At the beginning of July, the annual music and music technology trip to the most famous recording studio in the world, Abbey Road, proved another resounding triumph for this year's cohort.  50 students from the College participated in the recording of Twenty One Pilots’ track ‘Screen’.  The latest cutting edge digital and vintage mixing equipment was used, giving students the chance to experience first-hand the very kit that has contributed to countless landmark recordings and been used by rock and pop icons across the decades.

Originally built by Sir Edward Elgar and itself the largest purpose built recording studio in the world, Abbey Road has seen many famous artists record within its walls including The Beatles, Pink Floyd, U2, Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, The Killers and Radiohead, to name but a few.  Students could barely believe they were using The Beatles’ microphones as well as Paul McCartney’s piano, used in most of The Beatles’ recordings!

The students had rehearsed for many weeks prior to the recording session, directed by Tom Stevens, Subject Tutor.  They were also among the first clients of Abbey Road to use the brand new isolation booths in Studio 2.  This, combined with using one of the world’s very first echo chambers and a microphone made in 1931, designed by the inventor of stereo, Alan Blumlein, made it a truly unique experience for all involved.  They were also treated to a tour of the largest purpose-built studio in the world, Studio One, where the majority of blockbuster film scores have been recorded including Star Wars, the Bond films, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit and Harry Potter.

The day culminated in a final mix of the track which Matt Prudente-Poulton, Curriculum Manager for Music Technology and BTEC Music, described as, “undoubtedly one of the best recordings we have made so far at this incredible studio.”

Matt Sheppard, Director of Faculty commented, "What an amazing track, completed in just a day and showcasing yet again the amazing talents of our students.  Many thanks to the team for facilitating what was clearly an amazing experience for our Music and Music Technology students, which by chance also involved meeting producer Giles Martin, George Martin's son, and sharing facilities on the day with Earth, Wind and Fire.  Simply a world class experience from a world class department."