<p>Once again, our Music and Media departments have joined forces to highlight the remarkable talent and cross-disciplinary collaboration of our students!</p><p>Yesterday, we welcomed <a href="https://www.barstaffband.com/"><strong>BARSTAFF</strong></a&gt; - the winners of the <strong>Amped Band Competition</strong> - for an exclusive live recording session at our Loxton Campus. This high-energy external band partnered with our learners to produce a live album and a series of professional promotional videos, offering a rare opportunity for our students to gain real-world experience in a professional production environment.</p><p>Our Music students took full control of the sound production process - from live sound engineering to multitrack recording, all the way through to mixing and mastering the final album. Simultaneously, our Media students managed all aspects of video production, capturing the performance with multiple cameras and creating high-quality, synchronised video content for each track.</p><drupal-entity data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bbf51dd2-e857-47e9-9090-e880df7e50ba" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_400x400&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Adding to the excitement, industry professional<strong> Iain Robertson,</strong> whose impressive experience involves working with<strong> Oasis, Gary Moore, Spandau Ballet,</strong> and <strong>Duran Duran</strong> as a tour manager, attended the live recording – adding to the professionalism of the experience for the learners.</p><p>This weekend BARSTAFF will be performing at the Elmers Arms in Bristol, where they will be featuring one of our learner bands, <strong>‘Covered in Bottles’</strong>, as the opening act, offering even more exposure and learning opportunities for our students.</p><p>This unique event will be professionally filmed, edited, and utilised not only for student portfolios, but also as promotional content for the band and the college, strengthening our ties to the creative industry and highlighting the exceptional work being done within our creative courses!</p><p>We're super proud of the effort our students continue to apply at these industry experiences, and their professionalism is fantastic.</p><p>To find out more about our creative arts courses, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds-creat… here.</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College </strong><a style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(16, 108, 177);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-… style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">here</strong></a><strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.</strong></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This month, our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Music and Production</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students had the incredible opportunity to take a 12-day trip to Nashville due to the generous funding from the <strong>Turing Scheme</strong>. The trip offered students the chance to explore the city whilst giving them a better understanding of the music industry, further developing their personal and professional growth. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The <strong>Turing Scheme</strong> is an amazing initiative that provides financial support for education providers, enabling students to take part in international study and work placements. This support opens the door to global learning experiences that not only enrich education but also provide cultural awareness and career growth. For many of the students on this trip, it was a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, with some having never left the UK before, let alone travelled across the world. The scheme made the adventure extremely accessible, with some students even attending completely free of charge. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Despite an unexpected delay caused by airport closures that pushed their departure back three days, and weather warnings during their stay, the students remained upbeat and resilient. They took everything in stride, embracing every moment with positivity and maturity. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">After arriving in Nashville, the group’s itinerary was jam-packed! They visited world-renowned music landmarks such as the <strong>Johnny Cash Museum</strong>, and the <strong>Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum</strong> where they got to immerse themselves in the history and evolution of different genres. However, the most beneficial visits included <strong>Full Circle Music</strong> and <strong>WeiRock Entertainment</strong> as they gave the students valuable industry and studio experience, giving them the chance to network and build connections with Music industry professionals.</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Group of students sat smiling on a stage&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c9bd119f-7529-41a8-9729-6524c4ae7b05" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">They also got the chance to attend tours of iconic locations such as the old and new <strong>Grand Ole Opry</strong>, <strong>Musicians Hall of Fame</strong>, various recording studios, and the <strong>Ryman Auditorium</strong> which allowed students to see first-hand the spaces where music history was made. This gave them a behind-the-scenes look into their future careers with the chance to ask questions. &nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Students watching a live performance in the Ole Red&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="214acb0b-54a9-4920-81ca-e6d60c492aa4" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Workshops also played a vital role in the educational value of the trip. Students took part in a marketing workshop led by <strong>Rick Barker</strong>, best known for managing Taylor Swift in her early career, and a vocal training session with <strong>Brett Manning</strong>, an industry-renowned coach. Peer songwriting sessions encouraged collaboration, with students sharing their work and receiving feedback in a supportive environment. Some even performed on a public piano in one of the museums, capturing the attention of visitors with their music. The final workshop offered a chance to present their songs to a panel of professionals, giving them an invaluable taste of real industry feedback. