Popular Music Pedagogy: band rehearsals at British universities

There has been little published pedagogical research on popular music group rehearsing. This study explores the perceptions of tutors and student pop/rock bands about the rehearsals in which they were involved as a part of their university music course. The participants were 10 tutors and 16 bands from eight British tertiary institutions. Analysis of participants’ interview responses suggested their perceptions could be grouped into three over-arching categories: operational mechanics of rehearsing: rehearsing activities; and group dynamics in the rehearsal. These categories, comprising a master list of twelve themes, are used to provide a basis for establishing twelve pedagogical guidelines for tutors involved in undergraduate pop/rock band rehearsal activities. Abstracted from the research are two illustrative pedagogical models, which are offered as suggestions for practice and further debate.