Resonance drums up help to keep teachers in time with their students

A music institute is lending a room to a drum teacher so his pupils can keep having lessons.

Resonance, the soon-to-open music institute in Brierley Hill, is helping Dudley schools keep up with their one-to-one music tuition during the lockdown.

Dudley Performing Arts (DPA) delivers music tuition to schools in the borough and has had to re-engineer its lessons in the light of the coronavirus pandemic, delivering all of its tuition online from the safety of the tutors’ homes.

That’s fine when you teach the violin or flute, but if your instrument is the drums and you live in a small flat, it’s not so easy to teach from the confines of your living room.

DPA Drum tutor Al Cormell was in just such a position until Resonance stepped in and offered him the use of rehearsal room one in its completely kitted out, but otherwise unused Cable Plaza building at The Waterfront.

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Not only does Al have the use of the soundproofed, acoustically perfect rehearsal room, he also gets to teach on a state-of-the-art Natal drumkit, donated to Resonance by its industry partner, Marshall.

“The facilities at Resonance are superb!” says Al.

“The room has great acoustics, the drum kit is really nice, there are loads of 240V sockets and a PA system. It couldn’t be more perfect for what I need.

“I just wouldn’t be able to do these one-on-one sessions without the help of Resonance.”

Al links up with his students via iPad and Microsoft Teams for 20 or 30 minute lessons. The students are all at home with a parent present to ensure online safety and help with learning.

Resonance director David Barnard says helping local students is very much part of the Resonance way of working.

“Our building has been open and ready-to-move-into since earlier this year,” he said. “Before the lockdown, we hosted several college visits and a few open days, and the students, teachers and families attending were blown away by the facilities.

“With the current lockdown, the building is standing there empty with only security guards in residence. So when our friends at DPA got in touch and told us of Al’s problem, we were only too keen to help out. We’re thrilled it’s working out so well for him.

“Working with the local music community is very much part of our ethos. We’re a not-for profit organisation and believe that music is vital for everyone, especially now when the rest of the world is a difficult place to navigate.”

Councillor Ruth Buttery, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We’re delighted that over 600 children are now engaging virtually with Dudley Performing Arts, providing youngsters with fun and stimulus during their time at home due to coronavirus.

“I would like to thank Resonance for giving DPA access to its facilities during the lockdown. I am sure they will continue to work together to create great music education for young people in our borough.”

Resonance will be welcoming its first cohort of degree students in September and is offering five music performance, production and business degrees. Backed by some of the biggest names in the music industry, Resonance is focused on preparing its students for a fulfilling, rewarding and successful career in music, whether it’s as a performer, producer, engineer, promoter, manager, agent, entrepreneur or teacher.