LEEDS COLLEGE OF MUSIC
Degree in Popular Music: 3 year course:
Instruments played:
kit drums, percussion - djembe, latin percussion, found objects & drum sculpture
Other skills: drum maintenance
Why did you choose Leeds?
I wanted to go to Leeds cos it looked to be the best course for what I wanted to do and it had a very ygood reputation.
I wanted to study my instrument in more depth and gain a better understanding of pop music as a whole and widen my knowledge.
What sort of musical career are you looking for?
My goal is to play drums - to make a living from playing drums.
I want to teach, take workshops and other things as well as playing drums.
Why did you feel Leeds wasn't for you in the end?
Before I got to college I went to a summer school at the college and thought is was really good, the facilities were excellent and it looked very smart. I didn't meet the lecturers then though.
When I arrived at college the first thing that took me by surprise was the large number of people on the course because of the good exam results - there were 60 people instead of 30. For a practical music course there was only two hours per week practical music and not much contact with the tutors.
The city and the college itself were very good - it just wasn't right for me.
What are you doing now?
At the moment I am concentrating on my band - Digitalis, a live electronic dance band. I play live kit - the skill is being able to play along to the click track in time! I also do a lot of the promotion and organisation for the band which I enjoy and have found I am good at.
For money I am working to pay off debts - general work at a gallery, music workshops in the area. In the spring I want to concentrate on music stuff - like possibly starting another band with regular paid gigs, setting up a drum group, revamping the drum sculpture etc.
I am much more positive about things for being back from college, knowing this is what I want to do and basically getting on with it.
For the next year I am going to put everything I have into the band and see where it goes.
How can we find out about Digitalis?
To hear Digitalis, buy CD's, find out about gigs go to: http://www.myspace.com/digitalis76 . things are looking good - we are playing at the Brewery and Wickerman festival for starters.