TAKE 1 Studio Interview
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Take 1 Studio is an established voluntary organisation operating in Nottingham for the past 10 years. The organisation is the brainchild of the Executive Director Courtney Rose who got involved in music many years ago.
" The truth is I was on the dole and I needed to do something because back then they took your dole off you had to go to a Youth Training Scheme. I've always listened to music and had dabbled in painting and plumbing but them things just was not for me, so I thought let me try and do something that I enjoy doing. I completed a music/electronics course at CETA radford, and it all started from there. After that I did telecommunications at Peoples College but by then I was hooked on music so I was deciding whether to do music or electronics and basically music won me over"
TAKE 1 operates a multipurpose studio with the latest state of the art music equipment. TAKE 1 Studio is the place to go for all your musical needs. As well as hiring out the studio at a very competitive rate, they also offer accredited and non-accredited training in: ICT, DJ skills, Music Production, Hip-Hop Production, Intro to Midi Recording, Music Business, Video Production, Vocal Performance, Musical Instruments, Desk Top Publishing, Teacher Training and Job Seeking Skills. The journey to date is not as smooth as it may appear and not many small voluntary organisations survived this long without the obstacles and barriers associated with the sector.
" The biggest obstacle has been funding and then it's how people perceive us to be, but that's just part of the battle. As time goes on it does get easier but i'm not going to complain because we are still here at the end of the day".
Take 1 Studio has a management committee which steers the organisation and Courtney is supported mainly by three other members of staff, Mellisa who is the project coordinator, Naomi the contracts manager and Peter Cooper who tutors music technology. However, Courtney and Take 1 Studio recieved tremendous support from voluntary organisations and people in the community.
"I've had support from people in the community, people like Delroy King through Hyson Green Youth Club, Tony Grahm and Leslie Davis through LEARN and Delroy Peterkin through ACDA/City Challenge. I've had other support from quite a few people in the community who see what we are doing and they believe in us and that's been good".
Courtney credits his family for keeping him motivated to the tasks and highlights the progress the organisation has made as their biggest achievement.
" My biggest motivation has been my kids and wife; they've have kept me on track, to tell the truth if it was not for them I would just be wasting my life on road right now. TAKE 1 Studio statred at Hyson Green Boys Club then moved to T.R.Y( Team Resources for Youths), and then to the Old Bank on Radford Road and here at Grant Street in Radford, with a bigger building, so the progression on that side of things has been very good. we are recognised now and we are accredited centre for NCFE".
Over the years TAKE 1 has worked and engaged with artists and producers both locally and nationally. Their work has also gained them international recognition across Europe and the United States.
" We've had Maseo from Del la Soul come from the US, we've had flood from U2, Jazzie B, local talent like Big Trevor/Outdaville, Street Dreams from London. It's all been a good experience people coming and visiting the studio and some of the artist who have come here are still out there doing their thing so I'm glad to say that TAKE 1 is part of their history & background".
TAKE 1 Studio also offer a wide variety of classes for young people and adults.
" At the moment we' do a range of things, we do music technology to basic skills literacy and numeracy, dance, aerobic, keep fit, singing and street dance plus this year we are running a summer programme for young people which will include roller skating, so we are trying to do a variety of activities now, we are not just a music project we offer a lot more. We still run our college courses accredited NCFE music technology BTEC level 2 and we are now trying to expand our courses into other areas such as media, radio and other areas we haven't touched on in the music field".
For More Information Contact:
TAKE 1 Studio
Grant Street
Radford
Nottingham
NG7 3GZ
Tel: 0115 841 3961 /07967032108