Presto Music School in Warrington celebrates 20 years since opening

Presto Music quickly became a recognised school by respected organisations including the London College of Music for its unique approach to teaching.

Opening in 2004, in the town centre on Bankside Crosfield Street, co-founders David Jones and Tim Morris had a dream of teaching piano and keyboard to the hundreds.

Little did they know the scale that would become of what they had created.

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian about the milestone anniversary of Presto Music, co-founder David said: “We are a family business. We set it up, myself and my cousins, with a view to create the best quality education that we could.

“On day one we had zero students. Our goal was to become the north west’s first choice for music lessons.

“In the first week we had grown to 120 students and in the first year we became Europe’s largest independent music school.

“We teach nearly 2,500 students a week now.”

Presto’s first glimmer of success was noted shortly after the school began, when the piano and keyboard course the founders wrote up was recognised by the London College of Music.

“No one had ever put theory and traditional piano lessons together, it is a much more holistic approach,” the 53-year-old explained.

The school then began to carry out free music road shows, which they would take to schools all over the country to encourage children to learn music and take up learning an instrument.

“We want to inspire the next generation of musicians. Each student gains confidence while making music at the same time.

“We teach all ages from age four all the way up to master’s degree level,” David explained.

The school offers teaching in guitar, drums, vocals, piano, keyboard and more.

David had been teaching music for 15 years prior to setting up the school with his cousins, Tim Morris and Chris Morris, along with his former pupil Rob Fordham.

He previously ran the music education department at famous music retailers Dawsons.

Touching on what inspired him and his co-founders to erect the school, he added: “The school was inspired by my parents who are both teachers and I grew up in a wonderful musical family who were very supportive of us.”

Among the outreach that Presto Music has achieved in the last two decades, hundreds of the students the school now teaches are taught via an online education system recently launched – Rhythm Warriors.

This, David explained, is a kid’s animated series which teaches children how to learn to play music.

And the programme has so far been well received, with the prestigious Rock School partnering with Presto’s to champion the software to over 60 different countries worldwide.

Presto Music School in Warrington celebrates 20 year milestone (Image: Newsquest)

Explaining why the online system will grow to be an important part of music curriculum in schools, David said: “We are putting Rhythm Warriors in local schools. Lots of schools do not have the funding to put specialised subjects like music in classes.

“We have teamed up with Casio, and each purchase that is made of the system for home use will come with a beginner Casio keyboard.

"Schools can also apply for a licence for it."

Ditton Primary school will be the first school to have the new music programme implemented.

Among Presto’s successes over the years, the school has seen more than 7000 exams passed by its talented students.

And some of its students have gone on to do big things, including one individual who scored music which was used within the Star Wars franchise.

As well as others who have gone on to perform internationally, as well as play at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Speaking on the fantastic milestone for the school, manager, Rob Fordham said: “I’ve been with Presto since we opened and managed the day to day running of the school for the majority of the last 20 years.

“It’s been my honour and privilege to meet and work with so many talented and hard-working students and staff doing something we love every day. 20 years is a huge milestone and one we can all be proud of, students and staff alike.”

To celebrate the anniversary, all the staff and students at Presto Music will be hosting a musical performance like no other on stage at Parr Hall on December 3.

Here it will showcase all the talents that make the school the success it is today.

“It is a full night of celebrating students of all ages and abilities through out the school. It is very much a celebration,” David said.

Talking of the ‘privilege’ of observing the organisation grow over the decades, school manager Chris Morris added: “Presto has been so much more than a job for me.

"I’ve been there from day one and have been involved in every aspect of the business.

“I have grown and progressed from a young teacher to managing a team, fronting the show we take to local schools, creating and managing the online course material, the marketing strategies, and a million other things.

“It's been a privilege to see the school grow from its inception as a small keyboard school to being a leading, independent authority in modern music education, and partnering with giants in the industry such as CASIO, Rockschool, and the London College of Music.”