09 November 2015
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Saturday Music School at Leeds College of Music
Every Saturday during term time, Leeds College of Music runs a Music School for 9 to 17-year-olds. <em>Pianist</em> Brand Manager Lauren Beharrell went along at the weekend to speak to the teachers and students to find out what inspires these young musicians ...
Saturday Music School at Leeds College of Music Images
Here at Pianist we are keen to recognise young musicians who love the piano and want to progress through education into a career within the music industry. With many educational institutions around the country offering students the opportunity to improve their musical talents, I decided to pay a visit to the largest music conservatoire in the UK, Leeds College of Music.
The college runs numerous short courses for adults and children, as well as a Saturday Music School for children aged 9-17. During term time, children from all around Yorkshire attend the school from 9am until 12.30pm, learning practical, theory and technical skills taught by an array of young talented teachers (a lot of whom studied at the College themselves). Karen Gourlay, head of short courses, showed me around - and I was immediately impressed. With bursts of enthusiasm, wide grins and an itch to play their instruments, I listened in on several ensemble groups playing different genres of music encompassing Jazz, Pop and Classical.
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Pianist and music lecturer Emmanuel Vass was presenting a seminar about the music industry today. He talked about such subjects as to what musicians are facing in terms of the decline in record sales, the impact of social media and how to sell yourself as an artist. You can read all about his recent success and how he became a pianist in our latest issue.
I also interviewed three very talented and bright individuals who are studying the piano at the School with big dreams to make it their life-long career. You can read my interviews with them in issue 88 out on 29th January. Karen showed me their Roland Keyboard Lab - a composing teaching workshop, and we discussed their exciting plans for a concert in December celebrating 50 years of the College.
With so much talent under one roof, I left feeling joyful as to how strongly music can bring young people together. Stay tuned for my full review, interviews and observations in issue 88!
Lauren Beharrell
The college runs numerous short courses for adults and children, as well as a Saturday Music School for children aged 9-17. During term time, children from all around Yorkshire attend the school from 9am until 12.30pm, learning practical, theory and technical skills taught by an array of young talented teachers (a lot of whom studied at the College themselves). Karen Gourlay, head of short courses, showed me around - and I was immediately impressed. With bursts of enthusiasm, wide grins and an itch to play their instruments, I listened in on several ensemble groups playing different genres of music encompassing Jazz, Pop and Classical.
Pianist and music lecturer Emmanuel Vass was presenting a seminar about the music industry today. He talked about such subjects as to what musicians are facing in terms of the decline in record sales, the impact of social media and how to sell yourself as an artist. You can read all about his recent success and how he became a pianist in our latest issue.
I also interviewed three very talented and bright individuals who are studying the piano at the School with big dreams to make it their life-long career. You can read my interviews with them in issue 88 out on 29th January. Karen showed me their Roland Keyboard Lab - a composing teaching workshop, and we discussed their exciting plans for a concert in December celebrating 50 years of the College.
With so much talent under one roof, I left feeling joyful as to how strongly music can bring young people together. Stay tuned for my full review, interviews and observations in issue 88!
Lauren Beharrell
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