The Performance Playbook: Lessons from Music and Sport

Contemporary music tuition business Rok Skool, in Haywards Heath, has launched Sound Strategies to provide businesses and charities with team away day experiences that use the power of music to meet real business challenges.

Rok Skool Sound Strategies recently hosted a remarkable conference called The Performance Playbook: Lessons from Music & Sport which featured an inspirational lineup of speakers, including Paul Barber OBE, CEO and Deputy Chair of Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Tony Underwood, former England Rugby International. The day was an inspiring collection of stories, performances and lessons.

Leading with love

Tony Underwood, former England Rugby player and Emirates pilot, explained how he is now helping organisations unlock impactful social value strategies. He shared moving stories from his careers which highlighted how, for him, leading with love, care and kindness fostered high performance on the pitch and in the cockpit. Former chief sports writer for the Guardian and Daily Telegraph, Paul Hayward enjoyed a ‘fireside chat’ with Tony about the highs and lows of his career as an England Lion, including thriving under the Lions’ Laws and that infamous encounter with Jonah Lomu.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s 25 steps to high performance

Paul Barber OBE revealed the inner workings of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club’s extraordinary community integration. With 25 core pillars driving their success, he emphasised the importance of aligning culture with strategy and staying non-negotiable on values. His stories of community engagement and innovation were a masterclass in leadership and impact. He shared the Club’s exciting plans to build brand new bespoke facilities for the women’s team in line with their huge success and growth. He also outlined how the club engaged its people, understanding that everyone plays a vitally important role, from the car park attendant who welcomes the referee on match day to the kit man. When Paul Hayward, who now hosts The Official Brighton and Hove Albion Podcast, sat down with Paul for a Q&A he described him as an ‘utterly unflappable leader’ who was happy to answer any question. The audience had many!

Racing against the odds: a legacy for women’s motorsport

Catherine Bond Muir shared her bold vision of creating the W Series, the first women’s motorsport championship. Her journey highlighted the grit it took to bring her vision to life and the heartbreak of seeing it halted by external forces. Yet, her legacy is undeniable, as the sport now stands on her shoulders, and she has opened doors for the current and future generations of women in motorsport.

Living the values

The Rok School team of Mike Rebeiro, Sarah Harrison, Rory Kaye, and Gav Cantrell discussed how and why diversity, inclusion and community are core to Rok Skool’s mission, sharing how if your policies and behaviours are inclusive then diversity will follow. Rory described building on his late father’s legacy of values and how important the Hereward Kaye Scholarship (which funds individuals and charities’ access to Rok Skool tuition and events) is key to keeping the founder’s dream alive.    

RezaRoks: music for wellbeing

Hannah Carter and her classical music charity, Ensemble Reza, demonstrated the healing power of creativity. Their movement, centred on the belief that music is essential for health and well-being, brought to light the need for STEAM education (including an A for Arts) to tackle the growing mental health crisis among children. She shared how Rok Skool and Ensemble Reza professional musicians are collaborating as RezaRoks to perform well-known rock and classical hits at a fundraising event in Cuckfield Church on 28 February and 1 March 2025. 

Not out: managing mental health crisis for high performance

Simon Cusden, a former professional cricketer who played against Shane Warne during his short-lived career, gave a raw and courageous account of facing his darkest moments of alcoholism and a suicide attempt. He spoke about turning to recovery as an act of strength, using action to overcome anxiety, and finding meaning in rewriting his story.

Championing authentic voices

Rok Skool’s Chandni moved us all with her journey to discover her authentic voice. Her story of growing up in a Gujarati home was a reminder of the transformative power of staying true to herself and finding the right environment and people to springboard her talent. She shared how finding the right team led to her writing and releasing her first single, Eye to Eye.

Breaking through

JatzDaKid, an irrepressible force of nature, showcased his ability to pivot creatively and explore new paths. His energy and talent were infectious, a beacon of hope for the next generation of creators. He is a leading rap artist and clothing label entrepreneur, who shared his story of overcoming challenges and grabbing every opportunity. 

AI as a force for good

To finish, Mike Rebeiro talked us through the opportunities and pitfalls of adopting AI into your organisation, always ensuring it’s a force for good.

Rhea Steele captivated us with her stunning performance of a Billie Eilish song alongside other live music performances by the Rok Skool team.

The event successfully highlighted the work that Rok Skool Sound Strategies does through workshops to help businesses and charities tackle common issues around communication, values, behaviours and performance.

A day filled with inspiration, connection and transformation! – Tony Underwood