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Rockschool UAE is a contemporary music school in Abu Dhabi offering Pop and Rock music education for children and young people. Students can learn vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and DJ skills from professional performing musicians, with a strong focus on playing together, building confidence and performing live.

OUR

MISSION

We believe music is a collaborative art form. Our philosophy is rooted in performance, not exams. We teach students to play, rehearse, and perform live as a band, building confidence and a genuine love of music through real-world experience.

MEET THE FOUNDER

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NICOLA WARWICK

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR | VOCALIST & MUSIC EDUCATOR

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"I wanted to create a music school I would have loved growing up."

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Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. My own musical journey started with classical training and musical theatre, before I discovered the world of Pop & Rock, and completely fell in love with it. I realised that while the technical foundations I'd learned were incredibly valuable, it was the freedom, energy and individuality of contemporary music that really made me want to perform.

 

That journey eventually led me into a professional career as a singer, songwriter and musician. I've spent more than 16 years performing professionally in the UAE, alongside international performances and tours and I've been lucky enough to perform on some incredible stages and alongside some amazing musicians. 

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But some of my favourite moments have always been the ones where music is shared. Playing in a band, learning a new song, rehearsing until something finally clicks, or watching a young musician step onto stage, overcome their nerves and realise "I can actually do this"

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That's really where Rockschool came from. 

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I wanted to create a music school that feels less like a classroom and more like being a part of a band. Somewhere where young people can learn from musicians who actually perform for a living, play real music, make friends, build confidence, and ultimately get up on stage and perform. 

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At Rockschool, we're not just teaching children how to play an instrument. We're giving them the opportunity to find their voice, discover what they're capable of, and, most importantly, fall in love with making music.

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Nicola x

MEET THE TUTORS

Charles Cutforth

Bass | Guitar | DJ

Leader of 4x Time-Out Award winning band, The International Playboys and one of the UAE's most energetic live performers. Charlie brings serious stage experience, a killer slap-bass technique and a passion for discovering great new music. From Nine Inch Nails and Limp Bizkit to Jamiroquai and Red Hot Chili Peppers, he's all about great playing, great sound, and importantly, looking the part while you play. 

JP MARE

Guitar | Bass

A precision guitarist with 20 years of professional experience, JP has performed internationally across the UAE, South Africa, Namibia, the UK and the Maldives, including opening for Rag 'n Bone man and Callum Scott. A true guitar nerd at heart, he's passionate about pedals, guitar setups and the technical side of the instrument. He has a serious love for discovering those lesser-known rock bands and hidden gems.

Josh Sheiman

Guitar | Bass | Drums

A highly educated and seriously talented multi-instrumentalist. Josh brings 20 years of teaching and professional performance experience to Rockschool. A blues and jazz lover with an impressive depth of music knowledge, he's incredibly easy-going, fun to work with and can seemingly pick up almost any instrument in a band... making him a pretty handy person to have in a room. 

Ray Cenicio

Bass | Keys | Drums

A professional musician, educator and musical director. Ray is a multi-instrumentalist with a real passion for jazz, funk, soul and contemporary music. With a LTCL in Jazz Piano from Trinity College London and years of experience performing, arranging and teaching, Ray brings a calm, thoughtful approach to music. Combining strong technical foundations and creativity, improvisation and the confidence to perform. 

Yeni

DJ | Drums

Yeni is an exceptionally versatile drummer with a strong technical foundation, a great feel for groove and a knack for unexpected fills, dynamics and drops that keeps things exciting. A highly adaptable performer, drummer and DJ, he brings a professional, creative approach to everything he does. 

Nicola Warwick

Founder & Musical Director | Vocals & Keys

As Rockschool's founder and musical director, Nicola brings over 16 years of experience of professional performing in the UAE and to the classroom. A working vocalist and keyboardist, she is a Trinity College London Pop and Rock vocalist and qualified Sound Engineer, as well as a multi-award winning performer with thousands of live shows behind her. 

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Nicola teaches Vocals and Keys and is passionate about helping students develop their musicality, confidence and individuality. 

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