by Di Garnham

It all started with “The Music Makers” the first piece of music I can remember. My father loved the music of Elgar and this was my first introduction to the wonders of choral music.

One year after my father’s death I decided to “go it alone” and open a piano and keyboard academy against the advice of others. I was reminded of the words of Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy – We are the music-makers and we are the dreamers of dreams..this was my dream..so where would it take me? It was 1999.

It was not long before a keyboard and a piano were insufficient I needed a bigger space and more instruments. It was time to move the school out from my home. We moved into the butchers shop in Locking and I embarked on the daunting task of buying new keyboards all two of them. It was 2000 and the year for new beginnings.

We did our first shows in 2001-2 with “Churchills Music” from Clevedon.

Summer 2003 was the last partnership show in Weston Playhouse Theatre, it was after this show I watched with great sadness the two schools go their separate ways. This was however, a new beginning for me. With the encouragement of my now dear friend Joshua Brown from the London College of Music, Music Makers went on not only to host its own Festival but take it to a new level.

2004 We had the “Cluster of Gems” our acts all named after precious stones.

2005 The “Four Seasons” used Spring as a good excuse to start using props and so the umbrellas appeared on stage during the April showers. The Irish Dancers went through their paces to Riverdance in Summer.

2006 The “Voyage” saw us embark on an imaginary Liner, we slipped anchor and explored all the various levels on our ship.

2007 Music Makers visit the “Planetarium”.

2008 Saw us play a giant game of “Chess” throughout the year and then again in the show. Sue Atkinson started to help me with the ever increasing numbers and it was soon obvious to me that Sue needed to have her own classes.

2009 Saw the “House of Cards” with Sue then having started her own junior school within Music Makers.

2010 The KWest students joined us from Worle as we said good bye to Polly as she pursued her dream to study nursing.

2011 We are bursting at the seams and become a Limited Company.

Danny Cox

Danny Cox, our amazing new Drum tutor, joins the team with his Rhythm Concepts at Music Makers. We still have a limited number of lessons left – book your lesson before it is too late.

So watch this space you never know what might happen! One thing to be sure of..there will be Music being made at Music Makers Academy Ltd.

With a new name comes a new name for the website:
www.musicmakersacademy.co.uk

Di Garnham, Music Makers Academy Ltd, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK

Telephone 01934 823 519 – Mobile 07989 247 398

www.musicmakersacademy.co.uk

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