Music industry experts pass on tips to students

Apr 10 2008

SINCE launching Scotland’s first courses in rock and pop in 2006, Motherwell College has received a huge surge of interest in the programmes.

The college has recently employed two well -regarded musicians, equally familiar with world tours and recording studios, to lecture college students.

Tippi works at the college one day a week, lecturing students on all aspects of the music industry. Tippi is also the lead singer of one of the country’s foremost emerging bands The Hedrons, who are taking the indie music scene by storm with several top 20 indie single releases, airplay on Radio 1 and XFM and tipped by leading music magazine NME as the band “you have to hear”.

The band performed at several music festivals last summer including T in the Park and in total played over 120 gigs throughout the UK, many of which were sell outs.

Tippi said: “I am really enjoying passing on the realities of the industry. Working with the students is a nice change from the work I am doing with the band the rest of the time”.

Scott Cowie has also been employed to lecture music students.

Scott works full-time at the college but is still closely linked to the music industry.

Having worked as a session drummer Scott has played with many bands and musicians including Peter Hook of Joy Division and Scottish band H20.

Scott, from Airdrie, also brings with him a wealth of teaching experience having worked in the further education sector for four years.

And Scott and Tippi are not the only famous faces to pop up on this course.

Wet Wet Wet guitarist Graeme Duffin is also involved.

As part of their course, music students from Motherwell College utilise the facilities of The Foundry recording studio in Motherwell, where Graeme is a co-founder.

Graeme works with the students when they attend The Foundry.

Rock and pop courses are available at the college from NQ (National Qualification) to HND (Higher National Diploma) level and will start again this summer.

Anyone interested should contact the college on 01698 232425 or visit www.motherwell.ac.uk