Select Student:

Alex Kidd
Tunde Babalola
Fraser Boyes
Steve Gibson
Dan Hopton
Dave Johnson
Tylor-Leigh
Donna Salter-Goldie
Amy-Jayne Higgins
Andy Craig

Other stories:

Words from the pros
Student Feedback

Sound Engineering Courses, Music Production Courses, DJ Courses, Manchester, UK

Tunde Babalola - Production Course 1999

Tunde attended the Midi School back in the day and met his production partner Darren Lewis in 23 New Mount Street where it was based. They have gone on to be one of the leading production outfits in the world today.

Future Cut’s first track was snapped up by Renegade Hardware and over the next few years they recorded for the top drum 'n' bass labels of the time as well as DJing all over the world. The classic 'Obsession' for Goldie's Metalheadz label featured singer Jenna G who later joined forces with Future Cut to become Un-cut. Un-Cut's debut was the stunning 'Midnight', followed by the album 'The Un-calculated Some' on Warners.

Since 2004 Future Cut have taken a different direction pursuing production, songwriting for other artists, mixing and remixing. They recently scored a UK number one single with the Lily Allen hit 'Smile' which they co-wrote, produced and mixed and then reached number 5 with the follow up 'L.D.N'. The pair also co-wrote, produced and mixed half of Lily's album. Future Cut are part of the Manchester Midi School’s Masterclass visitors. http://www.myspace.com/futurecut

Fraser Boyes - Production Course 2004

On leaving the Midi School I saved up enough cash to buy myself a basic set up: Mac G5, m-audio soundcard and a pair of Mackies. The Midi School was very helpful in providing good advice on the equipment and its set up even after I had left the course. Initially I used what I had learnt to make re-edits and bootlegs to incorporate into my DJ sets but eventually I wanted to take it one step further and make my own album.

Now back in the UK I'm working on turning this into a live act with a view to getting signed. I have also worked alongside leading producer Flash Atkins (www.flash-studios.co.uk) and together we have remixed some of my tracks to a higher quality - good enough to send off to the labels.

The Midi School is a great starting place for your career in production, not just for the skills you learn but also for the people you meet.

http://www.jointhefiasco.com

Steve Gibson - Production Course 2006

Steve wanted to learn how to create tunes that reflect his musical taste in hip-hop, electro, funk, soul and disco. He says that the course was invaluable in allowing him the chance to improve his knowledge & skills as well as gaining him valuable contacts in the music industry.

He now runs his own club night called Cheap Biscuit and recently played for the Midi School at the O2 Wireless Festival. This coupled with his time spent working for Liverpool club night Chibuku Shake Shake has given him some good experience which he has found helpful now he is working on his own projects.
Currently he is focussing on building up his monthly night and working on his own productions as well as pushing himself to find more gigs as a DJ.
http://www.myspace.com/cheapbiscuit

Dan Hopton - Production Course 2007

Dan is a self employed DJ with 9 years experience playing eclectic sets and is currently doing the diploma course at the Manchester Midi School learning music production and sound engineering.

Venues he has played to date include: Loaf, Tiger Tiger, Arch 9, Sofa, Tokyo Project, Aruba, Mantos, Revolution, Riffifi, PAD, Courtyard, The Bedroom, Chambers, The Loft, Scubar, Emporia, Brannigans, Pavilion, O2 Wireless Festival and The Knowsley Hall Music Festival.

Current residencies include Loaf (Deansgate locks Mcr-Friday), Tokyo Project, (Huddersfield - Wednesday), Pavillion (Stalybridge-Saturday) and Revolution (Deansgate Locks Mcr- Tuesday).

Dan was one of the DJs who won a Midi School competition and played at The 2007 O2 Wireless Festival between the bands in Leeds on Sunday 17th of June. He also DJed at the Knowlsey Hall Music Festival the following weekend on the strength of it.

Dave Jonhson - DJ/Production Course 2005

"I couldn’t believe it when I got to Manchester, like a mini London but you can drive into the city centre, all the record shops are in the same street, the night life is excellent, the people are great, the girls are fit and wherever you are you can always get to the Midi School, result"!

