A music school supremo has told how she nearly bolted the door for good as stress and bills mounted.
Diane Mitchell’s business fell through the cracks for lockdown state aid as ALL her business dried-up almost overnight.
She was only rescued by a discretionary grant payment made by Renfrewshire Council.
And as she picked up an award for the Best Music School in Scotland, Diane revealed: “I just thank my lucky stars we made it back.
“This award has made it so worthwhile to battle through and make it out the other side.
“I really thought it was all over and I would have to walk away from what I regard as my baby.”
The Diane Mitchell Music School and Studios has operated from a stylish old building in Paisley’s Brick Lane for six years.
Diane, 59, was in the spotlight as she was crowned Music School of The Year at the Scotland Prestige Awards in Edinburgh last week.
The event at The Norton House Hotel and Spa near Edinburgh saw businesses from across Scotland recognised.
Judges praised the ethos of the school and the fact it it now reaching out via a community interest company.
The centre has four core staff backed by more than 20 self-employed musical tutors, in anything from trumpet to drums.
Pianist Diane is a former primary school music teacher who took early retirement to follow her dreams of her own music school.
Classes for younger children follow the Kodaly approach, teaching beat, rhythm and pitch through singing games to develop musicality.
A year ago Diane also took over the recording and rehearsal studios run by Alan McEwan in the same building.
And as the live music scene rebuilds, business is increasing there as bands get back in the swing.
Diane said: “We got no financial help at all until the end of February when we got the grant from Renfrewshire Council.
“We received a great amount of help from Paisley First chairman Colette Cardosi, she was really instrumental in fighting for the grant.
“Legally we didn’t have to close, but nobody was allowed to come into the building. It was really crazy and I almost had to walk away.
“I had put all my effort and passion into building it, and it was all crashing down.
“The rent and overheads were all still there and the bills were mounting. Without that grant we would have had to shut down.”
Attending the award ceremony was a real watershed for her and her staff.
Diane added: “I was over the moon at becoming Scottish Music School of the Year.
“The judges liked the way it had grown in difficult circumstances and that we have formed a Community Interest Company to reach out to people who cannot afford music lessons and classes.
“We are trying to be more inclusive, as music should be available to anyone who wants it.
“Every area of society should benefit from music, and I feel that is so important.”
Tuition is available for just about every instrument except the bagpipes, majoring on piano, guitar, violin, percussion and wind.
There are one-to-one classes as well as wider practical and theory lessons for different age groups.
The operation now has a bright future, if the current increase in business continues.
Diane said: “People are really glad we are back, it feels like a return to normality.
“It is so good to be growing again.”
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