The British Academy of New Music is a
centre of musical excellence and a focal
point for music training in the capital.
Sir George Martin CBE

I would have given my arm to be a student at
somewhere like BANM when I was starting.
Matthew Applegate aka Pixel8

The British Academy of New Music (Higher Education) provides radical music solutions for a post-modern world. The digital revolution has turned the tables on the established music industry. In an age of free downloadable music and global economics, the one constant is the creation of music and the generation of musical skills to empower this expression. BANM’s aim is to celebrate the intrinsic value of music beyond genres and brands, from which will evolve the music of tomorrow.

BANM operates its range of revolutionary courses from London, the UK’s music capital. BANM is a dedicated music centre in East London with 11 rehearsal studios, 2 recording studios, a dance studio and 2 technology suites. It is situated within the Three Mills Island cultural complex, at the heart of the evolving Olympic village.

In our time we are experiencing an unprecedented amount of social and cultural change. Nowhere is this change more visible or tangible than within the fields popular music and popular culture, both in its making and consumption.

The music industry, as a centrally controlled arbiter of popular taste, monopolising distribution networks and air time, has begun to dissipate and fracture.

Many factors have been cited as causes for this change. Perhaps none more so than the rapid growth and expansion of the internet and the numerous opportunities this has provided for musicians to network and support each other’s musical development.

The D.I.Y message implicit within the late 70s counterculture of self record, self release, signalled the initial thirst for a context of music making and production beyond sheer market forces: the culture of supply and demand.

We are now witnessing its second wave. This time around the technology is in place to see its reach extend, out of the grip of central control and into the public arena.

We are witnessing a newly democratised musical environment where musicians and artists can freely re-assess their musical potential and question what may be music’s intrinsic worth.

I don’t think there has ever been such an exciting time to learn to play an instrument and get involved in the culture of popular music making.

It is my belief that popular music, a form born out a human need to express one’s own individual experience, is now reaching out towards its full potential.

The British Academy of New Music (BANM) wants to be a part of this new musical future. To embrace and support the individual, whilst offering the tangible skills to enable individuality to achieve its maximum expressive potential.

BANM has its sights fixed on becoming a champion of musical skill development and creative and artistic expression. Such ambitions go beyond the slavery of genre and transcend the degradation of music to product and the margins of profit and loss.

We are about celebrating the intrinsic value of music, freed from the shackles of an industry that is imploding. In a future filled with less and less certainty, one constant still remains: the creation of great music. It is our aim to empower the musician to create and perform great music, for in this act is the future of music born.

Thumbs up from Domino Records
Foundation Degree students William Clapson and Samantha Scuffham received high praise from the industry for their showcase event. The pair staged a showcase for Domino Records at the Coach and Horses in Curtain Road, Shoreditch at the end of April. The event was a major success and Laurence Bell commented; ‘Will's got bags of potential, you're dead right. It's early days but the intensity and talent is there and he has a distinctive voice of his own.’

Radio One plays track by Gecko
Will Sanderson-Thwaite, aka Gecko, has been played on Mike Davies’ underground punk rock show on Radio One. Jamie Jazz from The King Blues put Gecko in touch with presenter Mike. He selected the track Where I’ve Gone from the self-released album Songs in the Key of Lizard available now on iTunes. Mike Davies said ‘I like it, I'll be playing it a lot more.’ Gecko has just performed at the Turning Point Festival in London alongside Kano, Tinchy Stryder, Natty and VV Brown, to name but a few. Originally a student from Bristol, Gecko is currently studying on the Artist Development course. Check out www.myspace.com/gecko and www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/mikedavies click on listen again to hear Gecko’s national radio play.

Skinnyman visits BANM
Hip hops foremost rapper Skinnyman visited students at BANM to talk about artist development, the music business, style and technique. The rapper is widely known for his 2004 album Council Estate of Mind which gained him commercial and critical acclaim. www.skinnyman.co.uk

Esser’s got the industry in a headlock
Switch on Channel 4 and see Esser as one of the Levi’s One to Watch artists, listen to Radio 1 and he’s being interviewed by Rob Da Bank, go to the Electric Proms and he pops up again! He’s signed to Transgressive Records and his current UK tour sees him supporting the likes of Bloc Party and the Kaiser Chiefs. Esser’s (ex ADP/ Southend student Ben Esser) music is poppy and gritty in equal measure; Mike Skinner from the Streets likes it so much he’s asked Esser to remix for him! www.myspace.com/esserhq

Yellowjackets at BANM
The legendary Garmmy award-winning jazz masters visited the British Academy of New Music in 2008 to perform and advise students on work in the field of jazz.

Pixelh8 brings games console compositions to BANM
After opening for Imogen Heap on her UK tour, Pixelh8 (Matthew Applegate) has been creating quite a buzz with his unique approach to production. In 2008, he came into BANM to play his music and talk to students and spoke of the experience on Radio 1's Zane Lowe show.
Read more

Rob Da Bank & Stuart Smith visit BANM
Stuart Smith, author of the accliamed How To Make It In The Music Business came to BANM to give a reality check on the current state of the industry. The book has a foreword written by DJ and Bestival organiser Rob Da Bank, who in turn has agreed to come to BANM to chat to students about his take on today's musical climate.

Luke records with Massive Attack
Luke Hannam, who played bass for their latest Massive Attack album, is currently working again with Gramme. He has also worked with artists including Kylie, Dido and Edwin Collins.

Basement Jaxx @ BANM
Basement Jaxx came to BANM in October 07 to explain how to stage a major gig.
Read More >>

Artist Development
Level 3 (one year).

Artist Development
Level 4 (one year).

Popular Musician Foundation Degree
Level 4-5 (two years).

Music Educator
Level 3 (one year).

Please note that some courses may not run
if there is insufficient recruitment.

BRITISH ACADEMY OF NEW MUSIC
(HIGHER EDUCATION)
Sugar House Yard
Sugar House Lane
LONDON
E15 2QS

T: 0208 555 3305
F: 0208 555 3374
E: atm.london@accesstomusic.co.uk

Contacts: Luke Hannam

TRAVELLING BY TUBE
The nearest stations to the British Academy are Bromley By Bow and Bow Road on the District and Hammersmith & City lines. The Academy is about a 10 minute walk from Bromley by Bow tube. The Academy is also accessible from the Stratford station.

Download the BANM Prospectus here (PDF 10.8MB):