Gateshead Open Evening 2019
Fancy studying music in the heart of the North East? Gateshead’s music scene is thriving, and what better place to start, or continue your studies.
Join us on 24th October for an Open Evening running 6-8pm, where you can enjoy a performance by some of our current students, an engaging talk with members of our staff and teachers who are professionals in the industry, and a tour of the centre and our facilities.
“Culture is integrated into every part of the city and can be seen interconnected with entertainment, from street performers through to public art, creating inspiration where ever you turn. With one of the most vibrant student cultures in the country, it is also home to some staple music venues such as The Cluny (Newcastle) and The Sage (Gateshead). The region is a first-class option for musical study.”
At the Gateshead centre we run courses in:
- RSL Level 3 Extended Music Practitioners
- Foundation Degree in Music and Sound
- BA (Hons) Top up in Music and Sound
- M.Mus Popualr Music Performance
Call 0191 478 7879 or Email [email protected] to find out more and book a place to attend.
The Gateshead centre have also been delivering masterclasses throughout the Autumn term. Newcastle based recording and mixing pro Anth Mills led a ProTools and Live Mixing session on 9th October, plus Rob Meek will be taking a class titled “Music and Sound for the Media” on 16th October. Rising Scottish star Callum Beatie and the team from Loft Studio will host classes later in the term.
Find out more about life and studying in Gateshead here.
Gateshead Open Evening | 24 October 2019 | 191 HIGH STREET, TYNE AND WEAR, NE8 1AS | 6PM – 8PM | FREE
Free Rehearsal Space THIS SUMMER: Exeter, Southampton & Gateshead
Our Level 3 music and degree students have broken up for the summer holidays, so we’re offering you FREE rehearsal space. It’s the perfect chance to practice for up and coming festivals or even to kick start a new band.
Book now as we have limited availability and space – we can only offer free space during office hours. Please contact the centre you wish to rehearse at for further details and booking availability.
Exeter
8 Coombe Street, Exeter EX1 1DB
[email protected]
01392 427 874
Gateshead
191 High Street, Gateshead NE8 1AS
[email protected]
0191 478 7879
Southampton
11a High Street, Southampton S014 2DF
[email protected]
0238 082 9666
We offer paid for rehearsal space out of office hours.
This offer will end on September 1st 2018 and is subject to availability.
APPLY NOW
Applications for September 2018 start are open for:
Level 3 music (16-18 year old)
Foundation Degree in Music Performance
Foundation Degree in Creative Music Production
BA (Hons) Professional Music Performance
BA (Hons) Professional Music Production
Masters in Popular Music Performance
Professional Musicians
We can map your experience as a professional musician, against the first two years of a degree, to fast-track you onto a 1 year BA (Hons). This saves you time and money so you can progress in your career, or start a new one such as teaching.
Contact us for more information: [email protected]
New Partnership with Blast Recording Studios
Blast Studios is situated in the Ouseburn valley, which is arguably the cultural epicentre of Newcastle. Born out of Demolition Records, the state of the art studio has a history of recording rock legends from The Quireboys to Therapy?, who finished their latest album there last year.
Designed by world renowned acoustic engineers, and with a range of high quality studio hardware, Blast will offer Academy of Music and Sound students a chance to use the best equipment available in the region.
The Academy of Music and Sound North East is an independent collective of experienced music industry professionals who are keen to give something back at grass roots.
Their staff includes Barry Hyde, the creative spark behind Wearside’s The Futureheads; guitar wunderkind Micky Crystal, who is much in demand on the rock scene playing with The Tygers of Pan Tang; Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy); and Bumblefoot (Guns and Roses).
Students from the Academy have gone on to work with Marco Mendoza and Bumblefoot, and have also teamed up with Newcastle’s legendary Soul Kitchen management to give young people in Tyne and Wear the best opportunities available in the industry.
Blast Manager, Lisa Murphy, said: “I spent years working in music education and knew that I could make more of an impact on young peoples’ lives in the recording industry; this partnership is the perfect merging of two worlds.”
Academy of Music and Sound North East Manager Dan Donnelly (The Wonder Stuff, The Levellers) has come from the opposite angle. With 25 years of music industry experience from the lowest to the highest levels he said: “Having moved into music education from the industry, pairing up with Blast is a perfect combination. This is the type of environment that professional musicians work in, not a school.”
