TUNE up, plug in and get playing.

That’s the invitation to people in Weymouth and Portland who want to learn more about music, songwriting and performing.

The music organisation Portland Rocks wants to set up affordable music classes for budding musicians in the area.

The group has already been busy engaging with youngsters on Portland and helping to develop their musical skills through workshops at IPACA.

The not-for-profit company now proposes to offer high quality music tuition to musicians of all ages and experience using suitably qualified and experienced tutors.

It wants to see what the community wants and is asking people to fill out a survey to gauge views.

Steve Garden, director and music teacher, said: “Music is recognised as an effective means of engaging with learners of all ages.

“In a community such as Weymouth and Portland it can offer a means of developing social togetherness with the common goals of music-making and shared learning.

“But first, we need to know what the community wants.”

The organisation will provide a safe and welcoming venue where existing and aspiring musicians are able to access high quality tuition at a reasonable cost in their locality and where they can work and have fun together constructively, creatively and independently. Staff will offer advice and help with rehearsal techniques, stagecraft and recording as well as advising on accreditation and possible career signposting. Younger and more mature musicians can mix constructively, like the successful Portland Community Swing band, which ran between 2004 and 2009, whose members were aged from 11 to 75 years.

Mr Garden claimed that the borough has been ‘overlooked for many years’ by funders of informal and adult music learning.

Provision for out of school opportunities is not comparable with music education facilities in other parts of Dorset, he suggested.

The creative material generated at Portland Rocks will be digitally recorded on site and used for submissions to arts organisations and performance venues for promotional, funding and evaluation purposes.

It will also provide a valuable facility in preparing participants for accredited qualifications. Tutors will have access to a range of continued professional development opportunities available under The Portland Rocks CIC umbrella.

Surveys will be available in local shops and libraries soon, but tTo complete the survey online now go to: surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QH9VRF6

For more information about Portland Rocks contact 07526 708100 or see portlandrocks.co.uk

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