This summers Mad4Music was a hit with the kids and with all of us at the studio. We were amazed at the talent and in some cases natural ability that walked through our doors on Monday morning. I had only been working at Ivy Arch Studios for little over a week when I was asked to help teach a six piece band some songs of their choosing. As soon as I closed the door to the rehearsal room they were zooming ahead with the first song, working as if they had been working together for years! As the week went by it was getting harder and harder to tear both bands away from their work as they would practically inhale their lunch and be back in the rooms practising or writing new parts for original songs. By the time of the gig they had five original songs written between both bands and 3 cover songs learnt, which is no mean feat in a week, especially when you consider that some of the kids had never played an instrument before Monday morning. 

The gig (preview here)was hosted at the local community centre, The Sidney Walter Centre, and went down great. The Bands both thoroughly enjoyed it as did the parents and all of us at the studios. 

To follow this years success there will be more Mad4Music courses around christmas (see website for more info), but in the mean time there will be some exciting new jam sessions hosted at Ivy Arch Studios in conjunction with Rockschools UK. You can find out more about those here http://www.rockschools-uk.com

Summer Holiday Courses for music lovers at IvyArch Studios start on Monday the 28th of July, and 11th of August. Courses run for 4 days from 10:30am until 4pm, and a concert locally for students to perform their work on friday at 7pm.

Age ranges 10yrs to 16yrs MAD4MUSIC offers instrument lessons including guitar, bass, keys, vocals, drums and song writting sessions. At the end of the week the groups will perform their original tunes to friends and family at a local venue. £73 per week.

Professional musicains are running the MAD4Music course, including Dominique LeVack and Nigel Ball, with support from IvyArch Studios staff. Call (01903) 536106 to book.