Doncaster Sound Memories exhibition is larger than life and it’s free for all to access
Higher Rhythm’s Doncaster Sound Memories project has delivered its exciting finale… We’ve created a large-scale Doncaster Sound Memories public exhibition, wrapped around the corner of our building on Nether Hall Road.
Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, the project has engaged local people to contribute stories about encounters with music artists in Doncaster. The project has captured, preserved and celebrated these music memories of local people. The stories are based on oral historical accounts of musical events and encounters people have experienced in Doncaster. People have also participated in training and as volunteers. We’ve underpinned the entire project with interviews, broadcast as special features on Sine FM.
The last part of the project is this exhibition. The exhibition features excerpts from 24 of the stories contributed by local people. Stories range from having breakfast with the Beatles, to pushing Captain Sensible down the street in a shopping trolley!
Measuring 10m wide and 3m high, it’s also one of the largest permanent public exhibitions ever created in Doncaster. Being street-based, the Doncaster Sound Memories exhibition is free to visit and it’s even illuminated at night for 24/7 viewing.
Since the exhibition has gone live we’ve counted hundreds of people each day stopping as they walk past to view the exhibition. Make sure you get down to have a look and use the QR code displayed to send us your feedback.
National Diploma open evening for post-16’s
Join the open evening on Tuesday 13th December, 4pm-5pm, for young people interested in our Level 3 National Diploma in Music Technology.
Places on this outstanding rated programme are limited, so to secure your place you need to enroll early. This session will give you an overview of our programme and an opportunity to see our sector leading facility.
Record labels and established artists have used our facilities to make their records for over 21 years. An analogue Solid State Logic mixing console in our main studio, partners with Universal Audio digital recording interfaces. We’ve invested in equipment from the best manufacturers in the world for over two decades, this is what sets our studio apart. This means that you benefit from having access to the professional equipment used in the real music industry.
The music industry contributes £5.2 billion to the UK economy, to this end employing over 190,000 people. We believe that anyone with the right support and determination, can play a part in this national success story.
Call us on (01302) 327769, email mail@higherrhythm.co.uk or visit the course page and complete the form to express your interest.
This special National Diploma introductory session is being held at our Doncaster city centre site.
Higher Rhythm join music industry royalty on the Solid State Logic website
Higher Rhythm, has been supported by Solid State Logic, a world-leader in recording equipment and featured amongst music industry royalty on their website.
SSL are one of the biggest names in music industry equipment, manufacturing high-end mixing desks for over 50 years. They are used in the world’s leading studios, by artists from The Stones and Oasis, to U2 and Dr Dre.
Building recording equipment in Oxford, SSL have supported Higher Rhythm with a discounted SSL ‘Origin’ console for their main studio. This is used daily for recording and for teaching Higher Rhythm’s students on courses such as the National Diploma in Music Technology.
Steve Mundin, Higher Rhythm CEO said, “Being featured on the SSL website, amongst music industry greats, is a proud moment. We provide access to genuinely world-class studio equipment such as the Origin console in our main studio. This offers the people who use our studios to record and learn, the very best professional industry experience.”
Read the feature about Higher Rhythm, on the SSL website here:
https://www.solidstatelogic.com/media/higher-rhythm-acquires-solid-state-logic-origin
BBC Introducing LIVE x Higher Rhythm free music support
BBC Introducing LIVE 2022 x Higher Rhythm
We will deliver a series of music industry support events in partnership with BBC Introducing from the 4th to the 6th of November. Events are free so all you have to do is register and turn up.
Friday 4th November
Music professionals will deliver panel discussions around how to build a career in the music industry. This session is for year 11 learners from schools with a specific interest in building a career in music. Panel members are:
Christian Carlisle, BBC Music Introducing Sheffield.
KOG, established music artist from Sheffield, appearing on Jools Holland and at major festivals.
Anastasia Walker, lead singer of Bang Bang Romeo, touring with Pink and playing major festivals.
Leonie Sloots, lead singer of, Luxury Goods, Sheffield-based music artist appearing at major festivals.
ADMT, electronic music producer, appearing on multiple Spotify playlists and supported by BBC Introducing Huw Stephens.
This panel event will be held at Higher Rhythm’s city centre music facility, with a choice of 2 time-slots:
9.45 to 10:45
11:15 to 12:15
Saturday 5th November
Part A)
Selected music artists will perform live sessions in the studio at Higher Rhythm. The sessions will be recorded for broadcast through a special radio show on the 6th of November.
Part B)
Music professionals will deliver a panel discussion around how to build a career in the music industry. This panel is open to anybody aged 16 or above from across the region, working in or aspiring to work in the music industry.
The panel members are as listed above.
The event will run from 11:15 until 12:30 on Sat 5th Nov and will be held at Doncaster Little Theatre.
Please use the form below to register your interest for this panel event.
