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Kickstarter: Coventry Job Fair

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  Come and Join us at the Coventry Kickstarter Job Fair! We are here to help! In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent impact which the lockdown measures have had on the job market, it is harder than ever to start your career. Are you aged between 18-24 and receiving universal credit? Are you skilled in creative roles, business or social media? Then we need you! Come and join us at the Kickstarter Coventry Job Fair  on Friday the 24th of September at Coventry Rugby Club. We at Lisa Lashes School of Music have a brand-new and unique opportunity for the young who wish to get involved within the events industry! No matter the level of experience, we would like to hear from people who wish to learn to organise events, show a commitment towards growth and are looking to succeed.  How Can We Help? As an education-based institution, Lisa Lashes School of Music prides itself on its commitment to the development of its employees. There is a strong emphasis on developing employability skills to best prepare our employees for their future endeavours, but to paraphrase our managing director “we want to train you to the point...
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Kickstarter Scheme – Hit the Ground Running With Your Career!

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  We are looking for members to join our team! Are you aged between 18 and 24 passionate about the events industry, music, marketing, or advertising? Here at Lisa Lashes School of Music, we are breaking new ground by teaming up with the Kickstarter Scheme to provide industry-leading opportunities in the events sector to those aged between 18-24 who are receiving Universal Credit.   So What Are We Up To? Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Kickstarter Scheme is a government-backed initiative in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. In the modern day, it is harder than ever to begin your career, and the aim of this scheme is to give access to skilled employment for those in danger of falling through the unemployment gap. A well-known beacon of pop-culture and entertainment, Britain hosts a stunning array of events. We at Lisa Lashes School of Music will soon join the fray with our own planned event, but we need your help! We’re looking for bright, creative, passionate people to join our close-knit team. Led by industry leading professionals and in partnership with the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), we hope to spearhead an initiative to get young, talented…

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Transformative Education (CIRV) Community Initiative to Reduce Violence

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The Lisa Lashes School of Music is proud to be partnered with the Northamptonshire CIRV team (Community Initiative to Reduce Violence) to bring a first-of-its-kind academic embedded music program tackling Knife Crime, Gangs and Violence to our streets by giving our next generation a choice of alternative pathways, better choices and thought processes. After a chance meeting with Inspector Daryl Lyons at The Platform venue in Northampton in 2018, we realised that by working with like-minded people, we can make a difference and substantial change in the community. The CIRV program gives learners a way out by offering jobs and opportunities into the Night-Time Industries with our preferred partners NTIA (Night Time Industries Association) with our bespoke course written to find the strengths and weaknesses of each individual, whether in a music medium or in a creative hub full of industry professionals and tutors with a wealth of knowledge, happy to guide individuals to follow their dreams. We have already experienced the way Music and Education can enrich a young mind, while giving learners the chance to build themselves as better characters and make better choices. By integrating our learners and asking them to leave all preconceptions at the door,…

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Celebrating Cayden – Musical Ability & Aiming High

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Another day at Lisa Lashes School of Music, and I thank the music gods that I can keep coming back to the school that no-one wants to leave.  Watching students develop over the weeks of the course is an inspiration that will stay with me for years.  Today I am shadowing one of my current students, Cayden, who may just be the next Ed Sheeran. 17 years old, with a calm and relaxed air, Cayden walks in with a guitar almost as tall as he is.  I’ve already listened to one of his tracks this morning, and I am struck by how much potential we have in the next generation.  Here is a young man, completely focused on music, churning out tracks and songs that make the hairs on your arms stand up.  (Certainly makes you consider your own potential). Here is a course that will help him unlock this potential. Cayden has not had an easy time of it, in and out of mental hospitals, and just generally struggling through, he has found that music is the perfect outlet for him.  His inspiration is “making people happy and feeling good about music”, and he wants people to hear his…

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The Next Generation

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Lisa Lashes School of Music has been making (sound) waves over the last year.  Opening centres in Northampton and Manchester, with future schools opening in London and Cambridge. In terms of DJing and music production, there is no minimum or maximum age limit, which is why it should be no surprise that the school has graduated a new class of learners. Children need alternative provision. When children are excluded or expelled from school, there is very little to occupy them.  This can lead to difficulties in social development, as well as challenges reengaging them back in the academic environment.  The School of Music offers an opportunity to learn something completely unique in an environment vastly different from schools.  We have seen immense growth in these students, with most now going back into school. Names have been changed to protect the students. When Declan started, he struggled with his temper, had trouble engaging with others his age, and was very reluctant to spend time on any form of assignment.  At LLSOM, he has quickly become a top student, thriving in a positive environment, which can devote time to each student.  Declan was given an individual learning plan, and we are pleased…

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Pioneering Music: What tech do we use?

