Craig David Support slot
Session Musician Chelsey Bamford has been chosen to perform with Craig David on his forthcoming UK tour. In preparation for the tour Chelsey has been spending time with Craig David, who she says is ‘a truly lovely guy’, performing on ITV show Loose Women and rehearsing for Britain’s Got More Talent ‘very scary but very fun!’
Chelsey studied on the
Session Musician Foundation Degree course, the UK’s only Foundation Degree for would be session musicians. Though her first instrument is the drums, she is also an avid singer and she aims to pursue both talents. Check out her
website
Top marks for Session Musician Degree graduates
The RNCM examination board have confirmed that all students on the Foundation Degree in Popular Music Practice (Session Musician) have passed the programme! Course Director Andy Stott said 'My staff and I are very proud of what our students have achieved. The results are excellent and a real testament to the high quality of the programme and the teaching'.
Term closes with the sound of first class music
The final term saw two end of year live events given by Access to Music's Foundation Degree students at the RNCM. The Session featured first year session musicians at Blueprint Studios and showcased over three hours of top class performances.
The Finale, which took place at The School of Sound Recording, saw the first cohort of students to graduate from the programme give their farewell performance. Course Director Andy Stott said ‘I'm incredibly proud of what our students have achieved - both live events were outstanding and are a testament to the quality of the teaching and to the talent of our musicians’.
Bill Bruford visits RNCM students
The legendary Bill Bruford, of Genesis and Earthworks fame, visited the Royal Northern College of Music in May. Bill talked to the music students about his career, his philosophy on drumming including varying styles over 4 decades and career strategies in the music industry.
Mike Milne-Picken, from the Royal Northern College of Music said Bill Bruford's 'comments on different genres and his own evolution from pop to rock to jazz made the presentation interesting and pertinent, and will have also helped students' broader understanding of popular music history.'
Band Musicianship Masterclass
Three of the UK’s most in-demand session musicians are taking time out to visit the Royal Northern College of Music.
Carlos Hercules (Take That, Leona Lewis), Steve Walters (Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart) and Lea Mullen (George Michael, The Happy Mondays) will visit the RNCM and give a band musicianship masterclass in June. They will be performing and talking about their work with major artists and about the qualities needed to work as a session musician at the top level. This event is by invitation only.
Session Musicians Prepare for summer shows
Students on the Session Musician Foundation Degree will be performing two live events in June. Check out the diary to the left of this for more details.
