Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Academy of Contemporary Music

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Type
  
Music School

Founder
  
Phil Brookes

Established
  
1997

Phone
  
+44 1483 500800

Founded
  
1997


Address
  
Rodboro Buildings, Bridge Street, Guildford GU1 4SB, United Kingdom

Motto
  
World Leaders in Music Industry Education

Awards
  
The Queen's Award for Enterprise, Innovation

Similar
  
Guildford College, University Of Surrey, Guildford School of Acting, Hindhead Music Centre, The Yehudi Menuhin School

Profiles

The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) is a music academy in Guildford, Surrey, England providing its own contemporary music-based courses and partnering three public institutions, one college and two universities in respect of many of their contemporary music courses.

Contents

The school of music has a focus on rock, pop music, electronic dance music and a vocational approach. The school has links with Guildford's Electric Theatre, Guildford College, Middlesex University and University of Surrey.

Chappers at the acm academy of contemporary music


History

The Academy of Contemporary Music was the brainchild of guitar tutor Phil Brookes. Many courses bring contemporary music education and industry closer, committing musicians to recording, analyzing and passing on successful practices and technologies whereas committing students to study, perform, manage and/or research with the opportunity to participate vocationally. ACM's first courses were those of professional musicians and music managers who considered teaching to be a vocation, therefore obtaining a formal teaching qualification or providing assistance with the qualified tutors' courses. In the 2000s decade the academy expanded through recognition and cooperation with major academic works' writers, technicians and research-based tutors of three higher education partners. These are Guildford College which grants BTEC/Edexcel awards for the lower discipline, Middlesex University and the University of Surrey. The latter validate the Certificate in Higher Education for the intermediate discipline, award degrees at BA (Hons) and BMus (Hons) through to an MA (Masters) in contemporary music in partnership with ACM.

Awards

In May 2008 ACM was awarded the The Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation (Technology) (2008). In late 2009, with support from The University of Central Oklahoma, ACM opened a base outside of the UK in Downtown Oklahoma City, appointing Scott Booker as Executive Director.

In August 2013, owernship of ACM was acquired by Kainne Clements, who also co-owns Metropolis Studios.

Disciplines

The academy offers full-time courses for guitar; bass; drums; vocals; keyboards; music production; artist development & songwriting; radio broadcasting; creative sound design; tour production & management; and music business. These are offered to diploma, higher diploma, bachelor's degree or master's degree level. The part-time courses of ACM are "ACM Plus+ courses" for people over the age of 16 and ACM Junior courses for ages 10–16. The Diploma is a level 3 qualification and the Higher Diploma is at level 4 under the Ofqual Regulated Qualifications Framework.

Previous students

Alumni of the ACM (including academic music courses in which vocational placements were made with ACM) include:

  • Newton Faulkner, guitarist/singer/songwriter whose album Hand Built By Robots went to number one in the UK Album Charts.
  • Amelle Berrabah, member of girl group The Sugababes.
  • Ben King, lead guitarist with The Yardbirds.
  • Guy Davis, of rock group Reuben.
  • Ed Sheeran, singer/songwriter, Ivor Novello, Brit Award and Grammy winner
  • Zomboy, dubstep producer
  • Ryan Fletcher and Joel Peat of the band Lawson
  • Molly Smitten-Downes, Singer-Songwriter and the United Kingdom's Eurovision Song Contest 2014 entry
  • Notable teachers

    Notable current and former staff include:

  • Dave Kilminster - guitarist (Roger Waters)
  • Eric Roche - Fingerstyle guitarist
  • Chad Jackson - Winner of 1987 DMC World DJ Championships.
  • Mike Sturgis - drummer (21 Guns, Psycho Motel)
  • Tim Bricheno - guitarist (All About Eve and The Sisters of Mercy.)
  • Guthrie Govan - guitarist (Asia, Young Punx and The Fellowship.)
  • References

    Academy of Contemporary Music Wikipedia