Got this in email from IRMA. It may (or may not) be of interest... eoghan MUSIC IN MOTION with the IRMA Trust Waterford June 22nd - July 13th “I want to be a bass goddess” It is in response to ambitions like those of Amy Brennan (aged 15), who has nowhere to record her music unless she pays the high rates charged by commercial studios, that the IRMA Trust, in partnership with Waterford City Council and Waterford County Council, will mount Music in Motion. They came up with the idea of giving young musicians experience of the recording process - for free! Sound engineers with a background working with U2 will be showing these stars of tomorrow how it’s done in studios in Waterford City, Tramore and Dungarvan. Music in Motion is offering these up-and-coming young musicians: An introduction to a recording studio and the recording process Free rehearsal sessions for one week before the recording session The chance to record a demo of their music The chance to learn about the CD making process A master copy of th demo and a number of free disks for circulation The chance to meet with record company representatives to discuss their futures In addition, the IRMA Trust is guaranteeing that a copy of the demo CD will be circulated among Irish record companies and radio stations! The project came about as the IRMA Trust saw young musicians’ need for high quality recording facilities, and the training and expertise to use them. As well as being a practical training experience, Music in Motion will also show the exact needs of young musicians in Waterford City and County, and will be used to develop a model of best practice for the rest of the country. (the IRMA Trust would eventually like to see a recording facility on the road for community and education purposes.) As Jessica Fuller, Manager of the IRMA Trust, says, “As part of our continuing commitment to provide resources for young people in music, the Trust has embarked on this pilot recording project. We believe it is vital that, in partnership with relevant local agencies such as Waterford County Council and Waterford City Council Offices, opportunities in music are afforded to young people in the context of a controlled learning environment.” The IRMA Trust: Going from Strength to Strength The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), which includes all the major labels, established the IRMA Trust to help foster the creativity of budding musicians across Ireland. The latest project from the Trust, Music in Motion, is yet another example from the Trust of how a great idea can become reality with the backing of big business. In 2001 the IRMA Trust provided help and opportunities yet again to thousands of children and young adults through their two main programmes - the Instrument Bank and Masterclass Programme. THE INSTRUMENT BANK The Instrument Bank continues to be a thriving success. The number of instrument loans to agencies doubled in 2001, and by the end of the year, the Trust was in partnership with 27 agencies nationwide, 17 of which were new partnerships established in 2001. These agencies are throughout Ireland, north and south. This involves over 1,300 instruments, which are loaned to organisations primarily for music projects taking place outside the formal education sector, and with a continued emphasis on projects in disadvantaged communities. THE MASTERCLASSES In 2001 a total of 62 masterclass events took place because of funding from the Trust. The subjects for the masterclasses ranged from saxophone to fiddle to DJ’ing to chamber music to a creative composition project with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic with St Joseph’s School for the Blind! This in turn has provided invaluable experience to a staggering 1461 young talented Irish musicians. For further information on the IRMA Trust in general, please see www.irma.ie