Selkirk pupils are hitting the right notes using Harris's legacy

The new facility has been financed by the Harris Trust, set up in memory of former pupil Harris Macdonell, who died in 2020 at the age of 19.

The trust aims to support young people who, like Harris, face challenges in social communication and in understanding everyday life. Research has shown that music therapy can help autistic children develop or improve social communication skills.

A talented accordion player, Harris was a pupil of local musician and teacher Ian Lowthian, who suggested to the family that a fitting tribute to Harris would be the establishment of a recording studio at the school.

“This made complete sense to us,” said Jane Macdonell, Harris’s mother. “Not only would the studio be of great benefit to pupils interested in music and recording, but it could also help provide a route for mental health support.

“It has taken some time to adapt the space kindly made available by the school in its music department building, but it has definitely been worth the wait and we are delighted with the result.”

The new studio uses cutting-edge technology and is equipped with state-of-the-art recording devices. Mr Lowthian believes the new facility will open up huge opportunities for all pupils.

“This is an extremely valuable resource,” said Ian, “and everyone involved with the music department is very excited by what lies ahead.

“It’s early days, but already some of the recordings made in the studio have been played at school assemblies.”

S5 pupil Esme Bowers added that the quality of the sound is incredible. “It’s just so much better than anything we’ve had in the past,” she said. “Before we had to use small, hand-held recorders, whereas now we’re working with top of the range equipment.”

Devon Reid, an S2 pupil, is also excited to be involved with the studio. “It’s been great fun learning how to use the equipment, and everyone is keen to begin working on their own projects,”

It is also hoped that the recording studio will be available for use by the local community.

Patrick Macdonell, Harris’s brother and a sixth year pupil at the school, says he and others members of the band he plays in have been using the studio for lunchtime rehearsals.

“It’s very easy to set the equipment up and synchronise the inputs,” said Patrick, who plays guitar, “and to mix everything through the device so that it sounds exactly as you want it to.”

The school’s head of music, Fraser Hewitt, explained that because of Covid restrictions, certain elements of school courses have had to be dropped.

“In the case of music they’ve taken out the composition element, but next year when they bring composition back we’ll be able to bring pupils into the studio to record their own songs, which should work really well.

“We’re also planning on implementing a creative industries course, which will be a mix between music technology, drama and media.

“The studio will allow students to record songs, do their own podcasts and use ‘Foley’ sound effect techniques to create sounds for film projects.

“Down the line the school hopes it might also be able to offer an Advanced Higher in Music Technology, so there are many exciting possibilities.”

The final word goes to Jane Macdonell who, when asked what Harris would have thought of the new recording studio, replied: “I don’t think you would have managed to have got him out of there! He would have been in his element.”