Welcome To
Winnall
Rock School
We are a Rock School for Winchester delivering free, high quality music workshops supporting our members’ welfare and mental health.
we have passionate tutors, technical equipment and a variety of instruments. Coordinated by a professional music leader, volunteer musicians coach and support young people to write, sing and play their own songs.
Making Music
Changing Lives
Empowering Youth
Through Music
Join us at Winnall Rock School, a place where young individuals in Rocking Winchester can discover the magic of music. We offer free workshops and resources to inspire and nurture their talents. We welcome young people (aged 10-17) with all levels of ability to work in our lively, creative, inclusive and supportive atmosphere. We prioritise those with less access to such opportunities or who need additional support.
We offer students two live gigs each year to express themselves, build confidence and find a sense of achievement. We support young people and adults, to explore and develop their musical interests without reading and writing musical scores. Our strength comes from our vetted volunteers who give their love, time and talents to help our programmes.
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Making Music
Improving music skills, knowledge and contributing to songwriting and playing together in a band.
Changing Lives
Gaining social skills, the confidence and mindset to truly be (and able to express) yourself.
How to Join Us
We welcome young people with all levels of ability to work in our lively, inclusive and supportive atmosphere.
Any young person aged 10-17 can access our free services, but we give priority to those who :
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Are eligible for Pupil Premium / free school meals
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Are Registered Disabled or have an Education Health Care Plan
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Have Special Educational Needs
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Are a Young Carer
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Have musical ambitions outside the exam-focused music curriculum within schools
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Have other health or social circumstances which limit their opportunity to take part in less supportive music provision.
Our Main Offer
FREE TUESDAY BAND WORKSHOPS
We currently run three sessions on Tuesdays for three, 10-week terms throughout the year.
These sessions are led by Chris Redmond and a team of brilliant local volunteer tutors with a range of experience. Any child aged 10-17 years in Winchester District is welcome to apply for a place on our FREE workshops.
These sessions lead to at least two annual showcase events;
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Our Summer Show at the Theatre Royal Winchester in July
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Our Christmas Show at a community venue.
Our Sessions
Our core service is our free band workshops for 10-17 year olds, held at Unit 12 in Winnall on Tuesday evenings.
1. Rock One for School years 6 to 8.
From 5.00pm – 6.15pm
2. Rock Two for School year 9 to 10.
From 6.30pm – 7.45pm
3. Rock Three for School / College years 11 to 13.
From 8.00pm – 9.15pm
Other Services
We also run other music tuition and support services on an ad-hoc basis, including for 6-11-year-olds and 19-25s.
Watch this space or our social media accounts for announcements of these.
Instrument Hire
We have a variety of Guitars, Ukes, Amps, Drums, Bass, Mics, Keys, plus all the leads which can be available for hire / loan at reasonable rates.
Try before you buy! We particularly support parents who don’t want to plunge into purchasing new gear for their children knowing that the craze to be a rock star may be a short-lived fascination. We sometimes sell our gear at competitive prices too.
** PLEASE NOTE. WE NO LONGER HAVE STUDIOS FOR HIRE **
Our Governance
Code of Conduct
We set standards on Behaviour and Attitude for all our members to focus on music-making, show a can-do attitude and support others to do this too by being;
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On time ready to make music
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Friendly and supportive to others
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Respectful of our studios, equipment and commitment
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Responsive to tutor instructions and requests
We also have a Code of Conduct that sets a few ground rules that can be summarised by this phrase:
Respect
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Yourself
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Each Other
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Our Differences
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Our Studios
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Our Equipment
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Our Music
If a tutor feels there is a problem with a member’s behaviour, we will speak to that person first. If issues continue, we will speak with their parents. If this is not resolved, we may ask the member to leave, either temporarily or permanently.
Keeping Safe
Looking after our physical and mental wellbeing is important to us. We recognise our responsibilities to our members and staff to ensure no harm happens to them when they are at WRS.
Our Health & Safety and Safeguarding Policies set out
– how our trustees, tutors and members should treat everyone with care and respect
– what to do if something goes wrong or if a child displays behaviours or other indicators of harm, abuse, etc, from outside our care.
We will contact other agencies including the local authority, the police or schools if a child is not safe
We regularly monitor our practice and review our policies annually. We also liaise with independent professional advisers to check we comply with good practice.
Meet Our Instructors
Please meet our wonderful instructors and fellow tutors who have a range of music playing, gigging, teaching, recording and life experiences to pass onto you.
What Our Parents Say
HELP US /
GET INVOLVED
Help us fund our services for young people.
With a ‘guitar string’ budget, we depend on the support of local people who have an interest in community, music and wellbeing.
Could you be a corporate sponsor or know someone that would like to support us?
Please contact us if you think you can help us in any way.
Donate your time as a trustee
Our trustees come from all walks of life with valuable professional, social and personal insights that help us with the planning, fundraising, monitoring and reviewing of our activities. They meet about six times a year.
We are grateful to all the organisations who have supported us with money, good-will, commissions, artistic collaboration and pro-bono support since 2004.
They have each helped enrich our offer.
