Academy of Contemporary Music
Coordinates: 51°14′12″N 0°34′39″W / 51.23658°N 0.5775°W
The Academy of Contemporary Music | |
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World Leaders in Music Industry Education[1] | |
Location | |
Guildford, Surrey United Kingdom | |
Information | |
Type | Music School |
Established | 1997[2] |
Website | http://www.acm.ac.uk/ |
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.
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.
History
The Academy of Contemporary Music was the brainchild of guitar tutor Phil Brookes.[3] 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).[4] 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.[5]
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.[3][6]
- Ben King, lead guitarist with The Yardbirds.[6]
- Guy Davis, of rock group Reuben.
- Ed Sheeran, singer/songwriter, Ivor Novello and Brit Award winner, Grammy nominee
- 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
- ↑ "ACM Website: Home Page". Archived from the original on 16 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
- ↑ "ACM Website: About Us Page". Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- 1 2 Tim Edwards (2006-03-23). "The Independent: Contemporary music academies give stars of future a chance to be heard". Archived from the original on 21 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
- ↑ Queen's Award - Innovation at Business Link
- ↑ http://www.musictech.net/2013/09/acm-metropolis/
- 1 2 "ACM Website: Students Into Industry". Retrieved 2007-04-19.