Manu, 14, who has been engaged with KWMC and Jump Studios since 2017, has talked to us about his experiences with us.
He has mostly spent his time doing the Sound Wave: After-School Sessions, where he has learnt more about doing what he loves: music.
Manu is a really talented musician who plays both the acoustic and bass guitar, the trombone and the piano.
Hi Manu! Tell us about yourself and what you do with KWMC and Jump Studios.
I go to Sound Wave, which is a course where you can make and share music.
What do you most enjoy from your time spent in the after-school sessions?
Collaborating with others.
What was the first thing you remember doing with KWMC and Jump Studios?
Attending Ctrl+Alt+Delete to play Minecraft with my friends. It was a lot of fun.
From the beginning to now, what skills do you think you’ve learnt from your time with Jump Studios?
I have learnt how to use some music software (including) Soundtrap, how to use certain equipment and how to create digital music.
What about how you think you’ve developed throughout?
My music has become more developed and I have become more capable and confident.
Tell us about your band: Monday at Five.
It formed after we saw a very cool marching band called the Ambling Band as a group, and thought it would be cool to make some music together. We started out playing covers but over time, we have started making some of our own music. We used to practice every Monday at 5, which of course gave us our band name. The covers that we started off playing many evolved around pop (with a little rock and afro-pop), and the songs we have started writing have a variety of genres, including indie, rock and reggae!
How did you find it to performing with your band at the media centre?
I found it very fun, although we were still getting the hang of playing together.
What has been your favourite memory so far in your time with KWMC?
Jamming with the other people at the start of Sound Wave sessions was very fun.
What would you tell another young person thinking about coming to an after-school session?
They are super-fun, they help you develop your creativity and they are very interactive!
It has been great supporting Manu in his passion and we hope to continue working with him for a long time. Please feel free to listen to some of the work he has created in the Sound Wave after-school sessions.
Interested in coming to Sound Wave: After-School in Autumn 2021? Sign up here!