Future Yard, a community music venue in Birkenhead, and The Learning Foundry, an Ofsted-Good rated local training provider, are expanding their exciting new training programmes to support young people into careers in live events and the live music industry.
From sound engineers to festival bookers, lighting designers to concert promoters, the two training programmes will introduce people from the Wirral and Merseyside to a range of job roles, and the skills needed to build a career in the live music industry.
Sound Check is open to young people 16+ who are living in the Liverpool City Region and have a passion for live music. There are different ways to get involved depending on the time young people can commit: either Monday evenings for 12 weeks, or 4 days per week for 18 weeks.
The free to attend programmes are made up of study, alongside real-life work experience at Future Yard, to gain hands-on skills at live events. Outside of the programmed training sessions there will be additional hands on experience at weekend or evening shows.
Sound Check is a training programme built by the live music indsutry, for the live music indsutry – it is designed to lead into paid employment in the sector. A large number of previous Sound Check learners have progressed to vibrant live music industry careers – from apprenticeships with local events company Adlib to London’s Royal Opera House, or staging weekend festivals and open mic nights at Future Yard.
Jacob has progressed into paid work at Future Yard since completing the course. He said: “Sound Check is a brilliant way to get hands on experience in the industry. I’ve enjoyed being here when bands are loading in and helping with the stage setup – it’s not just being told about it in a classroom.
“It’s given me a lot of experience and I hope to stay on working at Future Yard, getting more experience in this venue and then to work at other venues. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in music. It is a great insight and gives you a good foot in the door.”
Current learner Charlotte said: “I would recommend this course to anyone who enjoys music and wants to understand how the music industry works. It’s an opportunity to learn skills you can’t learn anywhere else – things like learning about how a soundboard works and setting up a stage. And getting free tickets to gigs is a bonus!
“I now know I want to be an event manager for gigs and work with live music in general. It’s given me confidence and shown me how to progress.”
The free to access programme focuses on two areas; Technical Production and Live Music Event Management. These are then followed by an independent group project, in which participants utilise their new skills to deliver a live event.
Future Yard Co-founder, Craig Pennington, said: “Sound Check is a vital part of our skills and training offer at Future Yard. It’s all about inspiring local young people to turn their passion for live music into a fulfilling career. Working with The Learning Foundry on two versions of the programme will allow us to train even more passionate music lovers from the area and show them about the career prospects that are available in the live events sector. No previous experience is needed – just a passion for music!”
The programme is delivered by Future Yard’s hugely experienced team of tutors and boasts a broad range of guest speakers from across the industry. No previous experience is required.
For more information, and to apply, visit https://futureyard.org/soundcheck/