Leading session musicians who have toured with the Spice Girls, Jamelia (below), Take That, Duran Duran and Tricky are turning their talents to creating a school of rock.
The low-cost after-school classes, initially offered in Chichester, West Sussex, and in Hampstead, north-west London, are intended to teach children not only how to write and perform music, but also the life skills needed for the music industry, skills such as time management and self-confidence.
Chris Mountford, the 22-year-old founder of the Streetlights Academies, who toured with Will Young while still a teenager, said he wanted to combine his music education experience with that of real, successful pop musicians to inspire and educate children.
“Everybody who picks up an instrument should be given the opportunity and environment they need to go as far as they want with their playing, whether that be to sold-out stadiums or just as an enthusiastic hobbyist,” he said.
