Education Day at the BME
Sennheiser’s sponsorship of the British Music Experience, the cutting edge interactive museum of popular music at The O2, goes further than simply supplying equipment. On 25th September, the company held the first in a series of Education Days, with Artist Relations Manager Phil Cummings – a driving force behind its organisation - and other members of the UK team. They also welcomed experts from co-sponsor, Gibson, and software creators, Puresolo to share their knowledge and experience of the music industry with students from Bucks New University.
Opened in March this year, the British Music Experience is a fully interactive museum with cutting-edge displays charting the history of popular music from 1945 to the present day. It offers an illuminating insight into the music industry, gives visitors the chance to learn a variety of musical instruments, try out different dance crazes or record their favourite song. Then, through the RFID technology built into their ticket, they can take their experience home with them and re-live the highlights via their PC.
Not only do Sennheiser microphones and audio technology play an important part in British musical history, but as one of the British Music Experience’s main sponsors, they also play an important part in the exhibition, with each interactive element making use of its closed-back HD215 headphones and the Sennheiser Vocal Booth sporting an evolution e935 microphone.
The Education Day itself comprised a combination of master classes and workshops, giving 260 Bucks students, who are studying a variety of courses from Music Management and Live Events to Audio Music Production, a first hand view of the role of an Artist Relations Manager courtesy of Phil, an insight into the importance of the implications surrounding the RF spectrum issue, delivered by Sennheiser’s Business Development Specialist Alan March and Chief Engineer Andy Lillywhite, as well as a Q&A with Graham Ball Management and a promoter from Sony BMG.
“We run around seven BA courses each year, based on music management and audio production with various specializations,” says Andy Reynolds, Senior Lecturer in Live Sound Production at the University. “Most of the students here today have just started their courses and this is a good introduction to what they’re eventually going to be doing, either in management or production. It’s given them a better sense of the various parts of the industry and provides a good overview of both technical and management aspects, which is what we teach.
“We use Sennheiser equipment in our studios, I know Phil and I used to work with Mark [Saunders, also Sennheiser UK Artists Relations] when I was a touring engineer, so I already had a good relationship with the company. The University also has strong ties via Frazer McKenzie, our Head of School, who works with them at the strategic management level.
“But now we’ve taken things further and Phil has been instrumental in getting us involved in the British Music Experience Education Days. We’d already done unofficial trips here, but these days make perfect sense to us, it’s a great fit - Phil is an ex-Bucks graduate and hopefully Sennheiser will be also able to benefit by taking on some of our graduates.”
James Musomgeua is studying Music Management Branding and Promotion. “I’ve only just started my course and today has been fun,” he smiles. “I spent a lot of time in the music part. The spectrum session was interesting and is a huge topic.”
Sarah Louise Moore is a third year Music Management and Live Events student: “I’ve been to lots of events with the Uni, but it’s the first time I’ve been to this venue. It’s amazing and has been a really good day.”
“I hadn’t heard about the frequency issue before and I doubt I would have heard of it if I hadn’t come here,” adds Freya Lawson, in her second year of Audio Music Production. “It’s really opened my eyes. This is an industry I want to go into, so it’s a really important topic. I didn’t realise the team at Sennheiser were such massive spokes people for the music industry. I knew they made good stuff, but I didn’t know they were this involved.”
“The feedback from students and staff alike has been extremely encouraging,” concludes Phil 
Massey, General Manager of Sennheiser UK, who was also in attendance. “As a global brand, it’s important that we have input into the industry that we operate in. Helping to inform and encourage the young people that are its future is a great way of doing that and is something that is very dear to our hearts.”
Susanne Buck, British Music Experience Education Manager, said, ‘”It’s great to see the British Music Experience being used as a meeting place for students and experts in the industry. Events like this really set the standard for our education programme and I’m looking forward to working more with Sennheiser, Gibson, PRS for Music and new companies such as Puresolo. From the enthusiasm of all the students, I’m sure they are too.”
For more information about Sennheiser please visit www.sennheiser.co.uk or call:
Sarah James, Sennheiser Pro PR
T: 01372 471472
E-mail: sarahj@gasolinemedia.com