Students create ‘Sound of Rathbone’ CD and DVD

Rathbone Training

A special CD and DVD produced by Rathbone Training students is a showcase of the musical creativity of young people at the youth charity.

Students at the Rochdale centre have produced the CD and DVD, featuring songs and videos made by students from 12 Rathbone Training centres across the country who have taken part in the ‘Big Music Project.’

“The DVD aims to highlight our great successes through The Big Music Project, which has been great opportunity to bring out different talents of our young people through the writing, performing or producing of their own musical material,” said Mike Leyland, National Support Officer for Rathbone.

“Crucially the project has also helped to improve our learner’s confidence and social skills as well as helping them to develop valuable skills for the world of work.”

Youth creative arts specialists ‘Odd Arts’ worked with the Rochdale learners to create the CD and DVD, which includes everything from a rap written by Sandwell learners to a video featuring learners from Gateshead MCing.

Copies of the CD and DVD are now being sold by learners at each centre that took part, with proceeds going to resources for learners.

“A key part of the Big Music Live project was getting young people to think about the wider employment opportunities in the music industry including marketing and sales. This is why our learners decided to produce and sell their own CD and DVD and use the money to reward our learners for all their hard work,” said Mike Leyland.

The ambitious ‘Big Music Project’, which was launched in 2014, aims to connect young people through their love of music by setting up 100 music hubs in disadvantaged communities across the UK.

Under the project Rathbone has run 12 music hubs across the country aiming to:

• Build and accredit peer education skills amongst young people.
• Offer young people personal and career development opportunities within the music industry.
• Create music-based learning opportunities and events in the wider community.

The project has also offered the chance to take part in workshops with the BRIT School and East London Arts and Music (ELAM) and attend performances with top names such as Plan B, Chase & Status, Rhydian, Labrinth and Eliza Doolittle.