Level 3 Music Technology students at Coleg Menai’s Bangor campus have had a hands-on taste of life in the music industry after working with Welsh rock band Celt in the college’s state-of-the-art recording studio.

The collaboration saw students working directly with the band to rearrange and help produce a suite of songs, giving them real-world experience of working to a client brief in a professional creative environment.

With decades of experience behind them, Celt shared practical insights into songwriting and production, while also offering guidance on the realities of the modern music industry.

The opportunity came after Celt frontman Barry ‘Archie’ Jones was introduced to the college’s facilities through long-time friend and tutor Rhys Parry, who invited him to visit the Bangor campus studio.

“I was just gobsmacked by the quality of the equipment,” said Archie. “It was jaw dropping. We started talking about the students on the Level 3 course and what they’ve been doing, and between us we came up with a plan.

“I had some songs I wanted to record but wasn’t confident about the direction, so I thought it would be nice to give them to the younger generation to bring their energy into them and see what they could do.”

Students worked collaboratively on the project, gaining valuable experience not only in production techniques but also in communication and teamwork within a professional setting.

Archie said bringing industry professionals into the college creates a powerful learning experience for students as well as benefits for artists.

“It’s such a fantastic opportunity for them,” he said. “It’s also good for us. We’ve been doing this a very long time and it’s great to get a different perspective. The students get to see musicians in action and collaborate with them.

“It gives them great employability skills because communication is key when working with clients who have a vision of what they want.”

He added that the collaboration is unlikely to be a one-off, with plans being explored for future projects between Celt and Coleg Menai, further strengthening links between further education and the music industry.

The project is part of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s wider approach to building strong connections between education and industry, helping students develop the skills and experience needed to launch future careers.

Students interested in studying music or music technology can find out more about courses at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai ahead of the September intake.