How Local Bands Influence Music Student Numbers

Sheffield, where Arctic Monkeys famously come from, had the nice surprise of one of the city centre shops being converted for the release of the band's latest album: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. Arguably one of the most successful British rock bands in recent years, with all six of their album releases rocketing to number one in the UK album charts, Arctic Monkeys latest release is a slight departure from their "rock" albums. Instead, Alex Turner embarks on Bowiesk voyage into sound-space, experimenting with different tonal approaches and mystifying lyrics.

All of this led me to ask; what effect does having a band like Arctic Monkeys have on a city in terms of heightening interest in music lessons. We all know the narrative that the media use during coverage of sports at the Olympics, highlighting how each event would inspire future competitors in the sport - is the same true for music? Can a local band, album or music scene impact music student numbers? I knew the man who would have an answer (or at least some thoughts on the subject!).

Andrew Oxley, who is a guitar teacher in Sheffield, explained to me the "Ed Sheeran Effect". That an when an artist like Ed Sheeran has such an impact internationally, regardless of the artist's home location, a large number of students want to learn their songs. The same was true of Nirvana, Oasis and Green Day in years gone by. These leading bands both motivate students to learn to play the guitar - put simply they want to play along with the music they love - but they also influence those who would have probably wanted to learn to play the guitar anyway to learn the popular songs of the day.

However, we both agreed that certain cities have an inherited musical history, giving potential guitarists a pathway to dream of a career in music. Cities like Liverpool, Manchester, London and Sheffield to name a few - where bands have gone onto international fame have some of the "grassroots" facilities needed to help develop musicians. While no student says; "I wanted to learn to play the guitar because I am from a musical city", there is a subconscious recognition by some music students that they know they come from a city with a strong musical heritage. It might be a small factor in their desire to learn to play the guitar, sing or play the drums but not the main factor. What they do recognise more importantly is a feeling that "if they made it from here, then maybe so can we". This is a much more positive and exciting point of view that Andrew and I have seen in many teenage music students.

So has Arctic Monkey's success prompted multiple Alex Turner wannabes in Sheffield, from my conversations with Andrew I would say "yes, as much in Sheffield as anywhere else". The difference being with those in Sheffield is they know that they can follow in the footsteps of Alex Turner in a few years time, as "if he can do it then so can I".  Most importantly, we both agreed that we are confident that when the days of Ed Sheeran's hits pass there will be a new superstar motivating new guitarists and music students to take up lessons. Afterall, when the shutters are pulled down on the Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (or more accurately the sticky plastic advertising pulled off the windows of an empty shop in Sheffield) musicians will continue to produce great music that encourages music students from across the world to take up a musical instrument to play along.