Calderdale College Hosts Music Masterclass with Renowned Producer Erik “Blu2th” Griggs

In West Yorkshire, Calderdale College recently facilitated a masterclass led by Erik “Blu2th” Griggs, an American musician and producer recognised for his collaborations across various music genres.

 The two-week event was designed for students aged 14 to 18 interested in music and offered them insights into the music industry's operations today.

This initiative resulted from a collaboration between Calderdale College, The Piece Hall Halifax, a notable live music venue, and Calderdale Music. The masterclass aimed to teach participants about the entire music creation process, from the initial track development to preparing a mix for distribution to a record label or artist.

Erik “Blu2th” Griggs shared his masterclass experience, noting, “It has been an amazing two weeks and I think I’ve learned as much as they have. To hear about the students’ music tastes and to see how much potential they have has been wonderful. 

“There has been so much talent that has come from Yorkshire, but to experience it at the grassroots when it is developing and see just how much talent there is, is really exciting.”

A student from Calderdale College, Jacob, provided feedback on the masterclass, “The masterclass was great! Not only did we learn about the production side, but all the insights into the music industry as a whole," Jacob commented. He described the masterclass as a detailed exploration of song creation, including melody, structure, sampling, and instrument sounds.

The masterclasses were held at Calderdale College’s recording studio in Halifax, offering free attendance to eligible Year 10 students during the first week, while the second week catered to the college’s music course students. 

David Malone, Principal and Chief Executive at Calderdale College, stated, “We are fully committed to providing real-world experiences whenever possible and this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to collaborate with such a renowned star who has worked with some of the industry’s most iconic names. We’re looking forward to seeing how our students can apply learnings from the masterclass."

The programme was part of The Piece Hall’s commitment to nurturing the region's future of arts and culture. 

Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL, CEO of The Piece Hall Trust, remarked on the impact of the initiative, “It’s an absolute coup to be able to bring an artist with such an immense musical pedigree as Erik to Halifax to share from his skills, talent, wisdom, and contacts. I’m truly thrilled we are able to offer this potentially life changing opportunity to the young people of Calderdale.”

David Heywood, Director of Calderdale Music, stated, “We are delighted to be playing a part in bringing a world-class and wide-ranging musical talent such as Erik to Halifax. 

“Through initiatives such as this, alongside our day-to-day music education strategies, we look forward to helping the young people of Calderdale to embrace music and work towards our goal of bringing people together, growing self-esteem, and building brighter futures for the children of the region.”