Mobile Studio To Record Christchurch’s Young Musicians

FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE – Christchurch 15th May 2012

Christchurch year 7 and 8 students have the opportunity to record their own music thanks to a collaboration between the Christchurch Methodist Mission, Play It Strange Trust and independent radio station RDU 98.5FM.

The mobile recording sessions are the latest in a series of musical events Christchurch Methodist Mission has sponsored to lift the spirits of young people in the wake of last year’s earthquakes.

RDU’s mobile recording studio will be on hand to record students performing at their schools every Thursday, from this month until the end of August. The first recording session takes place at Linwood Intermediate on the 24th of May.

Play It Strange Christchurch coordinator Jeff Fulton says the mobile studio will encourage students to experience live recording and each performer will receive a CD of their performance that they can take home to share with their parents and friends.

“We can record acoustic guitar, a choir or ukulele orchestra, or even a four or five piece rock band. We will also have a hip hop backing track so the students can have a go at rapping or singing over the top of a set of beats.”

Jeff Fulton says the mobile recording studio itself is an example of the innovative responses Cantabrians have made to the earthquakes.

“RDU lost their broadcast studio at Canterbury University after the earthquakes and responded by building an innovative broadcast studio known as the RDUnit. The unit also has the ability to record. And perform both inside the studio, outside on its small stage or further afield. It is the perfect way to give students an introduction to the world of live recording.”

Christchurch Methodist Mission executive director Mary Richardson says it is very rewarding to be able to join the skills of those in the local music industry with the talents of young musicians.

“Our initiative is about giving children a sense of fun and some idea of the opportunities that are out there so they can think positively about the future and build resilience,” Mary Richardson says.

“It has been great working with schools and the Ministry of Education to provide support to schools. They have been open and flexible to anything that will improve the wellbeing of students and therefore improve their learning and development.”

ENDS

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