The love affair with music starts here

While their comrades are slogging over textbooks or carrying out scientific experiments with precision, the students on the HND Music Technology course are having fun.

Whether it's playing their guitars and other instruments, sitting at the mixing desk or just listening to an old hand in the music business, the enthusiasm continues to boil over.

Joining the course marks the blossoming of a love affair with music and true commitment instead of a fanciful fling.

It is for students aged over 18 who have either got A-levels or who have completed the BTEC National Diploma course also run by the college.

Careers on offer include sound engineer, musician, producer and many more. When the Evening News trekked down into the basement studios, a track written by students was being re-recorded by a hit record producer keen to show them how to improve.

Del Toro are a group of five students who are keen to learn and live the music dream.

"The course is fantastic," said Gary Prosser, a second year student and member of Del Toro.

"We'd never have had this chance if we hadn't been here.

"I wasn't thinking about doing this course or the National Diploma when I was doing my GCSEs but word got around and I'm glad I joined it.

"I've picked up plenty of skills and learnt a lot. Music is what I enjoy and I'm not pushing for a normal job. I didn't go through school thinking this could be a career but I know now there's more to it.

"A lot of my family think it begins and ends with sitting behind a mixing desk but there's more to it than that."

Visiting lecturers continue to fuel the enthusiasm and there have recently been sessions with Pip Williams, who has produced albums for Status Quo, Shirley Bassey and The Coral, among others.

He re-recorded a song written by Del Toro and produced it from scratch.

Other visitors include the writers of music for The Weakest Link and BBC News.

A sound designer who won an Oscar for the James Bond film Goldfinger also visited to tell the secret behind the sound for Oddjob's hat.

"They come in and talk about what jobs there are in the music business and how to get them," said head of music Dave Boothroyd.

"There are lots of colleges teaching people about music but we're trying to teach them how to make a living out of it.

"I try to discourage them from doing it just as a hobby. You shouldn't be giving two years of your life to it.

"One student went round the world in his gap year and recorded music in temples and managed to sell that when he came back and bought a sports car.

"We help them out with equipment and expertise such as mixing."

Del Toro's Jamie Desogus turned down the chance of studying close to home at Kidderminster College because of the course's reputation.

Now he's in a band with other like-minded individuals and ready to take on anything the business throws at him - including a record deal if their song Pop Music Is My Enemy is a hit.

"If you're not committed there's no point in coming here," said the 20-year-old.

"It needs to be your life. This is what I've wanted to do for a long time. I've always loved music.

"The facilities here are brilliant. They've spent a lot of money on equipment and we're given time to experiment. It's such a broad course, which is better for me to get a look on the whole scene rather than one aspect of it.

"If the band doesn't happen then I want to go to a big studio in London."

As well as this recording session the students also study music business, as well as acoustics so they know a little about studio design and how music works in an auditorium.

There is also a session on song-writing.

"The course is good for people who know what they want to do," said 19-year-old Jon Dallard.

"You've got what you need to use to be able to achieve what you want. To have someone like Pip Williams come down has been wicked. It's great to hear his praise."

For more information on the course call Worcester College of Technology on 01905 725555.