Dave had booked the Basement DJ Course with Johnnie and the Music construction and production diploma. "I couldn’t believe it when I saw all the equipment at the school", he says, "it all looked so professional but no one was stuffy, real friendly like mates and the atmosphere relaxed". Jonny Miller is an excellent DJ, I went to see him play on my first day in Manchester. He taught us every aspect of practical DJ skills and tutorials about the business as well, how record labels operate and how to promote yourself and your gigs. The great thing was we could go in and practice whenever we wanted and Jonny’s is bang up to date with all the latest technology, none of us had heard of final scratch until Johnnie showed us!"

http://www.hfmibiza.com

Tylor-Leigh - DJ Course 2005

22-year-old Tylor-Leigh attended the Midi DJ School a couple of years ago and since then her career has gone through the roof.

With appearances at Superclubs such as Godskitchen, The Gallery and Dance Academy as well as a residency at Goodgreef, Tylor’s star is continuing to rise! She kicked off 2007 with a performance at the infamous Inside Out club in Scotland where she played alongside DJ Judge Jules, following on with an appearance at Goodgreef with Scott Bond and International Superstar Marco V!

Tylor has most recently featured on the front cover of M8 Magazine, as well as a full page feature in Mixmag, and was also chosen to appear alongside Mixmag’s No 1 DJ Eddie Halliwell at his series of Fire It Up Events.

She is becoming a familiar face on the trance scene and looks like becoming one of the biggest names in dance with a diary that is full to bursting.

http://www.tylor-leigh.com/
http://myspace.com/tylorleighofficial

Donna Salter-Goldie - Ex Diploma student - 2005

After my work placements at BBC Radio and Testarosa Studios in Manchester i landed a job at Universal Music in London... currently i’m re-mastering some of Muddy Water’s back catalogue in one studio and doing production work on Sasha’s new stuff in another!

Amy-Jayne Higgins - Ex Diploma student - 2005
(A&R Warner Music / various Ibiza)

Currently working in A&R at Warner’s and engineering at Arcsound Studio in London. “I’m doing a little tour of the States later this year with my EP... Flying to Ibiza tonight for gigs at El Divino, Space, B-side Ibiza...

Andy Craig

Andy attended the MMS diploma course in 2000, which led him on to setting up his own record label; Epok and his first release ‘The Sky is Falling’ received excellent reviews and Radio 1 airplay. He continued to use his production skills to work for labels like Zazoo and Hooj Choons before setting up another label Shivar with the darker sounds of the massive ‘Sunset’.

Andy has continued to progress as an artist and now has a more funky house sound that has led him to working with Rowetta (Happy Mondays, Groove Armada) and releasing tracks on Reel House and Seqsoul Records.

Andy DJs all over the world brightening up clubs with his fat and funky sound and his travels have taken him to Sao Paulo, LA, Australia and the San Francisco Love Parade where he played to 100,000 people. He currently lives in Brazil playing at clubs all over the country.

http://www.myspace.com/djandycraig

Alex Kidd

Since Alex Kidd finished the MMS diploma he has gone on to be one of the leading DJs in Hard Dance, playing the length and breadth of Britain and the world.

His showmanship behind the decks and technical ability have seen him resident at Goodgreef from the very beginning and has taken him all over the world. He has played at every hard dance party worth going to including Frantic, Blast vs Convergence, Hardcore Heaven, Wildchild Sindissential, Slinky, BIG, Scream, Riot and the list goes on!

You can hear Alex’s unique dancefloor destroying sets on any of the Goodgreef albums or on Judge Jules’ Radio 1 inernational show.

http://www.djalexkidd.com
http://www.myspace.com/djalexkidddotcom

Words from the pros

Some words from the professionals...

Goldie (on ex-student Future Cut)
“...Future Cut, who i’ve also been working with on Sonik Terrorism... are living in Manchester and, when i first heard what they brought to my Obsession EP i just thought: this is me ten years ago...they’ve got a lot of sides to them, doing laid-back, jazz fusion, funk vibe, but can shift gear whenever they want. They are not just a Drum and Bass act. Added to that Future Cut’s production standards are excellent..”

James Holroyd (Bugged Out! / Back to Basics / Chemical Brothers tour)
“It’s essential to have some insider knowledge of the music industry to get ahead as a Dj / Producer..and put simply, Manchester MIDi School tells it how it is.”

Alex Kidd (Good Greef / Various world-wide)
“The MIDI School’s location helps, surrounded by artists and studios such as mine... connections to Manchester’s key players keeps sets them apart from other training centres.”

Marcus Intalex (Soul:r / Metalheadz / World-wide drum and bass Dj)
“The teaching set-up at Manchester MIDI can save you years of slow progress with your music... you learn from active professionals keen to incorporate their latest ideas into the course.”