Ayr youngsters hope for Christmas hit

Dec 12 2008 by Michael Pringle

SCHOOL kids across Ayrshire are making Christmas albums.

And their parents will have a chance to buy it and raise cash for school funds into the bargain.

Temporary recording studios have been set up in primary school classrooms by recording experts.

And children are being taught how to record, video, mix and produce CDs and DVDs of their own music.

Ayr man William Mealyea, 24, is the man behind Masterworks Studios – the professional company running the Christmas All-Stars Project.

And Dalmilling Primary is one of the schools taking part.

He explained: “Our aim is to go into primary schools and empower them to put on professional productions. School budgets have been cut and we come in at no cost to the schools.

“We work with the children and teachers and supply PA systems, lighting and recording equipment, all the gear and expertise that they need in order to run productions that would normally not be within their budget.”

The Christmas albums include seven festive favourites: Frosty the Snowman; Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer; Santa Claus is Coming to Town; Jingle Bells; Winter Wonderland; Rocking Around the Christmas Tree; Walking in the Air (optional solo track).

William has a wealth of experience within the industry and has produced over 30 commercially available music albums.

Masterworks take a small cut from ticket or CD sales to cover production costs.

Originally 10 schools were contacted and nine joined up.

Education chiefs were so impressed with the services Masterworks had to offer that a decision was made increase the number of schools involved to 20.

There will be opportunities for other schools to get involved in projects throughout the coming school year.

And there are already plans for work to tie in with 250th anniversary of Robert Burns and for an X Factor type competition at Easter.

According to William, the current project has gone down really well with the schools involved.

He said: “Teachers and kids have been very receptive to the project.

“In general secondary schools are better equipped for these sorts of projects but this gives primary kids that opportunity a lot earlier in school life and it ticks a lot of boxes in terms of educating the kids in the arts.”

The schools are presented with backing music for seven well known Christmas tracks.

The children practice the songs for several weeks before the recording session.

The race for the coveted Christmas number one slot may well include the winner of X Factor but in a number of households in Ayrshire, parents will have their own little stars playing in the background on Christmas Day.

The Masterworks Studios projects aim to raise money for the schools or there is an option for them to donate some of the profits to CLIC Sargent.

To watch some video footage of some of the children at Dalmilling Primary School and an interview with Masterworks Studios log onto www.ayrshirepost.net.