ROCK CHALLENGE® - FOUR STAGES
Peer pressure is a term more commonly associated with negative lifestyle choices such as smoking and use of artificial stimulants, but in terms of Rock Challenge® it is central in helping a school grow a team and encourage participation, especially within the more difficult-to-reach peer groups such as girls in key stages 2 and 3. The following stages of growth have been observed in many Rock Challenge® schools throughout the 16 years the event has existed in the UK.
Stage One
In the first year of participation schools typically use a number of techniques to enrol team members, from simply posting adverts on notice boards to advertising within dance and drama classes. In many first-time entry situations teachers will only use students from one class to make it easier to find rehearsal time.
Stage Two
Following a year involved and having attended an event - invariably enjoying the experience - young people start to talk with friends and encourage them to get involved the following year and teams typically grow, roughly doubling in size between year one and two. Teachers are now more comfortable with the process and rehearsals help relationships between students and teachers improve making for a better and more positive atmosphere in classrooms. The young people involved begin to re-define their view of teachers and are enjoying school more in general.
Stage Three
By the third or fourth year of involvement the school team is running close to capacity; relationships between students and teachers are excellent and the general atmosphere within the school is improved. The school has started to use the Rock Challenge® to help in areas in which it struggles. For example, in some schools students are not allowed to participate in Rock Challenge® unless they have 95% attendance or better; the school might then allow under-attending students to attend after-school lessons to catch up and get them to the 95% required to be involved. On average, 10 students per school involved in Rock Challenge® experience improved attendance.
Stage Four
Through increased attendance and enjoyment of school, exam results are improving. Also, through reduced anti-social behaviour and improved citizenship within participants (through mixing with other students they would not normally mix with), graduates are leaving school more socially able and active members of society. In many cases the parents of participants become involved with the schools entry through making scenery or costumes, some remaining involved even after their child has left the school.
This is an idealistic model that, in many cases, is disturbed by elements such as teachers leaving the school, finance, or even difficulty getting participant numbers for the first year of entry. However, this model has been observed in many Rock Challenge® schools. One thing that has continually been proven to make no difference in the success of the concept within the school is success in the competition itself. Whilst a team might grow more quickly following success in the competition, the end results within the school remain similar whatever the degree of success in the competition. The key to the event succeeding and growing within schools is the young people's enjoyment of participation both on the event day and throughout rehearsals; this way positive peer pressure expands participation naturally and teachers can focus on their team and school benefitting as much as possible. | |
Music
UK ROCK CHALLENGE 2012/2013
MAJOR RECORD COMPANY DETAILS (Scroll further down for a sample letter :)
Atlantic Records UK:
Electric Lighting Station, 46 Kensington Court, London, W8 5DA
 www.atlanticrecords.co.uk
Tel: 020 7938 5500
Demon Music Group:
33 Foley Street, London, W1W 7TL
www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk
Tel: 020 7612 3300
Fax: 020 7612 3301
EMI Music UK and Ireland:
EMI House, 43 Brook Green, London, W6 7EF
www.emimusic.co.uk
Tel: 020 7795 7000
Fax: 020 7605 5050
Independiente Ltd:
The Drill Hall, 3 Heathfield Terrace, Chiswick, London, W4 4JE
www.independiente.co.uk
Tel: 020 8747 8111
Fax: 020 8747 8113
Sony Music Entertainment UK & Ireland:
9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY
www.sonymusic.co.uk
Tel: 020 7361 8000
Fax: 020 7937 0188
Universal Music (UK) Ltd:
346-366 Kensington High Street, London, W14 8NS
www.umusic.com
Tel: 020 7471 5000
Fax: 020 7471 5001
Virgin Records:
27 Wrights Lane, London, W8 5SW
www.virginrecords.com
Tel: 020 7795 7000
Fax: 020 7795 7001
Warner Music (UK) Ltd:
The Warner Building, 28 Kensington Church St, London, W8 4EP
www.warnermusic.co.uk
Tel: 020 7368 2500
Fax: 020 7368 2770
XL Recordings:
1 Codrington Mews, London, W11 2EH
www.xlrecordings.com
Tel: 020 8870 7511
Fax: 020 8871 7511
Capitol Records: Under EMI Music UK and Ireland
Chrysalis Records: Under EMI Music UK and Ireland
Circa: Under Virgin Records
Columbia Records: Under Sony BMG UK and Ireland
Def Jam Records: Under Mercury Records
East West Records: Under Atlantic Records UK
Interscope: Under Polydor Records
Island Records Group: Under Universal Music (UK) Ltd.
Polydor: Under Universal Music (UK) Ltd.
Sanctuary Records: Under Universal Music (UK) Ltd.
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MUSIC LICENSING SAMPLE LETTER:
The text below is a sample letter that could be used to obtain record company permission for use of music. Please feel free to use it (on your school's headed paper) and always provide a contact name at the school.
Dear (ENTER RECORD LABEL NAME HERE),
Rock Challenge® is an anti-drug and crime prevention initiative which takes the form of a performing arts competition for secondary schools and colleges. This competition first took place in the UK in 1996 after nearly 20 years in Australia. The Rock Challenge® is produced in the UK by the Be Your Best Foundation - a registered Charity No. 1077291.
The competition consists of an eight-minute dance-based production with up to 100 performers per school team. They devise the theme, choreography, stage design and lighting as well as deciding which pieces of music to use.
The Rock Challenge® holds licences with PPL, MCPS and pays PRS through the venues. The music needs to be re-recorded onto CD for professional quality playback at the venue but is not used for any commercial purpose. The performances will be recorded on video by the Rock Challenge®, a copy of the video will be given to each participating school and the final performance will be included on our password-encrypted internet video library for schools to watch. Again the videos will not be used for any commercial purpose. The Be Your Best Foundation works closely with the BPI and IFPI who are fully aware of the nature of the event and have supported it financially.
Our school plans to enter Rock Challenge® in 2013 and I am writing to you to request permission to use short excerpts from the following tracks by artists currently under your record label:
Artist
Track
We will be performing at on
We would be grateful if you could confirm that this will be acceptable.
Zoie Bartlett of the Rock Challenge® will be happy to supply you with any further information you may require about the organisation. She can be contacted on 02380 617 729.
Yours sincerely,
(ENTER TEACHER NAME HERE)
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