CrescendoThe Official Magazine of The Purcell School for Young Musicians May 2019 INSIDE PURCELL: SITTING DOWN WITH SIMON GOING DIGITAL: LET’S TALK MUSIC TECH ALLEN, HEAD OF JAZZ LIVE AT LUNCHTIME Discussing everything from Renowned within and outside Thank you to all staff the benefits of going digital to the School, we dive into the and students involved in the importance of teaching Jazz department launching our live concerts! INSIDE PURCELL: LET’S TALK MUSIC TECHNOLOGY We sat down with our Music Technology department to discuss everything from the benefits of going digital to the importance of teaching at Purcell The Music Technology Tom Bell (Music Technician) composition, scoring film department is passionate studied Music Production music, arranging and an about the latest recording and at Newcastle University understanding of studio computer technology being and Leeds College of Music technology and acoustics. used creatively. whilst also being an avid musician. Originally playing A big change came in 2017 Aidan Goetzee (Head of Music the trombone, he moved when, due to pressure from Technology), who has been to percussion along with the music industry and with Purcell since 2001, worked playing guitar and bass. As universities, the subject was as a freelance flautist and an electronic producer, Tom relaunched as a separate teacher before moving into full has achieved releases on course of study to music; time teaching 25 years ago. commercial labels, one of a timely recognition of the Before this, he studied at the which gained airtime on BBC particular skills and knowledge RCM, Guildhall and in Paris on Radio 1Xtra and Rinse FM. that the subject demanded. several scholarships. “Coming from a family of “Today, you just cannot “When I started working in classical musicians, I was escape the technology the 80’s, I did some studio the first to branch out into being an essential skill for have the latest Mac and Logic “I’m a firm believer that every is also good is that the more work and then later when commercial and ‘popular’ the contemporary musician. software sitting on your table single musician should have technically adept students will I was working with the music. From a young age I Through computers a huge it is easy to use. Musicians at least a basic grasp of tech go out of their way to learn London Contemporary found myself not just listening amount of knowledge and skill need guidance through these skills. In the current online about the more complex side Dance and the Lindsay Kemp to my favourite album on is available at your fingertips. amazing sonic tools if they are world where marketing of tech, which is always very Company, I saw first-hand the repeat, but also wondering We are in such a different to use them effectively. From yourself is more pertinent interesting for both myself and creative possibilities of the how they were made. When world to when I was a student personal experience I know than ever, being able to put the students.” technology when combined studying GCSE’s I got my first at the RCM in the late 70s and how important it is to feel together simple yet high with traditional acoustic taste of music technology, we cannot just give students confident with the technology. quality recordings/videos of The importance of Music instruments. It seems to me which led me to pursue it at A what we learned; this does not yourself playing online can Technology in today’s that this was how the future Level, and from then on I know equip them for the future. At I remember recording for a massively boost your presence, curriculum is becoming was going to be. it was what I wanted to do.” the RCM I used to walk past the local radio station once and and might ultimately give you increasingly apparent. The I was also involved in small mysterious ‘Electronic Music the engineer had not a clue the edge over others. With the UK is one of the world’s most theatre and film productions Music Technology has been Studio’ everyday – none of us where to position the mics for technology becoming cheaper competitive and diverse where I would be recording a available to students at A knew what went on in there our ensemble; he was clearly and more accessible by the digital music markets, with single track and would then Level at The Purcell School and rarely heard the results a bit thrown but at the time I day, there’s no reason not to! around services catering for all see it transformed by the since the late 90’s. Whereas of its work. And remember, did not have the knowledge or Music Tech is a subject in different kinds of music fans composer and engineers into the traditional ‘music’ there were no such thing as experience to be able to insist which you get out of it what and musical genres. According a huge sound scape. I was course focused on classical computers for everyday use on changes to the way he did you put in, regardless of to analysis by the BPI, based fascinated by the possibilities composers and notational back then! things. I like to think that my technical ability or skill. We on data from the Official Charts of these processes and literacy, music technology students, even when working have had students who start Company, audio streaming decided to pursue a Master’s was designed to combine a Today’s audio software draws as purely musicians, will be in AS having barely touched accounted for almost two Degree in Music Information study of popular music and on a very long history of audio better aware of the techniques a computer, and they go on thirds of music consumption Technology. Along the way, recording techniques. engineering and acoustic and processes being used to to get an A* in the A Level during 2018. Furthermore, as well as the creative side, theory. Consequently the capture their performances so only 2 years later. As long as according to RAJAR, the I became intrigued by the Students can now learn audio user interface are incredibly that they can make informed you keep an open mind and number of UK adults who theoretical underpinning of the engineering techniques, complex. It can be so easy comments to engineers and are willing to put in the extra listen to a podcast each week subject.” production skills, electronic to think that because you producers.” work, anyone can do it. What increased from 3.2 million (7 per cent of adults) in 2013 solo recitals and orchestral any of our other concerts and fascinating talk at the school music outside of performance. prospective students or really to 5.9 million in 2018 (11 per performances whether it be that student input would be last year. If ever there was an Recently (thanks to the Music anyone across the world get a cent of adults). This increase sound production, film music, fundamental. We have had inspiring example of the union Tech department), this had feel how our school works, and is across all age groups, but music for games, mixed media music with film, with theatre of creativity and technology it included the launch of a series the standards that we uphold. the steepest growth in the etc. Music tech offers students and with live dance, orchestral is Jacob. It has been great for of live streamed concerts; ‘Live The growth we have seen past year was among 15-34 insights into the music industry rock scores and every variety of us to know that he premiered at Lunchtime’! This means already on our channel with year-olds. Revenues from all beyond the confines of their avant-garde weirdness. I have his split-screen close-harmony no matter where you are, as our first three livestreams has UK music segments, including instrument.” been told that we are the only arrangements (which got him long as you have access to the been amazing, and I can’t wait streaming, downloads, specialist music school that noticed by Quincy Jones!) internet, you have the pleasure to see what the future holds physical sales, performance One of highlights of each present these kinds of concerts at the SIM events. Mica Levi of watching our magnificent with many more to come!” rights and synchronisation year for the Music Tech where we see students not is now a successful film students perform. (use of music in film, TV, ads department are the Sound only getting to grips with a composer, whose scores are Our ‘Live at Lunchtime’ and games), grew by 3.1 per Image Movement concerts of wide range technology but are transformed by her incredible This term the School has live concerts, which have already cent in 2018, leaving the UK as which the next is taking place also involved in the technical music technology skills. I streamed three concerts with amassed over 2,500 views the biggest music market in on Thursday 4th July here at staging (which is huge) and remember her asking me to performances from multiple online, will continue in the Europe. the School. theatrical presentation. help her record a printer (… Purcell soloists, Purcell’s Flute Summer Term. Previous yes, the sound it makes!) for Ensemble, our Percussion ‘Live at Lunchtime’ concerts “Today there are jobs being “The Sound Image Movement The Delegates, a successful one of her compositions. Duo, Purcell’s String Quartet can still be viewed on the created which we could not concerts are a real highlight.