Summer school rocks Dudley's Resonance
A new multi-million pound music school has hosted a summer school for primary and secondary pupils.
Resonance, based at The Waterfront in Brierley Hill, hosted around 85 pupils from schools in the Dudley borough.
The aim was to make up for some of the schooling they had missed during lockdown, and to give them extra support before returning to the classroom.
Primary pupils learnt about African drumming and Samba, and secondary-age students transformed themselves into rock musicians in the space of five days in the project 'Rock band in a week'.
The sessions were run by a team from Resonance and Dudley Council’s Dudley Performing Arts team, along with teaching and safeguarding staff from the local schools.
Rick Benton, Resonance chief executive, said: “It’s been a great experience for the kids.
“All the kit is waiting for the first cohort of students joining us at the start of the autumn term, and it was brilliant to see the younger ones so enthused by the experience of playing and recording their own music.
“Our campus is a big place and there was plenty of recording, rehearsal and practice space for the two age groups to do their own thing safely in their own space. All the instruments were sanitised for every session.”
Councillor Ruth Buttery, Dudley Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We are keen to support our children, young people and their families during these unprecedented times, and our summer schemes are an important part of this.
"We want to thank Dudley Performing Arts for all of their hard work in organising the programme and ensuring that it has been such an enjoyable experience for everyone.”
Applications are still open for Resonance until August 31. People can online ar resonance-edu.org/courses/how-to-apply/
