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Music Industry Leaders Visit College

On Tuesday 3rd March Mr. Kaz Tanaka, President of Roland Corporation, based in Japan; Mr. John Booth – Managing Director of Roland UK, and Directors from every European Roland company visited Walsall College for a whistle-stop tour of the Roland Music Academy.

In addition to seeing the excellent facilities, Mr. Tanaka and his delegation had the opportunity to meet staff and students working on Roland’s Certificate in Entrepreneurship – a specially designed course for young people considering a career in the music industry.

College Principal and Chief Executive, Amarjit Basi, said “It is a great honour for us to have such an esteemed group of people paying a visit to Walsall College. We have worked very hard over the past two years to help establish the world’s first Roland Music Academy and feel that this partnership will continue to grow and flourish.”

David Barnard, Head of Education for Roland UK, said “I am delighted that our President and every Managing Director from across Europe was able to visit our flagship Academy. The partnership with Walsall is very important to Roland and reminds us that we, a global leader in music technology, have a major role to play in shaping the next generation of music industry entrepreneurs. Likewise, we need them, for without performers, record producers, teachers, composers, promoters, etc., our industry would die.”

Walsall College formed the world’s first Roland Music Academy in September 2007 and has worked with Roland’s education department to help promote the concept across the UK. Other colleges involved in this initiative include Rotherham, Preston, Boston, Northampton, Leicester, Worcester, Oxford & Cherwell, Coleg Sir Gar (Carmarthen) and the University of Glamorgan, with more in the pipeline for 2009.

A group of Walsall College Music students also performed for the guests in Inspirations Restaurant. Student drummer Ross Harris commented, “It was fun performing to the President of Roland Corporation – a real once in a lifetime opportunity”.


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