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Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:26 pm
by Medik
Ok I'm 16 living in a small town in North Yorkshire (England), the night life here is great
I've started doing a bit of research on university courses and I know I want to do something music tech related.
Here is what I have found so far:
'Creative Music Technology' courses seam too based on performance for me, I play the bass guitar a little bit and do a bit of singing in a band but have had no lessons so I'm not much of a performer.
'Music Technology' courses seam too focused on software development and the science behind that for me.
'Music Production' courses I like the look of but I worry that there will be no job at the end of it for me. They cover more than just production but with a degree in music PRODUCTION will employers really look to employ me as other things like a sound engineer?
Well basically I am a bit stuck at the moment so any information, recommendations or advice on what courses to take and where to take them would me much appreciated and would be a great help.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:50 pm
by 64hz
i should be doing a 'Music and Audio Technology' course in bournemouth uni come september, it looks pretty good to me.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:02 pm
by Wrigzilla
Easy man, I can only really comment about the course I'm on. I'm in the final year of a creative music technology course at bath spa (which I'm loving). There is only one performance module (which is an optional 3rd year one and it's more about circuit bending and unconventional/self made instruments). It's a broad and diverse course which does traditional studio stuff, signal processing, sonic art (soundscapes, acousmatic music, that sort of thing), multimedia, sound design and loads of other stuff.
My advice for picking a course that suits you is to extensively search the UCAS course guide and find out everything you can about the modules and syllabuses and go to open days where you can talk to the lecturers about the course.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:32 pm
by zerbaman
I'm 15, I'm planning on taking music technology and I'm gonna teach that & possibly IT in future.
All depends on where you want to go with life imo
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:34 pm
by Medik
64hz wrote:i should be doing a 'Music and Audio Technology' course in bournemouth uni come september, it looks pretty good to me.
I haven't actually looked at Bournemouth uni yet. I will give it a look thanks.
Wrigzilla wrote:Easy man, I can only really comment about the course I'm on. I'm in the final year of a creative music technology course at bath spa (which I'm loving). There is only one performance module (which is an optional 3rd year one and it's more about circuit bending and unconventional/self made instruments). It's a broad and diverse course which does traditional studio stuff, signal processing, sonic art (soundscapes, acousmatic music, that sort of thing), multimedia, sound design and loads of other stuff.
My advice for picking a course that suits you is to extensively search the UCAS course guide and find out everything you can about the modules and syllabuses and go to open days where you can talk to the lecturers about the course.
Nice one. I've been looking on UCAS at Bath Spa courses but the Music Production one appealed to me a bit more. From what you have just said I may have to take another look. 'Soundscapes' is standing out to me as one I would definitely enjoy.
I have open days to come in the summer so I can see myself traveling a fair bit to take a look at the various Unis. Thanks for the advice man.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:35 pm
by Sinisterbeats
I did a course called 'Professional sound and video technology' at Salford Uni.
http://www.salford.ac.uk/course-finder/course/127
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:35 pm
by Sinisterbeats
Double post spam
LISTENZ 2 MY TOONZ

Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:44 pm
by oli90
I do CMT at Bath Spa as well. There's not any performance really.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:56 pm
by Medik
Sinisterbeats wrote:Double post spam
LISTENZ 2 MY TOONZ


Was there any need?

