What is The Music Academy ?
The Cardiff School of Creative a& Cultural Industries and Roland UK have come together in a strategic partnership to launch ‘The Music Academy’.
The Academy’s aim is development and delivery of world-class music education and training, both nationally and internationally.
Academic programmes will be run in association with a range of partner colleges through the national qualifications framework, and will provide students with pathways through to degree level.
Professional programmes and short courses will be available on a both part time basis, and are intended for industry professionals, practising musicians and members of the public who are seeking to develop expertise in use of Roland music technology.
Finally, real and immediate benefits accrue to current and future CCI students in the use of the latest Roland musical equipment as available through the course of their studies at the ATRiuM.
The Music Academy Launch - Friday 4th April 2008
To celebrate the launch of The Music Academy, Mr Ikutaro Kakehashi, the Founder of Roland (please see attached biography in article to follow below) will be awarded an Honorary Professorship from the University of Glamorgan at a special ceremony held in Cardiff on Friday 4th April.
The Professorship will be conferred by the University Vice-Chancellor Professor David Halton, and is in recognition of Mr Kakehashi's unique contribution to music technology.
This will be followed by Mr Kakehashi’s inaugural lecture.
[Pictured above: University Vice-Chancellor Professor David Halton.]
We expect upwards of 150 invited guests to attend. The official opening of The Music Academy will be formalised when Mr. Kakehashi unveils a commemorative plaque following the conferment ceremony.
Battle of the Bands - Saturday 5th April 2008
To celebrate the launch of The Music Academy, CCI and Roland are running an inaugural Battle of the Bands competition.
This competition is sponsored by Rockschool. Over 60 entries were received.
The finals competition will feature 8 short-listed bands performing live before the general public and a team of industry experts.
The winning act will receive £3000 worth of Roland equipment, and there will cash prizes for the top three acts courtesy of our sponsors Rockschool.
Doors Open at 11am, and the first band will be taking the stage at approximately 12pm.
In addition to the Battle of the Bands competition, the day will also feature a number of master classes and performances run by Roland UK music professionals.
Admission is FREE and all Faculty colleagues and music students are welcome to attend.
Related story: Cardiff ATRiuM Names Ikutaro Kakehashi Roland Music Corp Founder Honorary Professor at Ceremony 4 April 2008
March 7, 2008
Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of the Roland Corporation, is to be honoured in recognition of his legendary contribution to both the music industry and music education.
During his forthcoming visit to the UK, Mr Kakehashi will receive an Honorary Professorship from the University of Glamorgan at a special ceremony held in Cardiff on 4th April.
The ceremony includes Mr Kakehashi’s inaugural lecture to an invited VIP audience and coincides with the official opening of the Roland Music Academy at the University’s new multi-million pound ATRiuM facility.
Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1930, Ikutaro Kakehashi’s story is remarkable. Orphaned at the age of 2 and nearly losing his own life to tuberculosis at 20, Kakehashi began his working life repairing watches and building radios before discovering his love of music and his true vocation in 1958.
“It was 1958. I was 28 years old, and I decided I would find a way to make electronic musical instruments my life’s work.” Ikutaro Kakehashi – I Believe in Music (2002).
This led to the development of products for the music industry, including organs, which Kakehashi sold through his own company before linking up with Hammond to form Hammond Japan.
In 1972 Kakehashi founded the Roland Corporation. By this time, his impact on the music industry was already significant, but his most important contribution came in 1982 as he initiated discussions between electronic musical instrument manufacturers with a view to creating a standard method of communication.
This resulted in the MIDI specification. Over the following decades, with Kakehashi at the helm, the Roland Corporation continued to flourish. Advances in research and development made it a market leader in the production of synthesizers, organs, pianos, electronic drums, samplers, music workstations, amplifiers, and guitar effects.
The last 10 years saw further business expansion with the addition of video and visual performance products to the Roland Corporation portfolio.
At the same time, Roland’s international profile developed with the establishment of its joint venture companies worldwide and its additional investment in companies such as Boss, Rodgers, Edirol, Cakewalk, RSS and Roland DG, who are all part of the Roland family.
“Mr Kakehashi’s impact on the music industry has been colossal,” says John Booth, Managing Director of Roland UK.
“In addition to being the driving force in the design of cutting-edge music technology, he has also been influential in shaping the sound and style of music itself.
His achievements will influence generations of musicians for years to come. The award of an Honorary Professorship recognises his amazing contribution to the music industry and education.”
Professor David Halton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan commented,
"It is with great pleasure that we honour Mr Kakehashi with an Honorary Professorship of the University of Glamorgan."
"ATRiuM will be home to the first university-based Roland Music Academy in the UK and we are delighted that Mr Kakehashi will visit the faculty in person to mark the launch of this forward-looking project."
For additional info please contact Dr. Mark Leslie Woods at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries
mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]ukClick here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase
© 2008 Dr. Mark Leslie WoodsSmart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.
© 2008 Dr. Mark Leslie Woods