David Beard(III)

David Beard was born into a musical Derbyshire family in 1962. Both his Father and Grandfather were musicians performing in Dance bands, Orchestras and singers in the Derby Cathedral choir. Musical instruments were readily available to David Beard from an early age and the influences of the varied music styles and dance surrounding his upbringing would inevitably shape his future and his career. After hearing the fusion between classical music and electronic music on albums by Isao Tomita, David embarked in tuition on synthesis and the electronic organ. This combination of classical music fused with electronic would come back in later years when he scored films such as Owen Tooth's 'The Opening'. By his early teens, David was giving keyboard concerts around the midlands and on occasions was supported by his father on percussion. Music wasn't the only passion in David's life though - The influence of playing in Dance Bands and being surrounded by Dance Music made the Dancing element as important to David as the music itself and with the film release of 'Saturday Night Fever' pushed him into following training in dance and later; after representing the midlands in the EMI World Disco Dancing Championships and further training at London's Covent Garden pursued a successful career as a professional dancer not only working in the UK but taking him around the world as far as Malaysia, Singapore and Japan and nearer to home in Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, The Canary Islands and Spain. David never neglected his musical talent whilst pursuing his dancing career, the shows he performed in also contained musicians and orchestras always providing the opportunity for musical discussion and practice. It was in Madrid, still performing as a Dancer when David released his first electronic music album of his own compositions - 'Time For Change'. After the death of his Father and with the urge to pursue further education in music composition David returned to England and as a mature student; now ammunition-ed with the influences of a vast amount of world music and different world cultures, studied for his music A levels, diploma in media composition and a BA (first-class honors) degree in music and music technology. His further education was supported by extra work within the film and television industry throughout the UK involving small acting parts and due to his experience in dance, also included choreographic duties. After a number of years teaching and lecturing in music and music technology David Beard now specializes in providing music and sound design for the film and television industry in the UK and abroad. He works from his own music studio in Derbyshire which accommodates a magnificent Yamaha Concert Grand Piano, Samplers, Synths, Sound Manipulation Software, FX units and the latest technology in Virtual Instruments.