The Eye Of Media

By Tony O’Reilly-

The Diane Mitchell Music School, which runs classes in Paisley and Barrhead, is buzzing and in high demand after its founder bagged a community award barely six months since her music school celebrated after being named Music School of the Year in the annual Scotland Prestige Awards, for the second year running. They were selected among a number of music schools, standing out for its excellence and dedication to music.

The outstanding music academy is leading the way in top quality delivery of music lessons, designed to thoroughly develop its pupils who are queuing up in numbers to benefit from its wide range of bespoke music lessons.

However parents of children who cannot afford her services are calling on local councils to fund schools so that more pupils can benefit from the expert music classes her school delivers.

One parent told this publication : ” my children come telling me they want to join their friends who are attending Diane Mitchell’s Academy. I think the school just have music just as good, if not fund their pupils to benefit from such services, or incorporate similar ideals in the music curriculum”.

The brilliant school founded in 2015, has three businesses which offer private tuition and group classes to people of all ages and from all walks of life. It also offers group classes to children of all ages. It is based upon Kodaly musicianship. This approach in music builds up the child’s musicality whilst developing knowledge of beat, rhythm and pitch.

School children attending the music lessons have boasted to their mates about the detailed utility derived from the academy, causing many children to pressure their parents to sign them up for the entertaining academy.

But not all parents can afford to hire the services of the outstanding academy.

A spokesperson for Diane Mitchelle’s Academy said : ”the range of musical activities at this academy is better for mental health and is a lot more interactive than music provided in schools which has an outdated curriculum different to what music can actually do in schools which is restricted to a box.

”With the workshops, it is more fun for the children, and there are better facilities to give them a practical insight into music. Parents who want the service for their children may have to sort out funding for the school,” adding that Diane Mitchell could campaign for funding if approached by schools.

This is the second year running in which the academy has won a prestigious award of this kind, marking it as one of the best music schools in Scotland. The school trains children individually and in groups, nurturing their talents in singing and the use of twenty different instruments. Many of the pupils move on to study music professionally. The school has around 20 freelance tutors, all of whom are professionals in their field and who work hard to motivate and teach their students.

The school also holds themed parties for children, including a professional recording experience in one of its recording studios and a CD of the recording to take home. The party also features fun games, musical activities and party food, provided by The Boat House in Paisley. It has become a motivating place for children to have fun and pursue their ambitions.

The Music School offers fun music classes to children from babies up to age 11 years, providing the starting point in a child’s musical education.

Using singing games, puppets and percussion instruments, they offer young children the opportunity to gain a thorough grounding in basic musical concepts and skills in a fun and exciting way, helping to build confidence, improving concentration and developing social skills.

The classes also offer a comprehensive musical training programme open to all children regardless of background and skills, and is based upon the guidelines set down by Kodaly and is concerned with the development of the whole child as an individual.

The classes seek to harness the child’s receptiveness to sound by teaching children to sing and singing without the aid of an instrument leads to highly developed aural skills. Through a programme of singing games and rhymes, the Kodaly approach seeks to develop the child’s inner hearing and memory is developed.

The developed inner ear will then be able to recall the sounds when they are presented later as symbols.

Diane who founded the school, has a passion for music and the positive effect it has on people’s lived. She has one responded to knowledge that a lot of people cannot afford to pay for music lessons or do not have the means to access music education. As a result, in response to the disparity in local music education.

She established Brick Lane Music Academy Community Interest Company in September 2020 to offer music education to every area of the community within Renfrewshire and beyond. The aim was to teach and use music to enhance people’s lives, improve mental health, build confidence and develop new skills. They deliver a range of lessons group classes and music projects open to every person in the community.

These include Musical Tots classes for parents/carers and children, Youth Music Projects, ASN Music Groups and a successful Music Cafe for older people who were previously isolated. The ethos behind it is the firm belief that music and arts have the power to change and impact lives.

Excellence Innovation Award

In addition to the music school award, Diane also has been awarded the Excellence and Innovation Award for Brick Lane Studios Scotland Ltd, which is a rehearsal and Recording business in the same building, also established in 2020. It offers rehearsal spaces for local bands and a recording facility.

”It has been a great honour to win this award, especially after the difficult times experienced due to Covid. Kirsty, our studio Co-ordinator works very hard to keep the studios welcoming and professional.

Diane Mitchell, founder and director of the music school and the Studios said about the awards: ” I am absolutely delighted to receive both of these awards. My desire has always been to share the positive power of music to others and it makes me so proud to see the pupils at the music school develop into musicians.

I am so thankful for the hard work of all of the teachers in the school and also my staff, Scott McWatt, Office Manager, Kirsty Ward . Studio Co-ordinator and class teacher and Caitlin Miller, administrative officer and class teacher. l, who give of their best to keep the school and studios running successfully. “

There will be themed musical sessions Monday to Thursday each week for children aged 5 and up, with early drop-off and late pick-up options available.

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