A FROME-based children’s rock band, providing interactive live music workshops in primary schools around the country, have reached their 200th session, inspiring children to learn about PE, maths, literacy and school values through song-writing and music.
Tom Veck and Andy Hawkins, qualified primary school teachers make up Rocktopus, the award-winning children’s rock band and workshop provider, giving children in primary schools an interactive, live music experience to entertain, educate and inspire them through song-writing and creating music videos about school subjects.
Andy said, “We provide an educational experience like no other. Music-making strengthens cognitive function and builds strong foundations for literacy and maths, so we’ve combined music with PE, maths and literacy to help make learning fun and memorable.”
Rocktopus have toured as far as Derby, Kent and Shropshire and visited more than 45,000 school children since March 2021. They offer three unique school workshop experiences for primary schools: Rock The Sport, School Values Rock and their latest workshop which launched last month, Maths Rocks.
Tom said, “The workshops have been really great for the children and helps them to be creative whilst learning the key subjects. It’s been particularly great for the children with lower self-esteem. Andy and I are keen to work with these children, it’s amazing when one of them is slightly shy and has the courage to raise their hand and give some lyrics; they have such a beaming smile when they realise that we’re all singing their lyrics in the songs!
“Music should never be discounted. It’s been proven to have positive benefits on a child’s learning and development, which is why we’re touring with our music-led school workshops.
“We feel it’s our duty as teachers and parents to help build a child’s confidence and self-esteem, and remind them that learning comes in many forms, even rocking out with a real-life rock band!”
Rocktopus have written more than 650 songs and released two albums entitled Come on Let’s Go and Rock the World; they performed at last year’s Frome Festival and are booked to perform again at this year’s festival at the Merlin Theatre, with the Rocktocademy, a live interactive music show that takes the audience through the ‘10 steps that every rock star passes through on their journey to stardom’; more recently Rocktopus performed the Rocktocademy at the Silk Mill WRAP festival between Christmas and New Year.
Tom said, “We want to inspire children to take part in music and learn instruments, we have helped so many children get into music through doing this. It’s been really great!”
The band continue to tour the country working with schools in a bid to help make learning fun.
