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Rock U. Winter Concert 2022 at La Boule Noire!

Rock U. Student Bands in Concert!

Please join us at historic Paris music venue La Boule Noire on 20 March for our 2022 Winter Concert!  As always, admission is free and all are welcome.

*14h-20h, doors open at 13h30
*Eighteen student bands
*Hits by Metallica, Blondie, 5 Seconds of Summer, Led Zeppelin, Billie Eilish, The Killers, The Beatles, Olivia Rodrigo, AC/DC, CeeLo Green, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182, Blue Öyster Cult, Mac DeMarco, My Chemical Romance, Prince, INXS, Dua Lipa, Steve Miller Band… and many more!

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NEW Rock U. Ski Break workshop: Band Techniques with Leander Lyons!

There’s much more to a band than just musicians playing their parts at the same time. Come learn to understand and give cues to bandmates, how to sit back and support them, and also how to jump in front to lift the group with a soaring solo. We’ll practice band dynamics, rhythmic tightness, and even collective improvisation in this off-season workshop.

  • Date and time: Thurs 24 Feb, 15h-18h
  • Fee: 80€
  • Advanced musicians ages 14 and up
Sign up here!
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NEW Rock U. Ski Break workshop: Queen A Capella with Jessica Moore!

Develop your musicianship, singing skills, and harmony creation through this vocal workshop! We’ll learn songs by Queen, reimagined in a cappella (We Will Rock You, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, I Want To Break Free… and maybe even Bohemian Rhapsody!)  Beginners welcome, suitable for all levels.

  • Dates and times: 1-3 March, 15h-18h
  • Fee: 195€
  • Ages 10-16
Sign up here!
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Rock your Ski Break with Rock U.!

Join a rock band during the ski break!  If you already play an instrument or sing, or if you’ve always wanted to try drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and more, this program is for you.  You and your band will learn songs throughout the week, try out different music styles and instruments, and make videos of your performance!  All ability levels and all instruments welcome.

  • Two sessions: Feb 21-25 and Feb 28-Mar 4 2022 (195€ per week)
  • Two bands per session: 11h-12h30 (ages 8-11) and 13h-14h30 (ages 12-16)

Sign up here!  For more information, email matt@rock-u.fr.

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We’re ready to rock 2022 with you!

Happy New Year!  2022 is gonna rock at Rock U. and the Rock U. Winter Session for ages 8-18 starts on Monday 3 January.  If you’re already in a band and want to continue with the same band, please remember to send us an email at matt@rock-u.fr and let us know, so we’ll hold your spot!  There’s no need to fill out a new registration form.  On the other hand, if you don’t want to continue, please let us know that, too.  There are waitlists for most bands, and someone may be very happy to have your spot.  If you’re new to Rock U. and ready to join a band for our next show, sign up here!   
Check out videos/photos of our December show at La Boule Noire:
*Videos are up on the Rock U. YouTube channel
*Photos on our Facebook page
*See more on the official Rock U. Instagram
*Like, subscribe, and follow to see new photos/videos as they go up
Can’t wait to rock with you in 2022!
Matt and the Rock U. Crew
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Happy Holidays from the Rock U. Crew!

Thanks for rockin’ with us in 2021!

Check out the Rock U. Crew covering Jingle Bell Rock (with your help) HERE

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Introducing Extra Credit: The Rock U. Podcast!

Everyone else is doing it, so why can’t we?  Rock U. is proud to bring you Episode 1 of Extra Credit: The Rock U. Podcast, premiering today, Thanksgiving, Thursday 25 November.  Just one of the ways we want to say THANKS to all of you for being part of our Rock U. community!

In every episode of Extra Credit, your hosts Seth Hinkley and Matt Black will discuss different aspects of rock music and the Rock U. experience.  In Episode 1, “All Killer, No Filler”, Seth and Matt list their Top 5 albums that don’t have a single song you’ll want to skip, Seth tells us why John Fogerty played his guitar on the witness stand in a court case, and the guys go head to head with a Beatles vs. Stones debate in our One Minute Matchup.  Episode 2 is coming in a few weeks, when we’ll list our favorite and most notable cover songs, explain why Taylor Swift is re-recording her own albums, and throw down on the Les Paul vs. Strat debate.  In future episodes we’ll bring you in-depth discussions of our favorite topics in rock’n’roll, plenty of special guests, and some insider scoops.