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If you’re wondering what technology we use in the course, then look no further!  Here is a breakdown of what equipment we use on the course from one of our tutors, Richie (a.k.a Dirty Secretz – “one of House music’s most exciting artists”). “It is absolutely vital that we are on the cutting edge for technology at the Lisa Lashes School of Music, using the industry standard DJ and production equipment. The main staples for any DJ booth are a pair of decks and a mixer. We use the industry standard Pioneer DJ Nexus setup, the CDJ-2000 players and DJM-900 mixer. These can be found in the DJ booths of any bar, club or festival across the world. As such, we train students to use them so they can confidently walk into any of these venues and play a set. The students also practice on the all-in-one Pioneer DJ units, the XDJ-RX2. These replicate most of the Nexus setup, but in a compact, lower cost package. They are able to practice their beat matching skills, mixing and FX, along with recording sets via the unit. Having a similar layout to the full industry standard setup means students can step up…

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Jake Foley

Future Heroes: Jake Foley

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Happy Monday!  Today marks the start of a new school, with tutors heading to Manchester to start preparations for the opening and induction day tomorrow.  Our first cohort is full, but we are always accepting applications. We would be happy to see your name on our list!  To apply, click here.  Also, today we have finally released the 8th episode of our podcast, Future Heroes.  This week, we are featuring Jake Foley. Jake Foley is a house and techno DJ based in the south-east of England. After recently completing Lisa Lashes School of Music, Jake Foley has honed his DJ and production skills, making an exceptional name for himself. His inspiration comes from Patrick Topping, Hot Since 82, Mark Knight and many more, which is where he gained his groovy rolling tech-house sound. With music featuring in Jake’s life from an early age, he would go to festivals and dream of being at the front of the crowd. At 23, he aims to play different sets and has a few tracks started that he needs to complete.  It’s going to be a good year for him, we’re sure! To listen to Future Heroes, head over to Mixcloud, or click the…

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Speaking to the Students: Establish84

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When Terry’s friend recommended the Lisa Lashes School of Music and said it would impact his life, Terry had no clue how true that would be.  Bethany spoke to him about his journey on the 8-week accelerated course, which led to him becoming Establish84. When I asked him how much experience he had on the decks before the course, I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear: “none, no experience”.  It sounds so amazing to think that at the start you could have zero understanding of how things like mixing, beatmatching, and scratching work (other than maybe the last one being the cat ruining the wallpaper…again).  And then…at the end, fully realising your potential as a DJ. Establish84 was born! The course built up Terry’s confidence on the decks, and he was surprised at how much he learned in such a short amount of time. Soon enough, he chose his DJ name.  “What I loved though was that we were all in the same room for the same reason” – this created an instant bond with his classmates. So despite finding social interaction difficult, he was able to form fantastic friendships, to the extent that the group planned events together and…

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Monday Music: Not Quite the Blues

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I must say, coming in on a Monday morning to a nightclub is not something I’d expect to do.  But here I am sitting under some giant glitter-balls and chandeliers, with a good hot chocolate.  Instead of the normal “how was your weekend?” Lisa and Deborah talk about the future of the School of Music, surrounded by excited students and tutors alike.  The school is on the hunt for a venue in Manchester. But The Platform, a club and cafe in the heart of Northampton, is a hard venue to match. Five cohorts of students have mixed, danced, and lit-up the club with their sound and energy.  With the next group sign-ups on the 14th February, the tutors are no doubt excited about what this next class will bring.  Truly, this course has unearthed some real talent, from the two apprentices the school has been working with now, to the up-and-coming artists, such as Adrianna (who will be performing in Wales with Lisa Lashes on March 2nd!).   More than that, it has changed lives.  Students have noticed their confidence growing through our positive atmosphere, and have made some real friends who will last a lifetime.  The most complaints we’ve…

