During these unprecedented times, the ACM Community has had to pull together, adapt and utilise online resources to keep creative and informed. May saw ACM mark Mental Health Awareness Week with a project called “Tuning In”, working with Surrey Youth Focus and Woolmer Hill School to get students engaged in conversation about mental health through communal music making. We also introduced new Instagram Live “Masterclass” and “Industry Insights” sessions with industry professionals across the board, unveiled The ACM at Home choir, held two Digital Open Days and saw the community take part in our weekly ACM Songwriting Challenge, alongside lots of other fun collaborations. Make sure to stay connected with our #ACMatHome hashtag! Here are just a few examples of what everyone has been up to…
ACM Collaborations
The ACM at Home choir collaborated online and recorded an incredible rendition of Bill Withers’ ‘Lean On Me’:
ACM Tutor Brian Henry performed his Talkbox tribute and cover of Stevie Wonder‘s “Love’s In Need Of Love Today” with his lockdown friends:
ACM Tutor Brian Henry and Lockdown Friends – "Love's In Need Of Love Today"
🤩 🎵 ACM Tutor plays a Stevie Wonder classic! Check out ACM Tutor Brian Henry performing his Talkbox tribute and cover of Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need Of Love Today" with his lockdown friends. 👏 👏 👏 #ACMatHome #StayHome #StayatHome
Posted by ACM Guildford on Tuesday, May 12, 2020
ACM Students Richard Penn (drums, guitar, keys and synths), Alex Hancox (bass and synth bass) and Jed Seeley (mixed and mastered), worked together on a multi-instrumental cover of Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes‘ ‘What Kinda Music’:
#SaturdaySkills – ACM Students' Cover of 'What Kinda Music' by Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes
🎵 🎧 #SaturdaySkills from ACM Students Richard Penn Music (drums, guitar, keys and synths), Alex Hancox (bass and synth bass), whilst mixed and mastered by Jed Seeley! A fantastic multi-instrumental cover of Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes' 'What Kinda Music'! Great job guys! 👏 #ACMatHome▶️ Look out for Richard's new single, "It Gets Easier", out on 30th May!
Posted by ACM Guildford on Saturday, May 23, 2020
ACM Songwriting Challenge Winners
We continued with our weekly #ACMSongChallenge and announced four fantastic winners! Keep up to date with each week’s songwriting brief on our social channels.
Week 4 winner – ACM Tutor Giorgio Serci:
Saturday Skills – ACM Tutor Giorgio Serci
🎵 🎸 #SaturdaySkills Inspired by last week's #ACMSongChallenge (word of inspo – "fusion"), ACM Tutor Giorgio Serci masterfully arranged Led Zeppelin's notorious "Immigrant Song" for classical guitar. Giorgio explains the song's relevance to the brief 👇"The word ‘immigration’ has to me a… positive connotation as it evokes movement, development, starting afresh and ultimately learning from and celebrating different cultures… This tune was conceived as a Rock song by one of the most successful British bands of all times and this version was arranged and played by a Sardinian guitarist (moi) on a Spanish classical guitar made in Japan, with the arrangement based on a Brazilian rhythm." 👏
Posted by ACM Guildford on Saturday, May 9, 2020
Week 5 winner – ACM Diploma Student Alys:
ACM Songwriting Challenge – Week 5 Winner!
🎵💪#ACMSongChallenge Winner! 🙌 We're very proud to announce the winner of last week's songwriting challenge is… Diploma Student Alys! Alys' uplifting song "Motivation" certainly gave us a boost this afternoon – great job! 👏👏👏 #MondayMotivation💛 This week's word of inspo: "yellow"👉 Tag us: #ACMSongChallenge🔥 Deadline: this Sunday! 🔥
Posted by ACM Guildford on Monday, May 11, 2020
Week 6 winner – ACM Degree Student Vik:
ACM Songwriting Challenge – Week 6 Winner!
🎵💛#ACMSongChallenge Winner! 🙌 🥁… Last week's songwriting challenge winner is… Creative Artist Degree Student Vik! Vik's inspired song, aptly called "Yellow", boldly met the brief with a hook that'll resonate with you for the rest of the d̶a̶y̶… w̶e̶e̶k̶… summer! Well done! ☀️👏 #MondayMotivation🔥 This week's word of inspo: "fire"👉 Tag us: #ACMSongChallenge🔥 Deadline: this Sunday! 🔥
Posted by ACM Guildford on Monday, May 18, 2020
Week 7 winner – ACM Alumna Emily Ormiston:
Mental Health Awareness Week
Working with Surrey Youth Focus, our latest project called “Tuning In” got young people engaged in conversation about mental health through communal music making. This project was piloted with students attending Woolmer Hill School in Surrey, led by our tutor Leddra Chapman. Watch the video and learn more about the project here.
Tuning In – "Behind Closed Doors"
🎵 🙌#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek project! We are proud to be collaborating with Surrey Youth Focus to get young people engaged in conversation about mental health through communal music making. Our latest project called "Tuning In" was piloted with students attending Woolmer Hill School in Surrey, led by our tutor Leddra Chapman. The first music release through this platform, “Behind Closed Doors”, was inspired by the challenges many young people face with anxiety, with the lyrics penned by those involved. #MHAW2020 #TuningIn #BeKind▶️ Learn more: https://bit.ly/2TlX6Ij
Posted by ACM Guildford on Tuesday, May 19, 2020
We also continue to share a range of Student Support videos and resources with our students:
Tayla's Talk – ACM Student Services
👋😊Tayla's Talk! Tayla, from our award winning Student Support Team, has another message for you about a range of external support agencies available to the ACM community. These include Big White Wall, SANE Mental Health Charity, Kooth + more! #ACMatHome #ACMStudentServices▶️ Learn about ACM Student Services: https://bit.ly/2Z28vOA
Posted by ACM Guildford on Thursday, May 7, 2020
ACM Artist Skills
ACM Degree student Ash Freeman’s incredible blues improvisation as part of the #TazJamChallenge:
#FridayVibes – ACM Degree Student Ash Freeman
🎵 🎸#FridayVibes 🔥As part of the #TazJamChallenge, ACM Degree Student Ashley Freeman had a lot of fun soloing over American Guitarist Brandon "Taz" Niederauer's backing track. 🤩 Incredible playing Ash! 👏 👏 👏 #ACMatHome
Posted by ACM Guildford on Friday, May 8, 2020
ACM Tutor Brian Henry’s Bob Marley Talkbox jam:
#SaturdaySkills with ACM Tutor Brian Henry
🎹🔥 ACM Tutor Brian Henry is ready… are you? Join us on Instagram Live this SUNDAY at 3pm and learn everything there is know about our Keys Courses! 😎🎶 #SaturdaySkills #ACMLive #ACMatHome
Posted by ACM Guildford on Saturday, May 2, 2020
ACM Degree Student Jake Goodrum’s Michael Jackson guitar solo tribute:
ACM Student Jake Goodrum – "Beat It" Solo
🎵 🎸#SaturdaySkills from ACM Degree Student Jake Goodrum. 🔥 Jake's guitar solo over Michael Jackson's "Beat It" is 👌 – great job! #ACMatHome
Posted by ACM Guildford on Saturday, May 16, 2020
If you dream of achieving success in the creative industries, join us for our new Digital Open Day Experience. We can’t wait to see what our alumni do next – and we’d love to welcome you into the ACM community.
