Having never been to Guildford before, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect as the train pulled slowly out of Waterloo station. The trip had been arranged rather last minute and I'd focussed my research on the institution that I was going to visit, not its surrounding locale – I had not even checked if I would be able to get hold of some decent vegan food. As I disembarked about an hour later, I found myself in a perfectly ordinary town. If you've never been to Guildford, it's not the sort of place that would strike you as a training ground for the future of music. Yet, as I was soon to discover, this is exactly what you'll find.
In 1997, a guitar tutor named Phil Brooks was running lessons out of his garage in Guildford and it was from these humble beginnings that the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) would flourish. In 2012 it was acquired by Kainne Clements around the same time that he became the co-owner of Metropolis Studios (MS), which has been used by everyone from Rihanna to the Clash. As it continued to grow, expansion became inevitable and campuses in Birmingham and London would be opened in the years following Clements’ acquistion. Despite the ACM's relatively young age, it has proved to be very successful, with alumni including Newton Faulkner, Matt Healy (of the 1975) and Jeff Beck collaborator Carmen Vandenberg, as well as a short stint from Ed Sheeran. On top of this, the school can boast that 95.8% of its most recent cohort were in full-time employment or continuing education within six months of finishing their Higher Education studies.
One of the incredible recording studios at ACM Guildford
As well as its famous alumni and talented tutors, the ACM has been able to attract the support of a number of well-known artists including Queen's Roger Taylor, Steve Vai and Chad Smith, the legendary drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. These patrons form a core part of what ACM offers, with many of them lending their name to rooms and suites throughout the campuses, as well as providing occasional masterclasses in their area of expertise. Smith's drumming masterclasses (which have been happening since 2006) really give an insight into how seriously the ACM takes its duty to provide its students with the best training and opportunities.
On offer
The campus is a short walk from the train station – so short in fact that I managed to walk past it as I didn't quite believe Google Maps. It's split between a number of buildings, including: the Rodboro Building, which is the main teaching facility that houses over twenty teaching rooms; the ADC which has a demo theatre, studio space and lecture rooms; and the Electric Theatre, which is also used as a community space.
Within the Rodboro Building, there are a great range of rooms available including the Roland Drum Studio that is set up with a suite of electric drums, and the Fender Guitar Studio. Due to the nature of what is being taught, these classrooms double as practice rooms when they are not in use and students are encouraged to use the space in their downtime. One of the recording studios at ACM Guildford is modelled after a space in MS, indicative of the close ties that exist between the two businesses. Indeed, MS is considered part of the ACM package, with students from every campus being able to make use of its facilities, masterclasses, industry events and free recording sessions.
The learning potential at ACM is quite remarkable. On top of music-related degrees that can be taken across two or three years, there are also diplomas and summer schools for people who are perhaps earlier in their study of music. These diplomas are a great pre-cursor to degree-level study for aspiring musicians at any age and (depending on the level taken) are equivalent to A Levels. As well as learning about music, diploma students will also study English, Maths and Employability to help build those skills.
© Rob Blackham
A Bob Earland synth masterclass at ACM
Beyond the studio
There's a lot going on outside of the classroom as well, with students being motivated to become a part of the surrounding community. On my way towards the campus, I saw plenty of posters that were advertising gigs that had been organised by ACM students, with these ranging from intimate gigs at the local Jamie's Italian to small tours to venues throughout the home counties.
I was also pleased to learn that ACM is investing a lot of resources into making music more accessible for those who have been traditionally marginalised, such as women and disabled people.
The student support that is available really impressed me, with a prominent helpdesk setup just outside the studio spaces so that students are always made aware of the help that is on offer – such placement should go a long way to ending a lot of the stigma around needing support, especially when it is linked to a disability or learning need. Students are encouraged to disclose any condition that they have, with the ACM making it clear that it will work hard to ensure the best outcome for a student. This includes one-to-one study support from a qualified tutor, access arrangements, and support with applying for diagnostic assessment, medical referrals and the Disabled Students’ Allowance. The ACM removes the burden of disclosure from students by working with academic and support staff to make sure that they have the skills and knowledge that they need to guarantee an effective learning and working relationship.
© Rob Blackham
The panel from last year's International Women's Day event
One of the tutors at ACM Birmingham is ViX of the brilliantly named all-girl band Fuzzbox. Last year, she helped to organise a gig in celebration of International Women's Day (IWD), with follow up events planned at every campus this year. ‘I'm proud as punch to be performing alongside some of my amazing female students for IWD,’ says ViX.
‘It's going to feel a little bizarre, because I'm normally lecturing in that room and watching them all play on the stage, so it'll be a whole different experience performing to them. I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun though – that's what I love about being in Fuzzbox – it's still fun after all of these years! Fuzzbox is still the UK's most successful all-girl band – who play instruments – and I'm still really passionate about empowering women in music and making our mark on the male-dominated industry.’
It's heartening to see real effort from the ACM to help change the status quo.
I really enjoyed my visit to the ACM. It was such a welcoming environment that was so alive with music and talent that I found it difficult to resist the urge to rush into one of the rooms and join in.
It seems like a wonderful place to study and is definitely worth considering as an option for any students you have who show an interest in contemporary music. Guildford itself made for a nice afternoon walk following my tour. It's a real cradle for creativity as the town is also a hub for the UK video game industry. Oh, and you can get decent vegan food to boot!
