Music, Newcastle University
I am Tim Shaw and I am just about to start studying music at Newcastle University. It is a very traditional course and universitywhich at first put me off, but afterreading into it made me want to challenge myself.I am worried that it will be a lot of work and the standard will be very high,i think i am about to dive head first into the deep end of education. I am excited aboutmoving in a new place, making new friends and being independent, lets see how it goes!!
I have just had a year out working and supposedly saving money but i dread to look at my bank balance. Previous to this I was at Cumbria Institute of the arts (now University of Cumbria) where i came out with MMM in Music Practice. I used to attend Ullswater Community College but decided to leave before 6th form after my GCSEs. I have played in a few different bands butmainly playing guitar in Man Bites Dog a funk/indie band from Penrith. I have also performed as a Dj and a solo artist and hope to pursue this, as a job and for pleasure, at university.
My main favourite types of music are Funk, Jazz, Broken Beat, Afro-beat and Proper House but I will give anything a listen. I'm going to attend university with an open mind, get involved in as much as possible and try to make the most of it.
This is my room, itis quite spacious compared to others I've seenand very close to the centre of Newcastle which is really useful. I decided to live in a shared house as apposed to halls, the disadvantage of this is that I probably wont meet as many people but I've got a nicer place and its in a really good location.
UPDATE MAY 08
Its the last term at uni and the end of year exams / assessments are drawing closer. I only have one written exam (Music History) but i have a few assessments and i predict these will get very stressful but i think i work well under pressure and I should be fine (that might just be an excuse for not doing any work for ages). I also have to do a 15 minute solo performance in front of three examiners, which I'm not really looking forward to but i want to do well in this aspect of the coarse so I'm going to practice hard.
Outside of university I have been djing a lot and getting well paid for it, which is a real bonus and a lot easier and more enjoyable then working behind a busy bar! I'm half established now and get regular slots in the back room of some club/indie nights. I have been working behind a busy bar as well, I got a part time job at Northern Stage, a local theatre working in the restaurant/bar. This job is hard work and its nearly always busy but the pay isn't to bad and the tips are really good (I got £30 for the last four weeks). I was worried at first that working would impose on my uni work and social life but it hasn't at all really. Having a job has actually made me use my time more productively and not sit about as much, I have more structure in my life which almost helps my organisation (which isn't good at the best of times).
I found it hard keeping up in some lectures and realised i was really slow at taking lecture notes so I went to see if any support was available. I was advised by Student Support to take a dyslexia test to see if i had a recognised learning difficulty. My assessment was really interesting and quite fun and it turns out i do have mild dyslexia, I was really surprised that it hadn't been recognised at school and following the assessment i get a learning fund to buy equipment for studying such as a laptop and Dictaphone. I also get extra time in exams, a personal tutor to go over my work and unlimited library loans. This just goes to show how much good support is available at university and how asking something even small can really pay off.
I am also trying to organise my own music night at a small bar in the centre of town. Its called Sunday Afternoon Club and its going to consist of good music performed by bands and dj's for a relaxed Sunday afternoon atmosphere. I have got a jazz quartet from uni to play and I'm going to dj, its a pretty low cost event with hardly any overheads so I haven't got much to lose (unless no-one turns up). Hopefully it will be successful because there's not any regular live music nights on a Sunday. Fingers crossed!