Sunday 6th November
Christian Carlisle from BBC music introducing Sheffield, will return to his roots on Sine FM in Doncaster. Christian will deliver a “homecoming” episode of his original radio show on the station, Delta November. The show will feature guests and artists from across the region. It will also feature exclusive live recordings of South Yorkshire music artists, recorded live at Higher Rhythm’s studio on the 5th. Christian will also interview representatives of lead music industry bodies and funders so tune in to get tips on how to get ahead in the industry.
The show will feature representatives from Arts Council England, the PRS Foundation, PRS for Music, Help Musicians UK, and Youth Music. The discussion will cover the support and funding they offer to musicians.
Sine FM Radio Station boosts FM transmission power
Sine FM transmission power has been given a boost. After being re-licensed by Ofcom, the FM signal has almost 10 times more power.
All the necessary technical work is now complete. The FM signal is clearer, louder and more widely available across Doncaster metropolitan borough and beyond.
In Doncaster, the only licensed radio station Broadcasting over FM or DAB is Sine fm. The station reaches the biggest broadcast area, the widest listenership and has the largest social network audience. The local presenters broadcast shows from our Doncaster-based studios 7 days every week. This boost for Sine FM transmission power means we can serve Doncaster even better.
Sine fm applied for this additional power via a call from Ofcom. Previously, the station’s transmission power was 25 Watts. This is the standard license transmission power for community radio stations. I will proposal to Ofcom made the case that Doncaster was the country’s largest metropolitan borough. Doncaster is a wide geographical area, whilst locally produced media is limited.
Run by music fans for music fans, Sine is run by our award winning not-for-profit organisation, Higher Rhythm. Our live radio station & listen again services offer something for everyone. There are more than 50 local presenters bringing a diverse selection of shows every week.
Tune in on 102.6 FM
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Breakthrough programme artist secures development funding
Another artist supported through our artist development programmes has secured funding. August Charles secured funding from Help Musicians UK’s ‘do it differently’ fund. This financial support is aimed at helping him develop further as an artist.
August started out on. our PRS Foundation TDP artist programme. He then progressed onto our full-year Breakthrough Artist Development Programme, funded by Help Musicians UK and Arts Council England.
Born in Zambia, raised in the UK, British musician August Charles’ musical tastes and talents have evolved over many years, and 2020 saw August emerge with his debut single “Take Me Away”. August has built a network of talent in his hometown of Doncaster and across Yorkshire. August has built his craft in the studio, producing music that showcases his outstanding songwriting and voice. He has now moved onto more life performance opportunities, at festivals, and showcases for emerging artists.
August Charles secured funding on the back of his talent, artistic vision and hard work. Investing the money in developing his career will undoubtedly lead to new successes. August is a huge talent with a big voice, and is another Yorkshire music artist to watch for.
Listen to some of the music he recorded at higher rhythm here:
The return of the Yorkshire Music Forum Convention, lockdown year…
Yorkshire Music Forum Convention 2020
Saturday 14th November to Thursday 19th November
Register to attend: http://bit.ly/YMF2020
- 6 days of online panels and live performances to support the regions music industry.
- Keynote In Conversation with Rebecca Taylor (Self Esteem).
- Socially distanced live HerFest at Brudenell Social Club.
- Discussion panels covering PR, mental health, and the future of the music industry.
Yorkshire Music Forum Convention returns in 2020 as an online event to support the region’s music industry. It takes place from Saturday 14th November to Thursday 19th November. The event will feature panels and live performances put together in collaboration with Launchpad and the YMF consortium. YMF members are Come Play With Me, DMF Digital, Higher Rhythm, Arnold Brown Ltd, and Music:Leeds.
Things kick off with Come Play With Me’s HerFest on Saturday 14th November, which will take place in front of a socially distanced audience at Brudenell Social Club. The remainder of the events will be live-streamed. A keynote in-conversation with Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem) will take place on Sunday 15th November. Further live-streamed discussion panels will be held on each night. Topics include: Artists guide to building your own PR and approaching the media, managing mental health in challenging times, blueprint for the future (with Youth Music) and building back better.
Live performances selected by the YMF partner organisations will follow the live conversations each night. On Tuesday 17th there is a special edition of Launchpad’s regular online advice sessions, with journalist Jenessa Williams. Please see below for the details of the whole program.
Full programme details (speakers & panels): https://www.launchpad-music.com/ymf Social media assets to share: https://bit.ly/3jnQ3cq
Important update about COVID-19, Higher Rhythm services adapted
COVID-19 Update: We have overhauled our diploma programmes to make sure we can continue to deliver them safely. This is in-line with Government and Public Health England’s Covid-19 recommendations from September 2020.
We’ve also identified the following advantages in our learning programmes. This offers potential benefits when compared to learning in larger institutions:
- Our relatively small student community and our focus on learning delivered in smaller group sizes. (compared to larger numbers of learners in Colleges or Sixth Form environments). This reduces the risk of spreading infections person to person.
