We caught up with CDR’s own Dan White, for the low down on MPC.

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At CDR, we're not just focused on artist & producer talks, releasing music and developing artists. We're also working in schools and youth centres around the country to help facilitate the next generation of music makers.

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MPC started back in started back in 2019 with a range of pilot sessions and has since grown from its humble beginnings to several schools and youth centres across London and the Midlands.

Describing MPC, three words sprung to Dan’s mind, “inspiring, creative and educational”. Judging by the plethora of success stories already, MPC is already surpassing its aim. Centred around the need to create a safe space for young people to express themselves through music, while developing their own personal artistic identity, it has practical real life transferable skills. As the world turns increasingly digital, audio and music is the constant backdrop to our lives.

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Currently the sessions are being held in schools regularly across the Islington and Newham borough, working closely to integrate vital audio based skills into the curriculum. Expanding their sessions for those not in formal education, there are weekly sessions at Stratford Youth Zone on a Friday evening for their latest cohort of 13 to 25 year olds. 

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Speaking of one success story in particular, Dan tells us about Thomas Drew, one of the students from Stratford Youth Zone. “Through MPC, he worked hard to enhance his own skillset and started to embody his own music identity”. Now his music is available to stream on multiple different platforms. 

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It’s not just London that they’re looking to inspire the next generation of young people, our partnership in the Midlands with Digit Music has allowed the delivery of MPC to become as inclusive and accessible as possible. Having recently developed a innovative and industry changing tool called “Cmpsr”, the possibility of even more young people with different access needs developing their creative practice, and maybe mostly importantly, having fun, has never been more attainable. And that is exactly what MPC is about.

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Looking towards the future, Dan lets us know what’s on the horizon. “This year we plan to expand MPC and start working with more young people, whether that be in a school or youth centre!” With the closure of many youth centres, which served as a life line for young people, MPC’s week long summer holiday projects will give even more young people the space to hone their skills and develop their artistic craft. 

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With success stories like Thomas Drew, it's no doubt, he’s the first of many to come. 

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