So check out Extra Credit: The Rock U. Podcast, available now on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, and SoundCloud.  Our theme music was written and produced by former Rock U. teacher Tom Walters, aka Kitsch Kub.

Extra Credit: The Rock U. Podcast is sponsored and supported by our partners at Big Pebble Records.  Big Pebble Records is your one-stop anglophone resource for music creation in Paris.  Check out Big Pebble’s first EP release, Posture, by former Rock U. rocker Person M!

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Rock U. Fall Concert is back at La Boule Noire for 2021!

Rock U. Student Bands in Concert!

Please join us at historic Paris music venue La Boule Noire on 12 December for our 2021 Fall Concert!  As always, admission is free and all are welcome.

*14h-20h, doors open at 13h30
*Eighteen student bands
*Hits by Bon Jovi, Gorillaz, Olivia Rodrigo, The Police, Queen, U2, Shawn Mendes, Foreigner, The Black Keys, Fountains of Wayne, Arctic Monkeys, Talking Heads, Toto, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, The Weeknd, The Strokes, and many more!

Passe sanitaire obligatoire, of course!

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Rock your Toussaint Break with Rock U.!

Join a rock band during the Toussaint break!  If you already play an instrument or sing, or if you’ve always wanted to try drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and more, this program is for you.  You and your band will learn songs throughout the week, try out different music styles and instruments, and make a video of your performance!  All ability levels and all instruments welcome.

  • Two sessions: Oct 25-29 (195€) and Nov 2-5 (160€)
  • Two bands per session: 11h-12h30 (ages 8-11) and 13h-14h30 (ages 12-16)

Sign up here!  For more information, email matt@rock-u.fr.

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Rock the Rentrée 2021!

Hey Rockers, it’s almost rentrée time! Registration for fall bands and lessons opens online on Wednesday 1 September, at 9 AM.  Bands and lessons start rockin’ on Monday 27 September!

I’m ready to rock!  How do I sign up?

Online registration forms will open on our website at www.rock-u.fr at 9 AM Paris time on Wednesday 1 September.

For kids, teen, and adult bands:
  • If you were in a Rock U. band last year, and you want to stay in the same band, nothing could be easier.  Just sign up before Friday 3 September and list your band as your first choice.  But remember, starting 3 September, band assignments will be on a first-come, first-served basis and open to all.  So don’t wait!
  • If you were in Rock U. last year, but you want to change to a new band this year, you’ll still get priority over new students as long as you sign up before 3 September.  We’ll try to put everyone in their preferred band, but first we have to see how many band members are returning to each band and how many returning students want to change bands.
  • If you are new to Rock U., you can still sign up online starting at 9 AM on Wednesday 1 September!  New students will be assigned to bands on a first-come, first-served basis, starting on Friday 3 September after returning students have had an opportunity to reserve their spots.  So if you’re first to sign up on 1 Sept, you’ll be first new student to be assigned to a band starting 3 Sept.
  • Whether you’re new to Rock U. or you want to change bands from last year, please select at least a first and second choice of bands.  You’ll receive your band assignment within a few days, and no fees will be charged until both Rock U. and the student agree to the band assignment.
  • The complete fall band schedule, including additional new bands and modified time slots, can be seen right here.  See the full 2021-2022 Rock U. calendar here.

For private lessons:

  • Rock U. will offer both in-studio and online lessons in 2021-2022.  Please be sure to specify your choice between online and in-studio lessons when you register, if you have a preference.
  • Whether you are a returning or new lesson student, please provide as many choices as possible for your lesson time when you register!  We’ll try to put together a schedule that meets everyone’s needs.
  • You’ll receive an email offering you a specific lesson time slot and teacher within a few days.  No fees will be charged until both Rock U. and the student agree to the lesson assignment.
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