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100 young people inspired by music industry greats

Friday, August 31, 2007

100 young people from Island High schools and students of Platform One attended the Inspire Music Conference last week and were treated to a series of masterclasses from some the of the music industries most successful ad influential players.

Mark King, of 80’s supergroup Level 42 who have sold over 30 million records worldwide, opened the event, followed by another local resident Andy Gray of Grayed Out Productions, who has composed and produced music for some of the biggest film and TV productions including the now anthemic Big Brother theme, as well as some of the biggest dance records, and Ace from the ground breaking Skunk Anansie. The conference also profiled young singer songwriter Rokhsan, just starting out on her music career and Richard Hamilton - Manager and Promoter of Rock, Metal and Punk

Mark King told of his journey to stardom, how he started out at Cowes High School playing drums and then working in a music shop in Charing Cross Road where he learned the bass. Mark stressed, “you have to learn your trade, play all the time, but its not enough to be able to play like your idols, you need to take it on a stage further, and do something different to everyone else.”

Andy Gray echoed the sentiment, he explained, “I see so much talent on the Isle of Wight, some really good players are coming out of Platform One – now you need to develop originality, create your own sound to make you stand out from the rest”

Andy demonstrated some of his own production techniques which use computer editing and atmospheric sounds to create that all important difference.

The overriding message from all the speakers was that you have to work hard and be dogged in your determination to succeed. Summed up beautifully by Ace who said, “there is an element of luck, being in the right place at the right time – but its up to you make sure you’re in the right place”

The conference, organised by the Island’s commercial music college Platform One, was the culmination of the 2007 Inspire Challenge, part of the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership’s Inspire project, designed to motivate young people and illustrate the opportunities they can have with drive and hard work.

Students from Sandown, Cowes, Carisbrooke and Medina High Schools and from Ryde School took part in a week long workshop session, working on music and lyrics for a song on the theme of “living on an Island” – they produced their own tracks and learnt about the whole process of getting a track published. The feedback form the students was without exception positive, the only complaint, echoed by many of the students “it didn’t last long enough!”

Many of the students on the Inspire Challenge course have signed up for Platform One’s Saturday Rock School.

David Pontin, Director of Platform One said, “this course is not just about the music, perhaps the most important element is helping people to develop the confidence and enthusiasm to pursue their dreams. – its not all about being a rock start either – we make it a priority to show students the wealth of other options in production, managing, promoting as well as musicianship”

For more information about Platform One visit www.platformone.co.uk