Retro Rock
by Andrew Brown and Steve Dillon
Exploding Art Music Productions
Retro Rock - Part A Style guide
Retro Rock - Part B Rock scores
10 track CD

This resource presents brief but comprehensive style sketches of ten of rock's 'lesser' alternative styles. Each sketch is supported by a piece 'in the style of'. Parts are supplied melody in C, Eb and Bb, two chord parts, bass and percussion. An accompanying CD can be used for 'playing along' or as a performance support. The authors introduce Retro Rock as a flexible resource that poses the questions: What is style in music? and What makes one style different from another?

The charts are short and repetitive, making them ideal for students to develop their own arrangements and improvise as well as developing their techniques - especially in the reading and playing of syncopated rhythms. The degree of rhythmic detail is a feature of the charts.

The Retro Rock package is designed to look like a 'rock magazine' with a 'vinyl record' and comes with photocopy rights for school use. The CD contains ten 'gutsy' authentic sounding backing tracks. This is an ideal resource for classroom music or junior ensemble for students in year 5 to 9.

Retro Rock package costs $59.00 and is available from

Exploding Arts Productions,
8 The Boulevard,
Warrandyte, 3113,
telephone (03) 9844 4447.
www.explodingart.com.au