- Our learners benefit from having a dedicated workstation, therefore reducing the risk of infections being spread indirectly. This compares favourably against widely-shared learner computers used in many learning institutions.
- We have developed a bespoke online learning platform, which will allow learners on all courses a more flexible way to complete their learning. This offers an alternative to physically attending sessions, where necessary.
- Studying in small work groups in our real industry setting also allows more of the vital hands-on time needed to develop a high degree of practical competence. Our vast array of industry level kit means you get to use the same gear professionals do (not the hobbyist stuff!)
We will add tall and adapt this COVID-19 update periodically.
New old-faces join the team
You might recognise the new team members at higher rhythm and sine fm…
There’s no greater way of putting your money where your mouth is, than employing people who’ve graduated from your own programmes. We’re therefore proud to welcome, Leonie Sloots, Joe Russell Brown and Simon Patinson as new team members.
Leonie and Joe are both alumni of our Breakthrough artist development programme, and Simon, has been a volunteer presenter on Sine FM (The Radar Show).
Leonie will lead on the Breakthrough programme this year, funded by, help musicians and Arts Council England, taking over from Paul Littlewood. Leone will also lead on a project for young people with special educational needs, funded by Youth Music. Joe will lead this years artist development studio sessions under our PRS foundation funded, talent development partnership work. Simon is now a part time tutor on our BTEC National Certificate in Creative Media Production course.
Also back on board after 4 years away from Higher Rhythm to focus on his own business, is Alan Raw, bringing his many years experience as the BBC introducing Radio presenter for BBC Leeds and Humberside, as the volunteer coordinator and person in charge of day-to-day running of our radio station, Sine FM.
Job opportunities at Higher Rhythm / Sine FM
Job description – Media Volunteer Coordinator
| Position | Media Training and Volunteer Coordinator |
| Location | Higher Rhythm / Sine FM premises in Doncaster (plus other borough wide locations) |
| Hours and days of work | 30 hours per week Work pattern to be agreed with the successful candidate |
| Reporting to | Quality and Media Services Manager and Studio Manager |
| Purpose of the position | The post holder has the responsibility for planning and delivering media training programmes and will also support Sine FM’s people and services, focusing on media based community engagement and coordinating presenters together with oversight of the programme schedule. |
| Working Relationships | Internal: Sine FM volunteers Administrator Other Higher Rhythm staff External: Other agencies and departments as appropriate External Service Providers |
| Salaries and Benefits | £27,232 (pro rata) This is a 1 year post with continuation expected thereafter and potential for increase in hours up to 37.5 a week. Holiday entitlement is 28 days pro rata plus public holidays.A pension scheme is in place. |
Key Accountabilities:
| Key Areas | Accountabilities |
| Main Duties | Delivering media focused trainingVolunteer management and supportSupporting delivery of broadastsOverseeing programme content and playoutTechnical duties around operation of station and broadcast |
| Training Support | To deliver media / broadcast related trainingTo coordinate, train and support a team of volunteer presentersTo provide guidance to presenters to assure the quality / legality of output |
| Experience Requirements | Teaching in a range of settings Knowledge of broadcast law Experience in the field of radio and community media Experience in managing volunteers Excellent written and oral communication skills Experience in delivering public funded projects Experience working with people from a wide range of backgrounds Applicants must be able to display the ability to work alone, on their own initiative, and also as an effective member of a team within the organisation. To undertake such other tasks as may be reasonably required |
Problem Identification and Solution
Evaluating situations and identifying existing problems or opportunities. Using the information obtained, understanding the pros and cons of each alternative and choosing the most appropriate alternative.
Initiative
Asserting one’s influence over events to achieve goals; self-starting rather than accepting passively; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive.
Other Essential Requirements
- Willing to travel to fulfill job requirements.
- Flexible in times and days of work.
- Welcomes and values diversity and contributes to an inclusive working environment where differences are acknowledged and respected.
- Recognises and understands the circumstances and issues facing various clients in the communities Higher Rhythm and Sine FM is working with.
- Sympathetic to the aims and objectives of Higher Rhythm and Sine FM.
Applications to be made via E-MAIL including Cover Letter and CV, as a minimum to mail@higherrhythm.co.uk
All applications to be received by 1 pm on Friday, 24th July 2020.
Coffee House Sessions
Started in 2013 and launched by Huw Stephens from Radio 1, Coffee House Sessions is a promotional platform for breaking and established artists.
Essentially, it’s a touring circuit that provides emerging music artists exposure to the student market via performances in 26 universities across the UK.
Through our radio station Sine FM we have teamed up with Coffee House Sessions to provide weekly live radio sessions for music artists on this circuit adding another dimension of support for the artists involved.
You can hear these exclusive sessions on Sine FM shows throughout the week
