Sophie Bodell, of Launceston, is one of 115 students taking part in this year's Newstead College rock summer school.

And of those students, more than 50 are practising acoustic as well as being part of a band.

Sophie had never been in a rock band before the school started yesterday, but the 16-year-old will spend the next four days learning how to front one, before performing in the school's rock concert on Friday.

Sophie started learning the acoustic guitar when she was in grade 7 and has since started writing and singing originals.

``I'd really like to be a soloist,'' the former Riverside High School student said.

``I would love to follow it [as a career] but it's a bit of a hard industry to get into, so I'll have to wait and see.''

Sophie is attending the school on a scholarship after impressing its co-ordinator Roger Francis through her high school's Battle of the Bands.

Students will be tutored by many professional musicians throughout the week, including Carmel Claxton, drummers Travis Constable and Angus Tarnawsky and singer-songwriter Lianna Rose.

Rose said acoustic music and songwriting were worldwide phenomena that many young people were grasping.

``It gives people a voice to send out a message,'' she said.

``And it's very personal.''

The rock music summer school will continue until Friday.

An all-acoustic acts performance will be held on Thursday from 1pm and the rock back concert will start at 1pm on Friday.

Both will be held in Newstead College's auditorium and are open to the public.