Elia, our young drummer, is Sussex Rock School's youngest student this year

Here's our youngest student this year. He is only 10 years old and has been coming to the Sussex rock school for just 9 months but he is already mastering quite complex drum patterns and rhythms.

For someone who couldn't reach the bass pedal when he started, he's doing terrifically well. Elia now has his own kit at home and practises every day. When he grows up he says that he wants to play in a band and he loves coming to Rock School!

Mumba Sings at CJ’s Open Mike Night

“A few weeks ago, I was asked to sing at CJ’s open mike night as a sort of honorary member of Sussex Rock School.

I have sung at CJ’s before for the Rock School and since starting university, I have gone on to more and more Open Mike Nights because they expose you to a different atmosphere compared to big stages. I attended Rock School for 6 years and was part of their annual shows, so I grew up singing with the Rock School family, and even though I’ve left now, I still wanted to be a part of their shows.

After leaving Rock School, I moved to the Philippines and continued singing there. I was part of a choir for a year, which was great fun. I partook in competitions, charity concerts and had private classical training. This all helped push my voice further, in different directions, and increased my love for singing.

At this Open Mike Night, I sang Melt My heart to Stone by Adele and the classic Sunday Morning by Maroon 5. I have always been influenced by belting female artists and I have been working on covers by Adele, Beverley Knight and Leona Lewis.

I think that there will not be a time when I am not singing in the future. I have enjoyed it since the moment I started at 10 years old at the Sussex Rock School. For now, I will be singing at as many Open Mike Nights as I can, and I hope that in the future, I will be performing my own songs.”

Mumba Dodwell