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">On top of this, the trip also offered a range of cultural experiences. Students enjoyed street performances, a fantastic evening show at the <strong>Grand Ole Opry</strong>, visits to <strong>Madame Tussauds</strong>, and free time exploring the famous Broadway strip. They stopped at the world-renowned <strong>Carter Vintage Guitars</strong> which gave them a hands-on look at top-tier instruments, and they also enjoyed lots of delicious food during their trip which was definitely a highlight!&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This trip made a lasting impact, allowing students to gain perspective on what a career in music really looks like. By meeting professionals, exploring legendary venues, and participating in practical workshops, they developed a clearer understanding of the dedication, creativity, and perseverance required to thrive in the industry. It also boosted their independence and confidence, providing them with essential life skills of navigating life in a city. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">None of this would have been possible without the dedication and support of staff members Oz Cahill, Tom Manning, and Laura Trace, who went above and beyond to ensure the trip was well-organised, safe, and unforgettable. Thanks to their efforts and the incredible funding from the Turing Scheme, this Nashville trip was an unforgettable opportunity that has helped shape our future </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Music</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> industry professionals. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This curriculum trip forms part of the </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Music</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College </strong></span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.</strong>&nbsp;</span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Last month, Guthrie Kennard, an American singer-songwriter from Texas, visited our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Music Performance and Production</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> learners, offering invaluable insight into the world of songwriting and performance. With over 60 years of experience in Old Blues and Southern country music, Guthrie brought not only his talent but also his wisdom, sharing stories from a lifetime dedicated to music.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Guthrie has played bass for six decades and performed alongside legendary musicians like Larry Graham, Buddy Miles, Rocky Hill, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. From playing gigs in small intimate settings to massive crowds of 50,000 people during the peak of the blues movement, Guthrie had many amazing stories to share with our learners about his journey.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">His passion for music has never faltered, “I have more stories than I do money,” he admitted, and even at 74, he continues to play because it brings him joy and fulfilment.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">During his visit, Guthrie shared insights into the songwriting process. He emphasised the importance of originality in lyrics, advising students to avoid repetition and make every line unique. His songwriting process is also largely organic—he starts with chords and a melody, often relying on drum patterns to guide the rhythm.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">While he doesn’t always plan albums in advance, he claims that he has a clear sense of the sound he wants to achieve. “I usually have a feeling of what an album will sound like, and I will write a song and decide that I need to keep it in that genre,” he explained.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Guthrie finds inspiration for his songs originates from the world around him. “I listen to stories, so if I hear a line that inspires me, I will use it as a lyric,” he shared. However, he also admitted to struggling with writer’s block, encouraging the students to keep writing, whether it’s serious songs or silly and fun, every bit of creativity is progress.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The students were captivated when Guthrie performed in our Michael Eavis music Suite at Loxton Campus. Many of our learners aspire for a lifetime career in music in the future, giving them a lot of encouragement and insight into their chosen industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Guthrie acknowledges that his age has slowed him down a bit and discussed the challenges he has faced over time, but his love for music has always outweighed the negatives and he doesn’t want to stop playing. “I love doing it, and it keeps me going. It’s something I’ve done since I was a kid. Even though it’s been hard, it’s also kept me alive.”&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">During his visit, Guthrie praised Weston College’s facilities and the warmth of the students and staff, admitting that he was actually a bit nervous to be there.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Guthrie’s insights and experiences provided the students with an honest, unfiltered look at the realities of being a musician. From handling criticism to navigating the financial struggles of the industry, he offered an abundance of knowledge that will undoubtedly help shape the future generation of artists.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">We’d like to say a huge thank you to Guthrie Kennard for taking the time to visit us all the way from Texas and share his amazing journey and wisdom with our students.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">If you’re interested in applying to one of our Music and Production courses, click here.</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;">&nbsp;</span></p>