knowledge, technology and experience into his young life when he returned home last September to take up the newly-created post of Lecturer in Music at the Bermuda College.

Now he is anxious to widen the horizons of young Bermudians who aspire to careers in music-related subjects.

"At the moment I am teaching music theory and music appreciation, but I want to get a music technology programme off the ground for next year,'' he explains. "The course has been approved by the College, but I need support from the public and students if the programme is going to work.

"Basically, I want to make an appeal to the public to get in contact with the College if they are interested in music. At present the College doesn't have a music and music technology programme, so if there is interest it needs to know.'' Explaining that, at present, students who wish to further their interest in music and music technology in Bermuda have no opportunity to do so beyond high school, Mr. Swan says he hopes to be an instrument for change.

"A lot of young people are into rap and reggae, and if they are interested in producing this type of music, because of my experience in producing demos and writing music, I can pass on those skills.

"Students are taught music all the way from primary to high school, but once they graduate there is nothing for those who are interested in music or music production,'' he explains. "The College is aiming to fill that gap.'' An accomplished musician who first began studying piano at age five before moving on to the violin and then the string double bass, Mr. Swan -- who is the son of former UBP Senator Dr. Yvette Swan and Mr. Malcolm Swan -- has always been fascinated by the technical side of music and musical instruments.

However, it was not until he went abroad to study that he really had an opportunity to delve deeper into such areas.

While he successfully completed a four-year Bachelor of Music degree in Performance at Mount Allison University in Canada, during which he studied music theory, music analysis, composition, orchestration and arranging, it was at Leeds University while studying for his Master's degree in Composition that Mr. Swan was really drawn deeply into technology.

"I had heard about techno, trip-hop, and drum 'n' bass (jungle) -- it was immersion in electronic music -- and although I had used a computer only briefly years before, in England I discovered I really had to get into it.'' Entering a specialised course, Mr. Swan said he found using the computer for composition "extremely exciting''.

"You get instant feed-back, and I found there's no limit on what you can actually do because you can sample sounds from anywhere -- rain, pots and pans, tree frogs, whatever.'' After graduating from Leeds, Mr. Swan continued to compose, and also produce demo discs for clients, with the aid of his trusty computer -- something he still does today.

In speaking with him, it is clear that he uses technology in the same way an artist uses a palette, and is endlessly fascinated by the unlimited possibilities the computer affords -- hence his enthusiasm for sharing the magic with others who wish to pursue similar dreams through the proposed Bermuda College course.

While technology is an important part of his life, it is by no means the only part.

As a musician, his history stretches back to age three when his mother bought him an electronic organ -- an experiment which ended in frustration because he says he could only use one finger at a time.

Next came piano lessons, first with his mother and then Mrs. Olivette Morris, until he reached his teens. It was at around age seven that Mr. Swan became more interested in music theory, and also discovered the violin.

"At Gilbert Institute they did music tests and I got the best marks in the class, which enabled me to take up the violin through the Menuhin Foundation,'' he recalls. "At that point I played the piano sporadically, and the violin regularly until I was about 13.'' Asked what attracted him to the violin he says: "I think it came down to the mechanics of the instrument. Unlike the piano, I could see the mechanics, and how the violin worked. If you tightened a string, it made a different sound.

It just made more sense to me than having everything hidden.'' Puberty, however, changed all that. With fingers now too big to play the violin correctly, it was time to move on to another instrument. Having attended classical concerts throughout his childhood, where he always focussed his attention on the bass player, young Brian decided to make that the instrument of his choice.

So adept did he prove, in fact, that the teenager not only played in the Warwick Academy orchestra, but also in the Menuhin Foundation Youth Orchestra, and ultimately the Bermuda Philharmonic.

In addition to all his classical training, other music forms began to capture his interest. At age 15 he took up bass guitar, and also began playing rock and heavy metal music.

"My favourite music at that time was metal, and I was also listening to R&B and funk,'' Mr. Swan remembers.

Studying karate for five years from age seven also helped to shaped his approach to music.

"From it I gained self-control and discipline,'' he says.

Despite finishing high school with the maximum number of "O'' levels possible in science subjects and entering the Bermuda College, Brian Swan knew beyond doubt that he wanted music to be his life's work. Convincing his parents, however, was another matter. In the end they reached a compromise: he would go to university, as they wished, and study music -- as he wished.

Thus it was that Mr. Swan pursued a four-year music degree programme at Mount Allison, during which time he not only composed jazz and string pieces, but also arranged music for ensembles.

"At the same time I was playing bass and singing in an experimental progrock band with two other students who also wanted to do something original,'' Mr.

Swan relates.

"The same trio formed a jazz band with a completely different style, and we would open for the `progrock' band. In addition, I was playing in the university's string orchestra.'' Small wonder, then, that this multi-talented Bermudian went on gain his Master's degree at Leeds following his graduation from Mount Allison.

With that goal accomplished, Mr. Swan stayed on in Britain for another two years, during which time he played in bands and explored various musical avenues and opportunities. He also fell in love with Nic, who is now his wife.

Together the couple have set up home here where they continue to actively pursue their varied interests in music. In addition to teaching, Mr. Swan composes and arranges music on his computer, and also performs as a musician.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Swan is a DJ, who also writes melodies and lyrics -- but that's another story.