LEEDS METROPOLITAN
What are course are you on?
2nd year of 3 year course in Creative music and sound technology. BSc.
Where did you go to school?
I went to UCC. I did music GCSE and A level performing arts (A level music wasn't available at that point, but I wouldn't have done it anyway as I wanted to do acting)
I play classical and electric guitar. I like progressive rock/metal - complicated stuff! I have a new-found obsession with piano and pianists. I really want to learn the keyboard!.
I had taken Guildhall Grade 8 on classical guitar before I went to University.
What sort of people are on the course?
a general mixture of people are on the course - sound technicians, composers, who mostly work with sequencing programmes and VST instruments ( there are different programmes such as Cubase and Logic that work as sequencers - you can write in midi format and create different sounds)
Have people got A levels?
Leeds Met assesses people by UCAS points. A level grades count towrds these. Also instrumental grades count (eg a Grade 8 is 80 UCAS points). For my course you needed a minimum of 120 points.
What A levels did you do?
I did Performing Arts which counted as 2 A levels. You can go if you don't have music A level.
Are you enjoying the course?
I love it - i couldn't have picked a better course for me.
Why?
It offers what i was looking for and has exceeded my expectations. I thought we were just going to be working in studios, whereas we are actually building software instruments (and learning algebra!).
At the moment I have just finished building what they call a subtractive synth and am now building an FM synth. This was part of a 7 week module. The course is divided into modules. Every 7 weeks you do 2 modules at the same time - in all you do 6 a year. So far I have done audio recording, music audio systems, midi sequencing, audio and video production (we made a stop frame animation video called retro agogo - it is on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fatIRhLXKu0), studio recording, acoustics and psycho acoustics (!),
The tutor who is tutoring the synth making modules is only two years older than me. He makes his own synth modules and because he is a young teacher he can relate thing to us in an informal, fun way. We get the work done though, plus he is very up-to-date - he is always coming in with things that have just been released. It is important to keep up your knowledge of current technology in general music technology studies.
Do you feel like you know what you want to do when you leave college?
It has changed since I started the course last year. Probably for everyone who has played guitar and been in a band their master plan is to go and play in bands and make milions. But at the same time you have to have something else to fall back on because that is not necessarily going to work. That was my goal - to get to know people and make it!
Now I have other options which feel just as important if not more important. New ones I have been looking into are session work - I have found out about that more this year, also working in a studio as an engineer - producing and mixing.
Does the college guide you towards opportunities for work?
What you do in the modules are all things that could be used in a profession. Leeds Met has just spent loads of money on new studios and recording equipment.
What is access like to this? How often can you get into the studio?
Once you have done a studio module in the first year you have completely free access to it in your time there. Anything that the studio has to offer is fully available - microphone kits, equipment for drums, an array of different guitars and keyboards, midi processing units etc.
Are there any bits of the course you don't like or find difficult?
Oh yes! There is a module called audio music systems which was the first look I had at algebra relating to music. I had argued many times that science had nothing to do with music but was clearly wrong! We were taught in big groups as it was our first year. However, teachers went out of their way to put in extra tuition time for people who were struggling. The teachers want their students to be the best at what they can do so they really put time in whether it is a big problem or a little one. They are as dedicated to teaching as we are to studying. It gives you as a student more confidence.
What is Leeds like as a place to live?
There is a massive city out there which is great to explore and the places to live as students are actually in quite safe areas of Leeds which are generally out of trouble zones. Going to a city from a small country town is a big difference and a big change to the way you actually live. Its not as communal as a small town would be and it can be daunting living on your own without the familiarity of family and friends. I was ready for the change, I was ready for something different and I enjoyed the challenge of learning how to become self-sufficient.
How did you find somewhere to live?
The first year I lived in halls of residence. There are different price ranges - mine were mid-range price and they were nice but they didn't have good enough security. Once you become friends with people on your course you start to look at letting agencies for houses and find a place to live together.
What next?
We are talking about forming a band when we get back after New Year and I am doing my own projects - by March I will have a CD done with all original compositions.