Pupils rocked on when one of the world’s top guitarists, Ace, popped into their east London school for an educational ‘jam’ session. Music students aged 15 to 18 were given a unique lesson at Bethnal Green’s Morpeth Secondary with an insight into the music industry from one of the original members of the iconic British rock band Skunk Anansie.
He came to inspire east London’s next generation of musicians.
His career spans 20 years — long before any of them were even born — in which he has sold five-million records, toured the world seven times and headlined at Glastonbury.
“It’s always amazing to be sharing the passion and inspiring young musicians in their schools and through programmes,” he said.
His tour of 11 locations teaching the Guitar Encounters course at schools, colleges and universities up and down the country is funded by the world’s largest musical instrument makers, Yamaha. Morpeth uses Yamaha’s Class Band method to teach brass and woodwind.
Yamaha Music Schools’ Nigel Burrows said: “We share a common goal with Ace to inspire young musicians with platforms to develop their talent. His ‘reality check’ presentation can only come from a working rock musician.”
Ace is currently Head of Creative Industry for the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford.
He is a renowned music educator who co-wrote and taught the BA Hons Live Performance and A&R modules at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, as well as holding a MA degree in Media and Project Management from London Middlesex University, and runs his own London schools with the ‘Ace Method’ of guitar tuition.
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