Music on show as institute visits students at college
Hinckley campus in Lower Bond Srreet hosts visit by musicians
A MUSICAL institute has been showing young people in Hinckley the possibilities of a career in music as part of its UK tour.
The Resonance Roadshow visited North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College ahead of the music school taking on its first cohort of students in 2020.
Co-director Rick Benton, who currently plays keyboard with West Midlands icons Magnum, assembled a band of talented musicians to help demonstrate how Resonance could kick-start a career in the music industry.
Carrie-Anne Abdulai, director of Higher Education at the college, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Resonance team to the college as part as its national roadshow.
“This was a perfect opportunity for our students to find out what a career in the music business is really like, and we hope that it will help to open their eyes to the range of career choices available.
“At North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, we place a significant emphasis on getting students ready for further study and employment.
“Meeting the talented team from Resonance and finding out about this new range of degree course will be extremely beneficial to them.”
The singer with the roadshow band is Samantha Dorrance, 27, who is also a children’s TV presenter and part of the Disney Channel.
She is joined by guitarist Greg Platt Lake, a session musician who has been working professionally since leaving school at the age of 16, and has worked all over the world with acts such as Steve Winwood and Robert Plant.
They will be joined by session drummers Lloyd Draker and Richard Kirk, who has played with Scorpions guitarist
Uli Jon Roth; bassist Dan Clark who has played alongside Steve Vai, Scott Matthews and Beverley Knight; and Rick himself on the keys.
“We’ve been packing up our instruments into the back of a van and heading off around the country to spread the word of Resonance”, said Rick.
“For us it’s like gigging as many of us have done for years, but these roadshows are a unique way for us to demonstrate to young people considering a career in music how great coming to Resonance will be for them.
“It will be one of the institutes of its kind in best the country and I have no doubt that a lot of people will thrive in the learning environment we are creating.”
As well as performing songs and engaging students in music techniques, the sessions also aimed to provide a wider picture about careers in music.
Co-director of Resonance, David Barnard, said: “One of the things we are keen to stress here at Resonance is that while a career on stage is something that many will aspire too, there are lots of other careers in music you can follow.
“From the expertise needed for a live show to happen, to things like music teaching, the opportunities within the industries are endless.
“The point of these shows is to show the students that whatever their ambition is within music, Resonance can help them achieve it.”
Resonance will be offering degree courses in Popular Music Performance, Popular Music Production, Popular Music Performance & Production, Digital Music and Music Business from 2020.
For more information, visit the group’s website, search Resonance Education on social media or email info@resonance-edu.org.