A MUSIC industry master class is coming to Frome in February and March, giving those who are interested in working or being involved in the music industry, the chance to learn, talk and get advice from local music industry professionals.
The music industry master classes are free sessions aimed at everyone in the community and will be held on Wednesday 1st February, Wednesday 8th February and Friday 3rd March at 6pm to 8pm in the music room at Frome College.
Some of the professionals giving talks are based in Frome. The line-up includes Tristan Powell, a musician and recording engineer who started his career at Abbey Road studios in London during the late 80s, where he assisted recording artists such as Kate Bush and Pink Floyd as they were moving to digital recording. Tristan became a freelance engineer with clients in Jazz and started touring globally with bands as a guitarist and live engineer, and played and recorded for artists such as Van Morrison, members of the Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Cure.
Organiser James Brookes from Young People Frome said, “The aim of these sessions is to bridge the gap between the music industry and anyone that is aspiring to work within the music industry, increasing accessibility and confidence among people that want to do it.
“Since Covid, there has been a huge decline in confidence in the music industry, there’s been a decline in music education and a decline in the number of students that register to do GSCE music. Music professionals are often at a distance and those who are wanting to get involved or work in the industry often lack the confidence to approach people already working in it, to ask for advice on how they did it and what they went through. This is probably because the industry is so competitive!”
Other music industry professionals giving talks include Cara Dillon, one of the ‘finest’ traditional Irish folk singers; Sam Lakeman, pianist and guitarist, who has produced and worked with other artists including his wife, Cara Dillon; Dom Monks who is a resident producer at engineer at the Bert Jansch Studio at the Cheese and Grain in Frome. Dom began his career at Real World Studios, as an assistant to Peter Gabriel’s engineer, Dickie Chappel, before moving to become a staff engineer in the studio; he then went on to do freelance work and has recorded artists such as Tom Jones, Laura Marling and Kings of Leon.
Frome-based singer song-writer Charlotte Clark will also be giving a talk; she said, “I am really looking forward to speaking at this master class to bridge the gap between people and their accessibility to the music industry. I think it’s really important to make music and the industry is something that everyone can be a part of and I am looking forward to sharing my experiences of working in it and what I’ve been through.”
The master classes have been created by Young People Frome in partnership with the Cheese and Grain, The Bert Jansch Studio, Frome College and Somerset County Council.
To book your space email, jamesbrookes@ youngpeoplefrome.onmicrosoft.com
