Today I went to Croydon for a Sound Sense training event called Sharpen Up! The aim was to help community musicians market and promote their work better. It helped consolidate a lot of marketing tips I received from other courses and I learnt a lot too! Our host was the lovely Andrea Encias from British [...]
February, 2008
Trying to Express the Ineffable
I have decided to collate some arguments and articles that sell the power of music. Hopefully it will enable me to sell what I do a bit better. Although published 7 years ago, Sue Hallam’s study “The Power of Music” is an articulate, comprehensive investigation into the benefits of music. This paragraph is my favourite: [...]
Show Me How To Play
A new website for budding musicians. It will allow young people to learn and jam with session musos in the comfort of their own homes.
Gang Culture
My experience of gang culture is limited. I have made beats with young people who happen to be part of gangs, I have tried to mentor young people classified as ‘at risk’ to make the right choices and have learnt about postcode tribalism. One young person I came across said he was not supposed to [...]
What Are Creatives in the Community Worth?
Why do creatives in the community sometimes get paid so little? It has been annoying me of late. At an interview regarding working in health settings I was offered a rate of pay almost 3 times less than what I normally command. I took a risk and asked my interviewer why the pay was so [...]
I love vinyl!
Nice marketing by the Platterpus gang! I love the crackle, hiss and pop you get from playing records.
Anti- Valentine’s Day
Originally uploaded by bleak! I did pledge to be more positive this year but I hate Valentine’s Day. It sucks. Faux or forced displays of affection, pink flowers and pants, offers on strawberries and champagne, chocolates and red hearts- vital for heart felt displays of affection? I had more fun re-watching Terry Gilliam’s Brazil- there [...]
Beatheadz Project @ Symphony Hall
So the project has rapidly drawn to a close and I feel quite sad. The young people I worked with were really lovely and I got goose pimples listening to the tracks they produced in such a short space of time. Some of my favourites: 4hero inspired, chatty Tbrat’s and a rock influenced groove. We [...]
Why should creatives blog?
Heard lots about blogging but don’t feel as though it is relevant to you or your working life? Have a listen to a podcast by my good friend Antonio Gould and you might just change your mind; directed at creatives mind you.
Spring Sunshine and Happy Beat Making
I had a really lovely time making beats at THSH with some lovely teenagers this morning. I am running two intensive music tech/songwriting sessions for Birmingham City Council and so far it has been great fun! I was really impressed by the speed in which participants were able to use new music software; most had [...]