Music Written by a Teacher. Composed for the Classroom.
I'm Alastair McColl, a teacher, composer and songwriter with more than 30 years' experience teaching Music and Music Technology to children and young people aged 5–18. I've always believed that music should be something children enjoy doing.
Throughout my teaching career, I've written songs specifically for primary school children – music that is fun to sing while helping reinforce ideas, themes and learning. McColl Music brings that experience together with my work as a professional songwriter and composer.
From the Classroom to the Stage
I graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, with a Bachelor of Education in Music with Honours, specialising in composition.
I've spent much of my career working with children and young people, creating music for real classrooms and real performances. That experience has shaped the way I write. I know that a song can sound great on paper but still be difficult to teach.
I also know that the songs children remember are often the ones they genuinely enjoy singing. That's why McColl Music is about creating music that works for both sides: music children want to sing and resources teachers can actually use.
More Than 30 Years of Teaching Experience
I've taught Music and Music Technology to children and young people from 5–18, giving me a broad understanding of how children's musical abilities develop.
That experience influences everything I create for McColl Music, from the age of the children and complexity of the songs to the resources provided alongside each production.
Professional Songwriting
Alongside my work in education, I have extensive experience as a performer and songwriter.
My writing and co-writing credits include tracks that have achieved more than 175,000 Spotify streams, alongside streams across Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube.
McColl Music brings these two sides of my work together: professional songwriting and decades of real classroom experience.
Why McColl Music?
Because school music should be enjoyable. It should give children the opportunity to sing, perform, be creative and work together. And it should make life as straightforward as possible for the teacher organising it. That's what I'm trying to achieve with every song and production I create.