Local music charity Cloth Cat is encouraging South Leeds residents to “find the music in you”. They have set up a new programme of practical music courses which start this month.
Photo: Mark Jaffe
The courses are designed to help people in inner city Leeds to develop new skills and find ways back in to employment and further education. Free for those who receive any means tested benefit, there is a wide range of subjects to choose from.
Cloth Cat have teamed up with the Workers Educational Association (WEA) to deliver the programme. Courses will be available for people aged 19+ and amongst the classes are Singing, DJing, Live Sound Engineering, Guitar, Music Business, Ukulele and Ableton Live (a music production software package).
Brand new courses have been designed too including Hand Drumming and Percussion, Song Writing and The Essential Guide to Being In A Band. With experienced tutors working in the music industry, students will gain valuable and practical experience from those who have been there and bought the T-shirt. Current tutors involved include James Coxhead who runs the Live Sound Engineering course and was nominated for an EMMY for his live work in America.
Project Co-ordinator, Mike Jolly said:
“It’s great to be able to continue our work with the WEA and provide such exciting courses to people and see how their confidence grows. It gives them the opportunity to develop their music potential and find new friends at the same time. We’ve had loads of positive feedback in the past and people have gone on to get jobs in the music industry. Hopefully we’ll see lots more new music coming through the Leeds music scene too.”
Courses are run between 10 and 12 weeks at venues around Leeds and begin during the week beginning 13th January.
Anyone interested in finding out more about attending any of the courses should contact Mike Jolly at Cloth Cat on (0113) 244 2773 or e-mail mike@clothcatleeds.org.uk.