Unfortunately I'm not very interested in video technology.
EDIT: I hate that I did just listen and quite enjoy the tune in your sig
oli90 wrote:I do CMT at Bath Spa as well. There's not any performance really.
So do you two know each other?
Cheers for this I'll definitely look into it more.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:03 pm
by Sinisterbeats
edit: double post again sorry. Why does it keep doing that??!!!
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:56 am
by therzbm
i had an interview at kingston for creative music technology and got an unconditional offer even though i dont play an instrument. its just more about how willing you are to learn and apply some music theory to your production and composition, the first year is mainly about learning music theory etc
just look around though, lots of unis now offer a music tech course for people who dont play an instrument or arent wanting to focus on the creative side of things, but i think you will have to end up on a course either focused on technical stuff or creative stuff. ive got an offer for applied sound engineering and it is pretty deep on maths, electronics and software.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:05 pm
by project midnight
Most of you won't like this but I would strongly suggest not doing a uni course in music.
You are much better doing a course in i.t or business or something much more universal.
When you come out of uni after a couple of years you will have a degree but a very very small chance of getting a job related to your qualification. Also these courses are much more geared towards being an ME or studio tech rather than a producer.
And when you come to getting a job that isn't music orientated you will have a hard time getting a 'regular' job as all the people with more common degrees will be taking all the jobs. I know people who have this problem and are now in loads of debt and working in a call center.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:23 pm
by jaimelee
For me, I'm moving to go to college to do Music Production.
Then I plan on going for a course in Sound Engineering after.
Possibly start a mastering service or something along those lines. ( Studio artists etc )
In the lines of work though, plan on doing more office type work to support expenses etc living.
Not the best plan but better than nothing.

Re: Looking at University
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:20 pm
by zerbaman
jaimelee wrote:For me, I'm moving to go to college to do Music Production.
Then I plan on going for a course in Sound Engineering after.
Possibly start a mastering service or something along those lines. ( Studio artists etc )
In the lines of work though, plan on doing more office type work to support expenses etc living.
Not the best plan but better than nothing.

What kinds of office work could you get with it?
May save me the trouble of teaching

Re: Looking at University
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:57 pm
by Fbac
If doing a music tech course the BEST part (imo) is using their studio and equipment,,,, Visit the place and see if there stuff is up to scratch. find out the studio rules (Im only allowed to book for 3 hours mon -fri up till 5-6pm ) (where as on the recent QnA with Theonody he could stay all night at the studio!!)
Since doing the course ive discoverd the tech side of things and rather then looking to make and album of my tracks for my final project i want to give back and look at how multi tangible musical user interfaces can help people with disablilities and so on.
Another great thing about music uni is that you meet other people with the same mindset of "LETS MAKE CHOOOONSSS" lol
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:30 pm
by kaiori breathe
good luck with your quest for further knowledge
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:05 pm
by Wrigzilla
Medik wrote:oli90 wrote:I do CMT at Bath Spa as well. There's not any performance really.
So do you two know each other?
I don't know, do we oli90?
Project Midnight raises a fair point, especially considering the current financial climate and the rise in tuition fees (I'd be a lot more wary about applying to do a degree now seeing as the fees have basically doubled, if not more depending on the university in question, since I applied). If you want to do a music tech degree make sure you're doing it for the right reasons and you know what you're getting out of it at the end. A man's got to make a living you know.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:17 pm
by Dystinkt
Im 16 too, got the same problem mate. found music tech twinned with phsycology at a uni so try find a production based course twinned with something else maybe.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:59 pm
by Medik
Thanks for all the help guys. Bath Spa is looking good to me at the moment but I guess I still have a lot more research to do.
I hope I am going for a music techy course for the right reasons as I just have no other real interest so to pick a second course to take as a dual degree would be a nightmare.
Good suggestion though I've seen Keele uni have loads of dual courses to offer.
From what you all say it seems like open days are going to help a lot. I'll be asking them all about studio time, thanks Fbac.
Re: Looking at University
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:55 pm
by Grime Syndicate
I'm wondering what type of degree would be necessary to get on teams of VSTi, VST, and DAW developers. Computer Science with a minor in music production perhaps? Or what would those of you with knowledge on the subject suggest? Is the possibility of securing a job in that field so slim (referring more to the virtual side than the analog side of production) that it'd be unwise to pursue like Project Midnight suggested? Or was that advice mostly applicable to those looking to become ME's and more studio based positions? And finally, do those who hire in the virtual side of the field value a degree more than someone who's shown proficiency (a portfolio of sorts) with Reaktor and/or Max???