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Future Heroes Ep. 6: Thomas Kraft

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Welcome to the next episode of Future Heroes!  This week, we are featuring break-out artist Thomas Kraft. In September 2018, Thomas Kraft signed up to Lisa Lashes School of Music, having never DJ’ed before. Several months later, with the help of the school and tutors, as well as some hard work from him, he is well on his way to launching his DJ career. Originally born and raised in Romania, Thomas is now established in the UK.  Having always been passionate about music, he first discovered electronic music in 2006 while listening and digging for new music.  He attended multiple party’s and events in the Romanian underground scene, following and supporting local artists and labels such as [a:rpia:r], Barac, Mihigh, Cezar, and many more.  This is where Thomas draws his musical inspiration from. We would describe his style as Minimal, with a hint of Deep House and Dub Techno, and the distinctive tracks he plays are meant to create a peaceful and powerful rhythmic atmosphere. If you like his music, you can support him by liking and sharing his set. Enjoy! If you’ve never DJ’ed before, and are curious about the decks, why not read our blog by a visitor of…

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This is where the music happens

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Bethany McTrustery went to The Platform to experience a day in the life of a Lisa Lashes School of Music student… There’s something about sitting in a nightclub during the day.  No lights. No audience. But music so loud you can feel it rattling in your bones.  A track created by the students of Lisa Lashes School of Music is playing. You feel your head start bobbing, your heart start thumping. This is where the music happens. It’s easy to forget that artists and groups such as David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, and Laidback Luke have all started in the same place as these students. But they did. And these students are all learning to dream big. They are being taught how to create a social media presence, how to set up their own party, and of course, how to produce music. Words can’t capture the spirit and atmosphere in the club, but I’m going to do my best to convey it to you. In one room, students are shown the importance of platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. Their Christmas homework is to construct a CV, and rather than being frustrated at this arduous task, they are excited to…

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Beat Matching and the BBC

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This week witnessed the arrival of the BBC.  They arrived to film a feature that went live on Look East on Monday night.  It also marked the end of the beginning for all students in Cohort 3.  They have now completed the course and are heading out to continue their careers as DJs and Music Producers.  At the end of a course that spans 12 weeks, it is always sad to say goodbye, and this is the third time we’ve had to do it.  However, there are fantastic opportunities for our students.  We’re so excited to see what they’ll do next.  Students from Cohorts 1 and 2 have already been booked for events, accepted onto apprenticeships, and some have even been selected to become tutors for the next lot of school intakes.

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Cohort 3 party

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After a busy day at the school, Cohort 3 headed to the club room with Lisa and the other tutors to try out some of the latest student productions on the massive sound system.

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LLSOM on BBC Look East

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The BBC Look East programme featured a short piece on the school today. They shared footage of the school and interviewed Deborah live on the show. You can watch the full piece below. https://www.facebook.com/lisalashesschoolofmusic/videos/2236621319893067/

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Mixmag visits LLSOM

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We recently had the Mixmag team at a school in Northampton. They stayed all day, sat in on lessons and witnessed the brilliant work that our students do. Check out the video they posted on Facebook below.

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Photos and Videos from Unity of Sound

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All the photos and videos are up from our first student organised event: Unity of Sound.  They can be found here! Unity of Sound took place on 12th October 2018 at The Platform club, Northampton. Students were so excited to share their mixes with a live audience.  With the chance to DJ at an event full of people, the opportunity to embark on this course is not one to miss.  Manchester is next on our list of cities to go to, and we’d be delighted to meet you there!  Register your interest today and we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the details! The event was a huge success and saw our students return to world class DJs such as Lisa Lashes, Slipmatt, Solah and Dirty Secretz.  The crowd was fantastic and the music high-quality.  We’re looking forward to our next event, so follow us for more details of the event as they arise. Were you at the event?  What were your thoughts?  Tweet us @LashesSchool with your photos and impressions!  

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