a Melody or Chord playing instrument and is normally played only one note at a time.

The Bass player works very closely with the drummer in the band. If there is no drummer present then the bass is the time and rhythm section.

If you want to perform with bands all the time and want to learn something a little bit easier then bass would be a good starting point.

We can even help anybody wanting to learn Double Bass for those Jazz gigs.

Our guitar students vary greatly. Some just want to be able to strum out a few chords around the campfire. Others are serious musicians wanting to find that special something which they can pull out in their next recording session.

Our teachers are great and they understand that it can be a bit intimidating going to a music lesson.

So they treat everyone with great care to make sure you are as comfortable as possible.

Find out how quickly you can settle in and just how friendly and easygoing the teachers are.

Call 8223 5888 now to arrange a lesson.

Drum Lesson at
AIMMS School of Rock

Joel, drummer for AIMMS School of Rock band

Did you know that when you learn the drums you are learning how to play other percussion instruments at the same time?

Bongo drums for example, use the same rhythms that you learn playing drums. The only difference is that you play with your hands instead of sticks. It is a similar situation with other percussion instruments.

Drums are one of the most fun instruments of the lot.

Not only do you get to learn all the most important grooves and rhythms but you get to release all that pent up stress by having a good bang on the drums.

There's something very primal about drumming.

As a vital member of the band, it is up to the drummer to keep time. This means you set the speed that songs are played at and then it is up to you to maintain that tempo as all the other instruments in the band are following you.

When you hear the drummer at the beginning of a song click his sticks together or count, he is actually telling the other musicians what the tempo of the song is going to be and when they should start.

A lot of time is spent just developing hand co-ordination so a drum pad and a set of sticks are all you need to get started. Once you have started then you can ask your teacher for advice on drum kits. Our teachers are very friendly and willing to give advice, which could help you save money and a lot of hassle with your purchases.

Your drum teachers:
Toby Lang
Neil Bensted
James Rektsinis

AIMMS School of Rock provides a drum kit at the school for you to have your lessons on.

Call 8223 5888 now to arrange a lesson.