Free Music Industry Workshops for 14-18 Year Olds

Independent Music Week is working with Cato Music and Band On The Wall to produce a two-day music industry workshop at the venue. Applications are now open for 20 students to take part in the course which aims to develop participants' skills in non-performance live music.

The 'Live Music and Touring' introductory workshop will take place on Saturdays 10 and 17 January.

"The Cato Academy focuses purely on live music and touring and we want to bring up the next generation of touring crew professionally and honestly, we don't sugar coat anything. The live music industry is stronger than ever and we need these new skilled 'roadies' to look after it” said Glen Rowe, owner of Cato.

If you are selected, the course is free to attend. You will need to email learning@bandonthewall.org with the following information by midday on Wednesday 10 December:

·       Name

·       Gender

·       Age (Must be aged between 14 and 18 in January 2015)

·       250 words why you should to be given a free place on the course - this can include any live music experience, best gigs/live music seen and why and any other music related information

·       List of other work experience or jobs

·       Do you have any registered disabilities we should be aware of?

·       1 Reference (150 words)

Sessions Part Two: Denis Jones

Manchester MIDI School’s Sessions series is to stage its second ever workshop and has invited Manchester folkie-turned-electronic music experimenter Denis Jones to share his experiences and skills as an independent musician specialising in modern production and electronic music.

Denis Jones has released two critically acclaimed albums via the formerly Manchester-based independent label Humble Soul. Over the past couple of years, he has been collaborating with various musicians across Europe and has most recently recorded with Stockport DJ, artist and tea connoisseur Mr Scruff ahead of Scruff’s new album, Friendly Bacteria, due out via Ninja Tune on 18 May.



Central to Denis’s equipment throughout his development as a musician is the Boss RC-50 looping pedal, but since embracing electronic music, his gigging luggage has expanded to include enough blinking LEDs to resemble a miniature scale city. All this hardware is the antithesis of many modern electronic music producers, who are left scratching their heads and asking the question central to Sessions #2: ‘How can you perform electronic music without a laptop?’

The chance the learn about the performing and recording practices of someone so tuned into new and abstract production methods without the help of laptop software doesn’t arrive too often, but the MIDI School on Bexley Square is offering the opportunity for free.

Sessions returns after a successful debut last November, when the deep house producer and DJ Ben Pearce fronted a class and Q&A on his production techniques and life as an independent musician. The Sessions series at Manchester MIDI School aims to inspire, educate and encourage participants to pursue a career in the music industry, proving the relevant skills to follow this path.

As with the Ben Pearce Sessions workshop, places will be free. But they are also limited, so will be allocated via a competition. To join the Denis Jones Sessions event on Friday 18 April, just follow this link. The closing date for entry is 10 April.