They both agree that the new relationship will provide unique employability opportunities for Academy of Music and Sound students. Budding professionals will get the chance to study in a real life scenario, among seasoned professionals.
In a field such as the music industry, this could be the leg up that cements a lucrative career.
Text taken from an article published in May 2018 edition of The Crack Magazine.
Student News: Anth Mills Assistant Engineer on Therapy?'s New Album
Anth Mills is a Gateshead student and superb drummer – not necessarily in that order. But, we’re not here to talk about his drumming, he’s just spent nearly 300 hours of studio time as Assistant Engineer for producer, Chris Sheldon, on Therapy?’s new album at Blast Studios.
Chris Sheldon has an extensive portfolio including Foo Fighters, Pixies, Biffy Clyro, Idlewild, Radio Head, Roger Waters.. The list goes on!
Student News: Kyle Hughes Joins Marco Mendoza's European Tour
Gateshead student, Kyle Hughes, will be drumming for The Dead Daisys and Thin Lizzy’s Bassist, Marco Mendoza, on his European Tour, Viva La Rock, this month.
Kyle has quickly made an impact with the skills he’s built up since the age of 6, playing shows in LA, Washington and across Europe, as well as playing Glastonbury Festival 2017.
He’s played in a variety of different bands supporting the likes of Jools Holland, The Jacksons, Texas, Simple Minds, Scouting for Girls and many more. Kyle’s drumming caught the eye of Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, who quickly snapped him up to be his drummer for all his shows, worldwide.
We’d say he’s a Rock Star in the making – but perhaps he already is! Looking forward to hearing what he gets up to next!
It’s festival season!
The last of the students are filtering out of the Academy for the year having passed their courses, well done guys. It’s no rest for me though as festival season is in full swing. Last week students and myself,all played Corbridge together and from here on in; weekends are full of shouting in fields. This weekend it’s with The Wonder Stuff in Frome, Holmfirth and Reading.
The students are really busy too! Some are embarking on s new business called Rock Works where they are teaching primary school children to rock! When you are a musician … the work never stops!!!
Source: Dan on Tour
AMS Swindon New Premises Launch
On 30th January, AMS Swindon held the official opening event for their new centre. Situated at 1 Milton Road in the town centre, Swindon Music Courses are now easy to access.
Swindon Mayor Cllr Eric Shaw attended the event to cut the ribbon and officially open the newly refurbished academy. Of the new centre, Cllr Shaw said: “Centres like this are really important because they make the arts accessible to all. Now that the Academy is in the centre of town, it’s not only physically more accessible but will get a lot more attention from passers by and that can only be a good thing.”
Musicians guests make a smashing opening.
As well as official Mayoral Endorsement, local singer/songwriter legend Nick Harper attended the event to play a guest acoustic set. Harper christened the building by smashing a guitar on the entrance in true rock star fashion.
Following the opening ceremony, guest were able to tour the building at their leisure and enjoy live performances from the students in the brand new space.
Come and see for yourself
All in all, it was a fantastic evening for the academy of music and sound and the Swindon music scene. If you're interested in touring the new centre, please contact [email protected] or call us on 01793 644477.
Graduation Ceremonies 2016
Students and staff from our centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh & North East (Gateshead) gathered together on 9th September to celebrate the graduation of students from our BA(hons) Performance Industries course. Guests were treated to a guitar performance from Hamish Roberts before the ceremony began. Speeches from our Principal; Steve Ryan and Academic Director; Shaun Baxter preceded a speech from Dean of Faculty; John Pymm. Recipients of the award were presented by representatives from each of our centres.
AMS Swindon at Swindon Chilli Fiesta 2016
The sun was shining on Wharf Green in Swindon on Saturday 30th July as 3 AMS Swindon students took to the stage at Swindon Chilli Fiesta 2016. Playing a mixture of covers and original material, Bradley Cowtan, Moesha Ottaway and Jordan Marvell entertained the ever-expanding crowd as they explored the firey offerings of the festival.
Congrats to all 3 students for their outstanding performances. Please check out Brad, Mo and Jordan’s music pages below and show them your support!
https://www.facebook.com/BradleyCowtanUK
https://www.facebook.com/groups/885972408146984/
https://www.facebook.com/JordanMarvellMusic
Special thanks go to Anthony and Rachael at inSwindon
(http://www.swindontowncentre.co.uk/inswindon) and Holmes Music (http://www.holmesmusic.co.uk) for providing sound and equipment.
