WATCH: Virus ‘Can’t Stop the Beat’ for young musicians
A school band's new venture into online recording has attracted more than 20,000 views.
When their packed schedule was scuppered, 40 members of Stafford Grammar School’s (SGS) concert band refused to stop the beat and sought a way of making music for themselves and others to enjoy.
The youngsters are now ready to launch their third track featuring Can’t Stop The Feeling, by Justin Timberlake.
See one of the videos here:
The project was created by SGS director of music and professional trumpet player, Gavin Lamplough, to offset the disappointment of a cancelled season.
He said: “Some of the pupils who are now in the sixth form have been performing with us since they joined in Year 7.
"They’ve been robbed of their swansong and I’m devastated for them. Others were literally only a few days away from taking their music exams when the lockdown began.
“There is a huge misconception this is done over Zoom, but it’s far more complicated than that.
"I send out a backing track for the 40 students to rehearse and each player records their own part. I then have to mix them together. I also have to import 40 movies of them playing - which all need to be synchronized on the screen with the music.
“It’s a massive challenge too for the musicians who are being asked to perform in their own at home, when they’re used to playing as a group where they gain confidence from each other and are guided by a conductor.
“However, this online medium for making music is important in so many ways. It’s keeping kids in touch with their friends, keeping people connected and it’s even providing support for those who are recently bereaved."
The SGS band’s tracks can be found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
