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On Wednesday 9th March, the Academy of Contemporary Music played host to legendary post-hardcore group Funeral For A Friend.
Kris Coombs-Roberts (guitarist) and Richard Boucher (bassist) gave students advice on how to develop as musicians from their own experiences being in a touring band.
The masterclass ran in a casual format with questions encouraged throughout. Richard and Kris also performed several of their hits at the request of students. Throughout the session students were thoroughly engaged and asked many questions. With many fans in the room Richard and Kris graciously stayed back for almost half an hour answering further questions from eager students.
Photo Credit: Get Surrey
Funeral For A Friend have been together since 2001 and in September 2015 they announced their final tour as a band – in the masterclass they said this was down to them taking the band as far as it can possibly go, both expressed a wish to remain firmly within the music business post Funeral For A Friend within the masterclass (even mentioning that they would be interested in lecturing somewhere like ACM).
As a band that strongly supports fresh talent in the industry, Kris and Richard felt it was very important to speak to the students who are the next generation of the music industry – hence their trip to ACM before their final show in May.
“It was great that Kris and Richard from Funeral for a Friend took time out of their busy tour schedule to come in a deliver a quality masterclass in ACM. The room was packed as they demonstrated their technical wizardry and inspired the students with stories and advice from their 15 year history of success in the band and music industry!”
Ace Head of Creative Industry Development
Richard and Kris’s advice to students and first impressions of ACM…
“I’m very jealous actually, you guys get that come to an amazing establishment like this, what I would say to you guys is, exploit it, use it, go to as many jam nights as you can, get your lecturers – collar them, ask them questions, learn and soak it all up because you’re in a wonderful position, a position that I never had that I am very very envious of so use it.”
Richard Boucher Bassist in Funeral For A Friend
“My first impressions of ACM is that it’s an absolutely amazing facility. I think the stuff on offer here for students is far and above what I had when I was younger and going to college. Having dedicated rooms for drums, for guitar (etc) is just mind blowing just to see a room full of electronic kits is insane. There was two drum kits in my college – so yes it seems like a very very good place. You’ve got a lot of great lectures here who have got a lot of knowledge from working in the music industry and it’s fantastic.”
Kris Coombs-Roberts Guitarist in Funeral For A Friend
If you want access to masterclasses with the bands you LOVE then book onto a campus tour at ACM NOW
