Access to Music (ATM) has been designing and providing music training for thousands of students since 1992. It joined forces with awarding body Rockschool and launched courses that aim to meet real and achievable career goals for its students. Courses include Performing Musician, Creative Music Producer, Music Education and Vocal Artist.
ATM aims to bridge the gap between education and the music industry. It has links with all levels of the industry, from performing, recording and production through to management, legal and retail. Tutors with considerable personal experience and knowledge of the industry are employed to teach students. Many have worked as professional or semi-professional musicians, as well as within the business side of the industry including within publishers and record labels. As session musicians and composers ATM’s tutors have recorded, toured and written for top artists including Kylie, Dido, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, Beth Orton, Luther Vandross, Toploader and Tori Amos amongst others.
There are nine dedicated ATM centres across the country designed as purpose-built music education centres. They are all equipped with up-to-date popular music facilities including band rehearsal rooms, recording studios, music technology suites, DJ booths, post-production areas and teaching rooms. 
Courses are also run in partnership with 10 nationwide colleges, right up to Foundation Degree level, and are open to people of all abilities with no minimum academic entry requirement. They lead to nationally recognised, industry relevant qualifications and are approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
At the heart of Access to Music’s activities is the flagship British Academy of New Music (BANM) in east London. John Hart is head of the Artist Development Programme (ADP) and of Higher Education at BANM. He explains what the organisation stands for:
‘Access to Music’s ethos is just that - access to music. Students with no prior experience can enter a course at the appropriate level, and progress through programmes of study that are carefully designed to sit academic study alongside the vocational training young musicians require.’
John Hart believes that ATM’s engagement with the music industry is central to its success. As well as the tutors’ skills, there are a wide range of industry guest speakers able to complement their input with relevant and contemporary information: ‘The focus is on artistic and career development and the ability therefore to build a wide portfolio of skills to equip them as they enter this increasingly competitive market.
‘Students learn the entrepreneurial and the business skills to support their development. An example of this is the successful ‘90 Free CDs’ night at London’s 93 Feet East run completely by the students. This allows students on the course to engage with all areas of the industry and gain practical experience in staging a real event.’
Current Access to Music artistic successes include Iman, currently working with Giles Peterson, Mikey Glennister 
who plays with hotly tipped Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly and James Morrison who benefited from the advice of an ATM Music Industry Consultant. Dizzee Rascal attended an ATM Creative Music Producer course and former student Rachel McFarlane clinched a UK number 1 in 2004 with LMC vs U2’s Take Me to the Clouds Above’
Many other ex-students now have careers in the industry itself. Josh Roberts was crowned Radio 1’s best UK under-18 DJ in June 2004. He now presents his own radio show on Pulse FM. Ex-student Damion Houchen recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest DJ set ever, playing an 84-hour set and raised money for a local charity. He runs his own label, Trance Revolution Recordings, and has remixed for some top trance producers.
'the focus is on artistic and career development… to equip them as they enter an increasingly competitive market'
Another successful alumnus is Cliff Simms, Production Music Manager at Bucks Music. Cliff explains how his time spent with Access to Music helped him in his chosen career:
‘I think one of the main things I gained from it was an increased awareness of the many different jobs and roles within the industry as a whole. Many people only ever comprehend wanting to work in the record side of the business, but as we know there are many different areas to work within. I’ve always been fascinated by publishing and the mechanics of publishing and this is something that ATM first introduced me to.
‘My role now is in running Bucks’ production music company, Standard Music. This is a media only publishing catalogue, and I look after the production library part of it. Since taking it over almost four years ago, we’ve re-branded and expanded the catalogue to almost double its size. Our writer/production teams include Skeewiff, Men of Spire Music, KK, Kirsty Hawkshaw and Chris McCormack and we’ve provided music for programmes and ads such as Sex and the City, Footballers Wives, Wife Swap, Toyota Avensis, Jaguar, Carlsberg, and the NSPCC. I’m pleased to say that the catalogue is now considered as one of the leading UK independents.’ 
Testimony to ATM’s success and the success of its students is support from well-known people in the industry: Sir George Martin CBE is a patron, as are Jools Holland and Nitin Sawhney who this year attended the ATM fourth annual Awards Ceremony at BAFTA, to recognise the success of ATM students.
As well as the vocational emphasis of its courses, ATM runs an extensive events programme which takes music out of the classroom and into the real world of the music industry. Students who enrol on an ATM course are able to take part in local, regional and national events – including festivals. There is a residential summer school, master class tours from musicians and experts in the industry and the chance to be featured on a national compilation CD which is distributed to the industry.
ATM’s strong links with the music industry at all levels and emphasis on practical learning demonstrate its commitment to providing students with the skills needed to enjoy a lifetime working in the music industry. John Ridgeon , ATM Director said: ‘’There is a multitude of funding streams for music education and the value of education and training has never been more recognised. The problem is that the funding is most readily available to the traditional providers who very often miss some of the young musicians who really deserve an opportunity and who can make an outstanding contribution to musical vitality and diversity in this country. That’s where ATM comes in.’
The Government recently announced plans to create a new Creative and Cultural Industries Academy which will focus on training students over the age of 16 on ‘backstage’ skills in music, film and theatre.
The Academy will be jointly funded by Government and industry with a view to starting next year. Feargal Sharkey, the former front man of the Undertones, is a key figure in promoting the academy as the chairman of the Live Music Forum.
This multi –million pound initiative not only underlines the value of uniting music and education, but it also reinforces the worth of the creative industries to the UK economy as a whole. The project is backed by an alliance of music companies that include Academy Music Group, EMI, Big Life Management, Live Nation and SJM Promotions. They have until April 2007 to formulate a business plan to green-light the £7m government funding needed. A further £3-4m will be raised from industry. A site in the Thames Gateway has already been earmarked as the location for the academy.