Music Production & DJ College

Case Study

Meet Charlie from Hackney. He had always struggled at school with a confrontational attitude to teachers and fellow students and a dismissive approach to learning. He was in trouble regularly and his grades were consistently poor. What was frustrating to his teachers and parents was that in spite of all this, he clearly possessed a bright and creative mind. What a waste…

On the plus side, he always expressed a real passion for music. Through this subject Charlie was able to re-engage with education and fulfil some of his obvious potential.

Referred by the Learning Trust in Hackney, he enrolled on the Key Stage 4 Education Programme at award winning music production school, Point Blank in April 2008. Over the course of the year Charlie completed three modules: Introductory Award in Music Technology, Introductory Award in Radio Production and Certificate in Performance. The modules, which required him to attend once a week during school hours, were accredited by NCFE meaning, if passed, he would gain 50% of a GCSE per module. In the end he did achieve 1.5 GCSEs – his first qualifications and something he had never managed to do in school.

During his time on the course, Charlie used a combination of the skills learnt in music production, audio recording, and radio broadcasting to plan and produce a recording for his urban music and chat radio show ‘The Deal’. This would be broadcast on Point Blank’s own online radio station. Eventually he was assured enough to take the role of the leader within the group of students as they created and rehearsed a song before performing it in front of a live audience.

Proving the power of music in engaging young people, he demonstrated a degree of commitment and application that his teachers at his old school had never managed to extract from him. Of particular note was the improvement in his communication skills and how he interacted with others. He embraced the course with enthusiasm; frequently asking and responding to questions. He also worked in a disciplined manner within a group that, in the past, may have encouraged him to misbehave. The dramatic change in Charlie’s behaviour was likely to be caused by three main aspects of the course: The hands on nature of the learning process, the subject matter which truly excited him, and the creative, relaxed and non-authoritarian environment.

Charlie reflected on his experience saying, "I’m closer to my dream of being a music producer
because if I didn’t come here I wouldn’t have learnt about Garage Band and Logic [popular production software packages]… I get better every week and that makes me more confident". His tutor Derek Chai gave a glowing report of his efforts in his final report; "Charlie is gifted and paid attention most of the time. This shows in his work and he would often finish early and then decide to redo his work to a better standard… his technical aptitude is very good and he could easily work in audio engineering."

Point Blank specialises in the delivery of Creative and Media courses and activities for young people. They have been voted ‘Best Music Production and DJ College’ at the music industry’s T-Scan Awards every year between 2002-2007. Understanding the importance of the arts in engaging youth today, they provide unique educational pathways and progression routes for a wide range of learners from Level 1 to 4.