Composing
Melody, harmony, rhythm, structure, texture, timbre, arrangement and refinement.
REGULAR IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES
MAKE A RECORD.
Professional songwriting, artist development and recording in your school.
Not lessons about making records. Actually making records.
Regular in-school residencies for Hertfordshire schools and selected nearby areas.
THE PROPOSITION
THE RECORD IS THE PROJECT.
The School Studio brings the working process of a professional recording studio into school.
In small creative teams, pupils take an original idea through songwriting, arrangement, performance, recording and production to a genuinely finished track. Technology is the toolkit. The record is the project.
THE ARTIST PROJECT
TEN CORE WEEKS.
ONE ORIGINAL RECORD.
A complete creative journey from first idea to finished master.
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10core weekly sessions
4–8pupils per standard group
10maximum group size
1finished record per group
Particularly suited to Years 9–13, with younger secondary cohorts also possible where the fit is right. Pupils do not need to play a conventional instrument.
THE SCHOOL STUDIO METHOD
CHUNK → MAKE → HEAR → IMPROVE
LEARN IT BECAUSE YOU NEED IT.
Introduce one useful musical or technical idea. Apply it immediately. Hear what changed. Use that result to improve the record. Then repeat.
Curriculum concepts become meaningful because pupils use them to solve genuine creative problems.
CURRICULUM BUILT IN
REAL CREATIVE PRACTICE.
REAL CURRICULUM VALUE.
Performing
Technique, expression, phrasing, interpretation and recorded performance.
Listening & appraising
Reference listening, critical judgement, musical vocabulary and evaluation.
Music technology
DAWs, MIDI, microphones, signal flow, editing, production, mixing and finalisation.
Creative roles
Singer, rapper, songwriter, beat-maker, producer, arranger, instrumentalist and recording engineer roles can all contribute to the project.
The School Studio reinforces knowledge and skills relevant to GCSE Music. Any formally assessed work remains subject to the school’s awarding-body and authentication requirements.
EASY TO RUN IN SCHOOL
CLEAR FROM THE START.
Spotlight Futures provides
The structured programme, specialist delivery, pupil resources, project management, curriculum mapping and end-of-project evidence.
The school provides
Pupil selection, a suitable room and workable music-production setup, normal staffing and safeguarding arrangements plus any relevant pupil information or permissions.
Before the programme begins, we confirm the practical requirements so everyone knows exactly what is needed.
WHAT THE SCHOOL RECEIVES
A FINISHED OUTCOME.
EVIDENCE OF THE JOURNEY.
- One finished school-project master per group
- 24-bit WAV and MP3
- Project credits
- Pupil Studio Passports and contribution evidence
- Practitioner summary
- Curriculum and skills evidence
- Next-step recommendations
CREATED & DELIVERED BY ALEX LARKE
PROFESSIONAL RECORD-MAKING EXPERIENCE.
BROUGHT INTO SCHOOL.
“I created The School Studio because there’s a big difference between learning the tools used to make records and actually going through the process of making one.”
Alex represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 following an earlier recording career with BMG. Alongside his professional work as a singer, songwriter, producer and recording engineer, he has nearly 20 years’ experience in music education including sixth-form Music Technology and specialist SEMH/SEN provision.
COMMISSIONING
REGULAR TERMLY RESIDENCIES.
The standard Artist Project runs across 10 core delivery weeks. A half-day typically supports two groups. A full day can support up to four groups or combine studio delivery and wider support.
Schools commission the programme for the term with payment split into two half-termly instalments.
Is the Artist Project a good fit?
Tell us about your pupils, timetable and current music-production setup. We’ll confirm whether the standard Artist Project is a good fit.
ENQUIRE ABOUT A RESIDENCYSCHOOL STUDIO FAQ
Do pupils need to play instruments?
No. The programme values singers, rappers, songwriters, beat-makers, producers, arrangers and recording-engineer roles as well as instrumental performance.
We already teach Music Technology. Is this different?
Yes. The School Studio complements classroom teaching by taking pupils through an end-to-end professional record-making and artist-development process with a finished creative outcome.
Can it support GCSE Music?
Yes. It reinforces composing, performing, listening, appraisal and production skills. Any formally assessed work remains subject to the school’s awarding-body and authentication requirements.
What equipment do we need?
A workable DAW and recording setup, basic audio interface, microphone, headphones or monitoring and reliable project storage. We confirm the practical setup before the programme begins.
What if pupils are absent?
Individual pupil absence does not change the residency fee. The project is structured so roles can flex where possible.
What does “finished record” mean?
A complete, coherent school-project master taken through recording, production, mix decisions and final quality control.
Can the track be released publicly?
Potentially. Any public release is a separate decision and requires the appropriate permissions, rights and sample checks.