Music students at Cheadle Hulme School discussed sheet music to software and heard about what it was like to make music before the Internet when they were visited by Old Waconian and long-time composer guitarist David Harvey (Class of 1977).
Stopping off on route to his performance at a concert in North Wales, David – whose music career spans more than 25 years – talked with the students in Years 10 to 13 about his musical passions and career in music technology.
During the informal lunchtime session, he gave a “10 minute tour” of his life in music from his early days at the School to his current role performing as a touring solo guitarist and ensemble player.
The students heard how seeing composer John Williams perform had inspired him to make music and how he began to combine the traditional methods of making music with contemporary technology by programming his first computer.
The students also learned of his experience graduating in music at Oxford University in 1980. David said: “it was a scary time, I’d only just done my Grade 4 Piano and in those days it was unusual to graduate as a guitar player.”
The session finished with the students asking questions about his work before David treated them to an intimate live performance of a Baroque style Sarabande, ‘Weiss’, from Suite in A Minor by Mexican composer Manuel Ponce.
To listen to the song, visit David’s Soundcloud.
