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The "Sound Pod" touches down in Tees Valley

4 Jan 2010

School music lessons are being revolutionised in Stockton-on-Tees with the arrival of a fantastic new studio resource aimed at building the bands of the future.

Imagine being able to instantly start playing your part in a band, but with the security that not everyone around you is going to be able to hear any little mistakes you might make. That’s the reality for students who are making use of the new Sound Pod facilities on offer from Tees Valley Music Service.

Based around the concept of practicing as part of a band rather than on your own, the Sound Pod music room is filled with 12 sets of electric guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, percussion stations and drum kits. Although you might expect to be blasted by the sound of a room full of music students, what you really hear is…..silence! Unless you’re the teacher, who has the benefit of being able to listen in to each group in turn and essentially transported into each band’s rehearsal.

Dan Jones from Tees Valley Music Service explains: "Each band has no idea you are listening. As you lower the volume on the first 'Pod' you notice a band the other side of the room having a few problems with their keyboard part. You activate your head microphone and speak directly to that 'Pod', you demonstrate the keyboard part as your teaching station is fitted with all the same instruments, without having to move a step. The keyboard player realises his mistake, corrects it through hearing and seeing you demonstrate and they are off again. You switch off your microphone and they are back in their own private rehearsal".

Students at TVMS are also signed up to take part in Practice-a-thon Music with Take it away. We’ll be following up on their progress later in the year to find out how they got on.

For more information about the Sound Pod email TVMS@stockton.gov.uk or call 01642 603600.

If you want to sign up to take part in Practice-a-thon Music with Take it away and get access to five free music tutorials where you can play as part of a band too, go to www.clicsargent.org.uk/music 

See the Sound Pod on Youtube

 

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