Celebrations

Sep 22 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO HND Music students from Motherwell College are hoping to chart when their debut single is released this week.

Danielle Tonner and John Muir, both from Motherwell, make up the band Till This Night, and will release their single ‘Runaway’ tomorrow (Friday, September 23).

Having studied music at NQ level, then progressing to HNC and now HND in Rock and Pop, the pair work with producer Graeme Duffin of Wet Wet Wet.

Graeme helps run the Foundry Music Lab which has a strong partnership with Motherwell College, facilitating some of the more practical side of the music courses.

Danielle explained: “The advantage that we have being on the music course, is that a lot of the stuff we previously had dreamed about doing in music we get to do on a day to day basis by being at the college. To think we are in a position of releasing a single and going on our own UK tour as part of our coursework makes us feel very fortunate.”

The music courses at Motherwell College have gained a lot of press attention over the past year, having had guest lecturers such as Dave McGeehan and Dave Corbit who manage DF Concerts which run T in The park, music journalist Billy Sloan, and marketing expert Michelle Mone.

Last week the course was named music course of the year at the Scottish New Music Awards, and HND music student and ‘Till This Night’ member John was delighted with the achievement.

He said: “To be honest every single one of us feel the sense of achievement, our lecturers and fellow students have all been part of winning that award. We take our work very seriously and unless you are part of it, it is hard to explain how good an atmosphere there is on the music course.”

Till This Night start their college project/UK tour at the HMV Picture House in Edinburgh on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

Their single Runaway is available from Friday as a download from

www.soundcloud.com/tillthisnight and www.facebook.com/tillthisnight

Michelle Mone at Motherwell College

HND Music students at Motherwell College were treated to a very special guest lecture by one of the UK’s top entrepreneurs.

Ultimo boss Michelle Mone paid a visit to the college earlier this month. As part of the music course, the students not only record and perform within bands as part of assessment but they have to study the business side of the music industry.

As well as giving advice in marketing a brand, networking and seeking funding for arts projects, Michelle gave the students business advice on the individual music projects which are currently being assessed.

And she spoke in detail about how to market a product online through social media, how to network at corporate events and manage a budget whilst dealing with overheads.

Course lecturer Scott Cowie said: “We are absolutely delighted that entrepreneurs such as Michelle Mone take the time out of their busy schedules to talk to our music students.

“We can give our students their music education but there is nothing to beat hearing directly on how to succeed, from the big names in business and the music industries.”

Michelle Mone is one of many well-known people to deliver a guest lecture to the music course students. Others include T in the Park promoters Dave McGheachan and Dave Corbitt, top music journalist Billy Sloan, and Wet Wet Wet’s Graeme Clarke.

The college music courses have a strong partnership with the Foundry Music Lab in which most of the practical and recording sides of the course are delivered.

The Motherwell-based professional recording and rehearsal facility was founded by Graeme Duffin (guitarist with Wet Wet Wet), Ted Blakeway and Sandy Jones. The college has worked with the Foundry since 2006.