Enhancing Music Learning In Lockdown And Beyond!
In June this year, Focusrite, the global music and audio products group, donated 30 Scarlett Solo audio interfaces to Wandsworth based World Heart Beat Music Academy. This incredible gesture of generosity was made possible by Focusrite CEO Tim Carroll.
With the Coronavirus lockdown in operation since 23rd March, the audio interfaces have helped students to continue with their essential music learning via online lessons. Our young musicians have learnt to produce, record and mix with studio quality, whilst in the safety of their own homes.
World Heart Beat’s bass tutor, Nick Cohen, produced an online tuition course and carried out mentoring to show the students how to set up the audio interfaces and maximise their sound and recording production. Compact and lightweight, the interfaces don’t require a power source – instead they’re charged by a single USB cable connected to a Mac, tablet or desktop PC.
Students are able to make music together, from lessons to online concerts…
The Scarlett Solos are being used in a range of scenarios from one-to-one online music lessons through to taking part in the Academy’s recording projects such as:
- #worldheartbeatathome lockdown music videos.
- Facebook streamed Gala Concert in partnership with Music for Liberia.
- Distance mentoring the World Heart Beat bands.
- Working on World Heart Beat’s latest project For the Struggle – a series of concerts highlighting important social issues, illuminated with music, especially in the midst of Black Lives Matter and the world’s racial temperature.
Scarlett Solo quality is second to none…
The resulting sound quality from using the Scarlett Solo really is second to none. They are extremely user-friendly for the students and enable them to make high quality recordings with ease.
New Orleans Band members have been recording and mixing at home…
World Heart Beat’s New Orleans Band members have been using their Scarlett Solos to record and mix whilst at home. More recently students have been able to return to the Academy, with social distancing in place, to maximise their recording abilities with other band members.
Inspirational technology…
We can’t thank Focusrite enough for their generous donation of these top-quality Scarlett Solo audio interfaces. It’s hugely empowering and inspirational to see our young musicians getting excited about this new technology, and to see first-hand the resulting enhanced sound quality.
Lockdown has been really tough for many of our students, especially those living in challenging circumstances. To be able to continue with their music learning is a joy – we’re getting so much use out of the interfaces, whether it’s for our one to one online music learning classes or our larger recording projects, the opportunities are endless.
Sahana Gero, MBE, World Heart Beat Founder and Creative Director
Focusrite is honoured to play a role…
Focusrite is very pleased to support World Heart Beat’s music education programme. We are honoured to play a role in ensuring quality music education continues during these trying times.
Tim Carroll, CEO, Focusrite