Why Keyboards Are on the Rise at The Rock Academy Holiday Programme 🎹🔥

Why Keyboards Are on the Rise at The Rock Academy Holiday Programme.

Something fascinating has been happening at The Rock Academy holiday programme—and we’re excited to share it with you!

Over the last 15 years, we’ve seen a huge shift in the musical landscape. When The Rock Academy holiday programme first began, guitar was king. If we had 20 kids attending, there could be up to 18 guitarists in the room... and sometimes not a single keyboard player! But today? The tables have turned. At a recent holiday programme, we had eight keyboard players and just two guitarists. What a change!

So, what’s driving this rise in keyboards and piano?

🎹 The Digital Music Revolution

One likely reason is the way music is being made today. With the explosion of home studios and music production software, kids are more connected to technology than ever. Keyboards are the gateway to digital music creation—whether it's programming drums, bass, strings, or synths through MIDI, the modern keyboard is the command centre of the home studio.

🎶 More singers, more keys

We’ve also seen a rise in young singers at the holiday programme (more on that in another blog post 👀). And who do singers love to collaborate with? Keyboard players! It’s all part of a broader shift towards diverse instrumentation and songwriting-focused learning.

The Rock Academy’s Unique Approach to Piano & Keyboard Lessons

At The Rock Academy, we do things a little differently—and our students love it.

We’ve developed a creative, modern method of teaching keyboards and piano that focuses on:

• Chord charts and lyric sheets

• Playing by ear and from memory

• Improvisation and songwriting

• Arpeggios and band jamming

• Light reading—without the boredom

While traditional music reading still has its place, we've found that relying solely on sheet music can hold students back—especially when they join a band and need to follow a simple chord chart. Our method teaches students to think musically, not just read notes.

This means they’re ready to jam with friends, improvise solos, and jump straight into playing in a band. It’s piano and keyboard training designed for the real world of music.

Looking for the Best Keyboard and Piano Lessons in Wellington?

We’re proud to say The Rock Academy has some of the best piano and keyboard teachers in Wellington. Whether your child is just starting out or ready to take their skills to the next level, our tutors offer inspiring, supportive lessons that are fun, engaging, and packed with creativity.

🎵 Join our next Wellington holiday music programme or book a one-on-one lesson with one of our amazing keyboard tutors.

The future of music is here—and it sounds fantastic on keys.Let’s keep on rocking… one chord at a time. 🎹🤘