Staff Spotlight: Andy Glen | Music Lecturer 

With a passion for music and a wealth of industry experience, Andy, one of our Music Lecturers at EKC Ashford College, tells us about his journey through the ever-evolving world of music.  

From producing tracks in professional studios to collaborating with renowned artists, Andy’s career has been anything but ordinary. Now, he brings that same enthusiasm, creativity, and insider knowledge into the classroom, giving students an authentic glimpse into the real music industry. 

Career background

Now an established music producer, Andy started his career as an Actor. Beginning his journey by training at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now named Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), before touring in musicals and stage shows for 14 years.  

Towards the later part of his acting career, Andy found himself working on voiceovers, the most notable being for Scottish Power. During the process of recording, Andy took an interest with the technical side of voiceovers. Curious about the editing process, he would ask the technician about the method for editing his vocals and the steps of audio production.  
 
Learning about this sparked an interest in Andy. He always enjoyed performing and played guitar in a band alongside his acting work. He was suddenly curious about producing, he found himself eager to learn more about music technology.  

Andy told us: “An important skill to have in the industry is courage. Courage to take risks. This is something I always tell my students.  

“Whilst I was on tour with a theatre show, I decided to take the risk and leave acting to explore my options for studying music production. I found a Master’s Degree in sound technology at The Abbey Road Institute and applied.” 

Abbey Road Institute | Music Production School 

Hopeful for a place at a school specialising in music production, Andy sent over a sample of mixes he had created to the Abbey Road Institute. The school contacted Andy and after a successful interview, Andy started his production qualification.  

Andy told us: “The Abbey Road Institute opened up a world of opportunities to me, the school grounded me with a centre of excellence.  

“I was able to use my studio time to invite my post-punk music heroes to come create new music. The school gave me the platform to network with artists and producers while learning new skills.” 

Excited about spending his time in the studio and working with professional artists, Andy invited a musician to work on a project in The Abbey Road Institute’s studios. Andy took a risk and decided to produce her track, adding extra guitars and string instruments. The risk paid off and the artist decided to ask Andy to produce her next album. This was the start of Andy’s career as a music producer.  

Music producer turned Music Teacher 

Andy went on to produce music for a range of artists, including ‘The Voice’ runner-up, Jamie Johnson, and Scottish musician, Colin MacIntyre, among others. Without the constraints of a major record label, he found he had the creative freedom to take more risks with his tracks. 

While Andy continued to enjoy producing, he also felt a strong desire to share his knowledge with the next generation of musicians. This led him to secure a role running a recording studio at a university, where he had the opportunity to work with new instruments. It was in this role that Andy discovered a passion for teaching and for helping aspiring musicians find their own love for music. 

Andy continues to produce from his very own recording studio – Furnace Rooms.

Teaching at EKC Ashford College 

Andy now teaches Music at EKC Ashford College, using his love of production and wealth of industry knowledge, he guides his students towards a successful career in the music industry.  

Andy explained: “I like to use my experience in the industry and share this with the learners during our lessons. If I have been working on a track, I will show the students and we will discuss the artist, as well as the process of recording and editing.  

“I always remind the students that if they want to work in the music industry they must be prepared to take risks. They also must have a certain amount of curiosity about creating music.” 

Giving students a foundation knowledge of music is something Andy is passionate about: “Equipping the students with lots of different tips and tricks to perform better and make unique music is something I really enjoy. I let the students take the lead on their own learning.” 
 
He also highlights the importance of building industry connections: “Networking is really important in the music industry and creating these links is vital for our learners.  

“This is why I organised some ‘inspire session’, in which six industry professionals come to chat to the students about their careers.” 

A student success story  

Andy recalled one student who was interested in playing guitar but came to College without any experience. Andy contacted Kent Music and was able to organise free guitar lessons for the learner.  

The student progressed quickly and developed a strong interest in folk music, which influenced his guitar technique and gave him a new genre of songs to explore. His tutors were proud of how far he had come, especially as he took a risk and embraced a completely new skill. 

When asked about his current cohort Andy remarked: “13 students out of 21 are heading to University in September, 12 of these will be studying a music related course.  

“Guiding students to find a pathway which is right for them is important for me, I feel proud that I could play a part in their journey.” 

Important skills for budding musicians  

To conclude, we asked Andy what key skills students need to succeed in the music industry. Here’s his advice: 
•  You’ll need a genuine passion for music 
•  Make sure to approach every lesson with curiosity and openness 
•  Be prepared to learn and adapt to new skills 
•  Recognise your weaknesses and work to turn them into strengths 
 
If you want to be taught my professionals who work within the industry, check out our courses and apply now to start in September.