Producing community spirit

Could you help out others for the offer of free studio time?

Two local music producers are looking to get their studio business off the ground.

This will be no ordinary studio
because bands and artists can
earn free studio time by tutoring workshops.

City Studios will aim to improve the chances of degree students securing employment in the industry.

Also they want to enhance the Leeds music scene and to give opportunities to the young and unemployed.

Dan Atkinson and Anton Blair are the men behind the project. They want the studios to augment their commercial income by gaining funding for the community side of the project.

Dan is an aspiring producer, composer, sound Engineer and mix engineer who has worked with many artists across the country. He learned his trade at studios in Nottingham while gaining a HND in music technology.

He then furthered his knowledge by completing a Degree in Creative Music & Sound Technology at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Anton Blair is a Hip-hop and R'n'B producer, composer and rapper and is also a graduate of the same course at Leeds Metropolitan University.

He is also an artistic foley and sound design engineer having worked on several amateur films during his studying. He has also given his time to anti-drug and other youth projects. Both men have a real passion for music and are determined to make a real difference to the Leeds community.

City Studios will run workshops for the unemployed and youngsters(aged 11-19) that will cover a variety of areas and teach the techniques used to create a fully-realised musical project.

The main workshops will be Sound for Film, Musical Composition and Producing/Recording/Mixing. Each workshop has been designed so that the participants are in control of all the decisions, under Daniel and Anton's guidance and will leave the workshops with a finished product in their hand.

For example during the Producing/Recording/Mixing workshop the participants would be asked to produce a two track demo for a locally based band over two days.

Not only will this type workshop benefit the participants but it could make a huge difference to the local scene as musicians involving in tutoring the workshops would be offered free recording time at City Studios.

Work experience placements will be available to all recent graduates and degree students studying a music related degree, the length of which will be managed carefully so that the opportunity benefits as many people as possible.

Daniel and Anton have had a good response to their ideas but are looking to secure funds. For more information on the project email City Studios.