Rock stars for a day!

February 2, 2023

Scroll down for an image gallery and to watch the pupils perform at Rockfield Studios!

A group of schoolchildren in Monmouth have followed in the footsteps of some of the world’s best-known rock bands.
The Year 4 boys and girls from Monmouth Prep School were given a wonderful insight into the history and workings of the iconic Rockfield Studios on Wednesday 1st February.
Queen, Oasis, Kasabian, Black Sabbath, The Charlatans, The Stone Roses and Manic Street Preachers are just some of the rockers who have recorded at the venue on the outskirts of Monmouth.
Elsie, whose mum collected Oasis’ autographs when they recorded at Rockfield in the 1990s, enjoyed seeing the Wonderwall that helped inspire one of the band’s best-known hits.
Sammy and Audrey enjoyed hearing about the mixing desk at Rockfield Studios which has been in place for decades.
And it was a special day for nine-year-old Arthur, a grade three pianist, who sat at the piano made famous by Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, in the smash-hit, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Professional sound engineer Joe Jones; Dr Sion Wall, who enjoyed spending time with the Ward family, who run the studios; and Mr Joe Walton explained the relationship of science to music in a very hands-on manner.
During a memorable day, the children learned about the science of how sound is manipulated to make music. They also recorded their own song and took part in the mixing process which resulted in a professionally-finished version.
The girls and boys were able to see how surfaces affect sound, visualise sound recordings as a wave and look inside different types of keyboard to see the different technologies which allow them to produce sound.

Monmouth Prep School performing at Rockfield Studios