Musictech was founded in 1990. The aim was to develop the provision of private tuition in popular and modern studies for guitar and bass to all ages and abilities. With partnerships with Fret Music Ltd and Local Education Authorities, Musictech has grown to be one of the most popular specialized instrumental schools in the area; the teaching zone is situated on the first floor of Fret Music and has purpose built rooms for private lessons and a live room for group lessons, courses and workshops. Groove merchant is a unique project funded by Southampton city council (music education services) and is a scheme designed to select the very best musician’s attending schools in the city aged 13 to 16 and through a programme of individual tuition and group rehearsals develop bands to performance (gigging) standard in the rock and popular music genre. The pilot project started in September 05 resulting in the first bands performing to over 1000 people at schools all over the city and performing at local music events, venues and theatres. Also the project has attracted world class musicians such as Gerry Donahue (Fairport convention and the yarbirds) who has taken part in workshops and performances with each of the bands. Each year one of the bands has been successful in being chosen to perform at The National Festival for Youth, one of only 11 chosen nationally.
