17 September 2024 •
[17 September 2024] Local rail operator Trenitalia c2c is delighted to announce that it has donated a brand-new drum kit to The Song School in Southend to support the school’s launch of a new class for local students.
As well as donating the new kit, the rail firm has also sponsored a student place on the new course.
The drums represent the final rock band instrument to be taught at the school; the guitar, bass and the piano are already taught every week.
The Song School was started by iconic local Southend musician, Louisa Strachan, who recognised the need for extra-curricular music activities from a young age in her own life and how important it is to keep students engaged with the musical learning process. The school provides children with the opportunity to further their music education as well as giving them a platform to discover the subject in further depth.
The Song School’s Founder and Director, Louisa Strachan, said of the new classes:
“We’re so excited to start offering drum classes to our students and I’d like to thank c2c for the impact they have had on this project, as it means young people who would not ordinarily be able to learn the drums, can. And for some of them, it will not only mean learning a new skill, but also joining our community and finding connections and friendships with other young people.”
The donation demonstrates the rail firm’s ongoing commitment to local partners, such as The Song School, said c2c’s Managing Director, Rob Mullen:
“We at c2c are always looking for new ways to help our local communities and our partnership with The Song School is one we are very proud of. Being able to provide a place for a child at the school, as well as giving young minds an opportunity to discover a new musical outlet, showcases our dedication to our communities.
“We’re so proud to be able to support a place of joy for less-fortunate children so they can have the opportunity to learn something new and potentially pick up a new life-long passion. I know that the new drum kit will make a huge difference to the school and all of us at c2c can’t wait to hear what comes next,” he added.
The Song School’s mission is to give children from all backgrounds the opportunity to enjoy music, with the school also estimating that 50% of its students are neurodiverse.
Furthermore, to help level access to music education and offer children the opportunity to enjoy the amazing courses on offer, the school operates a fee system that enables students from low-income families to join the school’s community either free of charge or at a subsidised rate.
Earlier in the summer, c2c funded several places on its summer programme and helped keep the students energised by re-stocking their snack cupboard.
Additionally, c2c were proud to provide the t-shirt sponsorship for The Song School’s inaugural 10k Estuary Walk on 22 August, which began at Leigh-on-sea Station and ended at East beach – after also walking up and back down Southend’s iconic pier.
Meanwhile, last year, c2c supported The Song School by sponsoring and providing the use of Southend East station for a new music video (that can be viewed here), which accompanied the song ‘Unity,’ launched by The Song School as part of Project Southchurch’s Hands Together initiative.
ENDS