DJ's academy stint is music to pupils' ears

High school pupils are being given an opportunity to shine by a DJ who is helping them through their exams.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Mar 2016, 06:45 BST
Updated 12th Mar 2016, 06:51 BST

Joe Townsley, 24, has been conducting one-on-one music sessions with Key Stage Three and Four learners at the Morley and Bruntcliffe academies.

His organisation Noise Academy has been set up to allow pupils the chance to learn DJ craft while developing a sense of self-discipline during the 12-week courses.

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Mr Townsley, who lives in Lincoln, said: “It’s been amazing actually getting the chance to work with these students.

“When they first come on to the course, some of them don’t have any musical ability at all.”

He added that it was a “good feeling” to see the youngsters develop musical flair and gain self-confidence.

Industry-standard equipment is used during the sessions so that the pupils can grasp ideas such as song structure, sound quality, beat, bars, effects and frequencies.

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Mr Townsley said: “Working with students who may previously have found adhering to school structures challenging, this course increases their motivation to attend school, providing them with a sense of direction and passion.

“Ultimately this programme aims to empower individuals and equip them with the necessary tools and the skills required to progress further within the music industry or to simply enjoy a sense of success.”

The Noise Academy, which Mr Townsley runs as well as his club night Jacked in Lincoln, has been supported financially by the Prince’s Trust.

He set it up in 2015 and took his full-term DJ programme to Morley Academy as well as Bruntcliffe Academy, where he has helped with BTEC qualifications.

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Joe is the nephew of Sir John Townsley, who runs the Gorse Academies Trust, which oversees the two schools.

Bruntcliffe Academy headteacher Anne-Marie Garnett said of Mr Townsley’s programme: “There were some disengaged young people in his first cohort and I think they have shone through his programme with support and inspiration.”

Warren Schofield, a music teacher at Bruntcliffe, said: “The student feedback from the sessions has been fantastic.”

Bruntcliffe pupils who have has sessions with Mr Townsley include: Kian Earnshaw, Tyler Shipman, Ellis Taylor and Kasey-Jaye Westbury.

Morley Academy’s DJ hopefuls include: Jai Clark, Harris Bowman, Luca Vico and DJ Kidger.

Listen to their tracks at www.noiseacademy.co.uk/music.html