LAMP project gave Trinity Catholic School pupils a chance to shine

Key Stage 4 pupils from Trinity Catholic School, have been working on a 5 week joint project with LAMP who have been teaching them how to write, produce and record a traditional reggae song on original analogue tape equipment.

Pictured: The Key Stage 4 pupils in the recording studio. NNL-140912-200151009 — Key Stage 4 pupils from Trinity Catholic School, have been working on a 5 week joint project with LAMP who have been teaching them how to write, produce and record a traditional reggae song on original analogue tape equipment. Pictured: The Key Stage 4 pupils in the recording studio. NNL-140912-200151009

The project was the result of a new collaboration between Head of Music Joanne Hewitt and Timothy Ellis, Artistic Director at LAMP.

The project aimed to raise the aspirations of students who show potential in music, but might not have considered pursuing it academically.

The pupils were shown recording techniques similar to those used in a traditional Jamaican studio to record classic reggae and ska.

Mr Ellis said: “I still use reel to reel tape recording alongside digital to show the development of the recording process. Young people are what we call ‘digital natives’, they’re not aware that as recently as 30 or 40 years ago there was no such thing as cut and paste. Musicians had to perform the whole song.”

The 8 year 9 music students formed a band, made up their own reggae song, rehearsed it and recorded it.

Ms Hewitt said “This was a fantastic opportunity to allow young people who show great potential in music, but who have not had any formal instrumental training, to work with a professional musician and gain a real insight into what it is like to work in the music industry.”