Username: Password:

Author Topic: Studying music further  (Read 7393 times)

willo

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1512
Studying music further
« on: March 08, 2006, 04:52:23 PM »
Hi

I graduate from University this summer with my degree in English literature. I'm then planning to work for two years and get some money together in order to apply to study music at a university/music college and so on. At home or abroad, I'm really not bothered. I want to study predominantly contemporary music, and jazz, rather than classical. Obviously, I play guitar.

Has anyone got any suggestions on good places to go, good course, or just any advice? Remember, I am willing to travel!

Cheers! :D
The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away...

tewboss

  • Featherweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 414
Studying music further
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2006, 05:03:03 PM »
The music college in Brighton is supposed to be pretty good. A friend of mine did his music production degree along the coast in Eastborne.

38thBeatle

  • Middleweight
  • *****
  • Posts: 6098
    • http://www.myspace.com/alteregoukband
Studying music further
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2006, 06:06:17 PM »
A mate of mine lectured ( if that is the right word) at Brighton and he is a brilliant guitarist and if he is the calibre of tutors then you will be in good hands. Brighton is also a "happening" kind of place too.
Send three and fourpence we're going to a dance
BKP's: Apache, Country Boy, Slowhands.

TwilightOdyssey

  • Guest
Studying music further
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2006, 06:46:25 PM »
Berklee.

maliciousteve

  • Guest
Studying music further
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2006, 07:09:17 PM »
ACM? i've heard great things from there plus they're kicked out with Marshalls, Peaveys, Fenders, a PROPER recording studio, practice rooms, loads of contacts with top players and it's a good chance to get together with other musicians.

38thBeatle

  • Middleweight
  • *****
  • Posts: 6098
    • http://www.myspace.com/alteregoukband
Studying music further
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2006, 07:16:20 PM »
Why were none of these around when I was a lad ( sniff).
Send three and fourpence we're going to a dance
BKP's: Apache, Country Boy, Slowhands.

TwilightOdyssey

  • Guest
Studying music further
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2006, 07:27:17 PM »
Quote from: 38thBeatle
Why were none of these around when I was a lad ( sniff).

They did, but it probably involved going to Spain to study with Andres Segovia! PDT_008

clivey

  • Junior Flyweight
  • *
  • Posts: 19
Studying music further
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2006, 07:38:29 PM »
I'm a student at the ACM in Guildford, and it's a great place. Great facilities, great gear, and most importantly: great teachers.  It is strictly a contemporary college - if your looking to do a full on Jazz degree, you'll have to look elseswhere, but for any form of rock/funk/blues/pop, with a liilte bit of jazz thrown in, the courses are fantastic, particularly the degree.
I'd imagine that the place in Brighton, and also the one in London (Powerhouse, I think?) would offer a similar standard of course too.

However, if you can afford the £25,000 a year, and don't mind a trip to the USA, Berklee is probably the place to go!

lepersmeesa

  • Featherweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 478
Studying music further
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2006, 11:15:09 PM »
Have a look at Leeds College of Music. They have a place a jazz studies course as well as a music studies course.

Ive applied for the Music production course myself. Check it out.

www.lcm.ac.uk
I am Ted Theodore Logan...

www.myspace.com/thesafetyfire

willo

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1512
Studying music further
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2006, 01:11:57 AM »
Hi guys, thanks for the replies.

I'm really quite wary of courses in this country, I guess it's a preconception but they often come across as a little under-organised. And of course, they lack the prestige of somewhere like Berklee. I've seen the entry requirements to Berklee, and heard a succesful audition piece, and I really don't think it's beyond me (certainly not with time on my side) - I think I could give it a shot. The money, though, probably is beyond me.

Thinking about this country again, the contact I've had with the various 'Music Performance' diplomas etc have kind of soured things for me. I really want to go somewhere that is going to be great and truly inspiring, surrounded by really great people and players - in both your lecturers and fellow pupils. Bear in mind, that this would be 2 years of work and probable ascetism (!) away, so I really want to be able to look at doing the best that I can, I guess.

Who knows, maybe it'll end up in a pipe dream? But I would be prepared to stick life on hold for two years or more to have a crack at following my dreams. Regarding this country, I'm also concerned that most of the University courses seem to stipulate an A-Level or so in music -  surprisingly, Berklee don't demand a similar qualification but rather a level of competence/excellence assessed through performance and references etc. Unfortunately for me, I don't actually have an A-Level in music, although I could possibly do it in evening classes.

Clivey - what were the requirements for ACM? And what does a typical day entail at the academy?
The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away...

clivey

  • Junior Flyweight
  • *
  • Posts: 19
Studying music further
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2006, 10:58:27 PM »
Check out the ACM website: www.acm.ac.uk. That'll give you all the info on the courses and entry requirements.  You basically send in a audition tape and form (downlaod it from the website) and the tutors will assign you to the course they think suits your abilities.  For the degree, I think they do look at A-Levels, but if your playing is good enough, I don't think they care too much for a music A-Level - they say your playing should be of Grade 8 Standard, and having Grade 5 Theory or above is also preffered, but these are guidlines more than prerequisites. You might want to phone them up just to check that.  
Of course, you could do what I did, and go through the Higher Diploma to get to the degree,  but to me it sounds like you'd be more into the Degree programe - I'm deffinately enjoying the degree more than the diploma (not that the diplomas are bad!).
As for inspiration, well the ACM hasn't let me down there.  The standard of musicianship is awesome, especially on the degree, and that's the students I'm talking about. It's quite intimidating at times sitting in a room full of younger, more talented players than yourself! But that's the kind of inspiration I need. The teachers are phenomenal - not just good players, but good teachers too: very friendly, encouraging and they never talk down to you.  Everyone - the students, teachers and the rest of the staff - is really nice and down to earth; there's a really great atmosphere here.

On the degree you get four two-hour lectures a week, and than as many one to one tutorials as you can book (they fill up real quickly - I normally get two a week).  You can also book out practice rooms etc.  Written down, that might not seem like too much work - I'm only in the college for 9 hours or so a week! However, thislgives you a lot of time for practice and course work, and trust me - there's a hell of a lot of work to do!

On the diplomas, you get twice as many lectures a week, but then less time to practice!  Also, the diplomas really feed you the information needed to pass the exams (which are not really that difficult if you've put in the practice), where as on the degree they expect you to work a hell of a lot more stuff out on your own.

Sorry for the huge post, hope the info helps!  If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

Cattivo Ragazzo

  • Bantamweight
  • **
  • Posts: 133
Studying music further
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2006, 01:03:44 AM »
i think the thing to do is get to grade 5, by yourself, get to grade 8 in your instrument, then do the diploma, which is equivelent to a degree, while you're working toward your dimploma, work also toward the grade 8 in theory, and also educate yourself in Music Technology. After some time you should be of virtuoso ability, then instead of applying to join the college, apply to teach there ;) Also, you will have saved yourself many thousands of pounds in the process. Only the determined will be successful. The boy who's mommy pays for him to go to berklee who has less determination and intelliegence than the guy who taught himself, will still be no better off.

carlaz

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1061
Studying music further
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2006, 11:12:10 AM »
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
Berklee.

+1 for Berklee.  I went to uni in Boston and knew some proper music dudes who went to Berklee.  Deserves its reputation.
"Lords of rock ... grace us with your mighty love ...."
http://soundcloud.com/carledlundanderson
http://soundcloud.com/espada-negra

big steve

  • Featherweight
  • ***
  • Posts: 430
Studying music further
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2006, 05:18:15 PM »
i'm interested in this, i'm thinking of going on to do this but my main worry is what happens after you've finished the course? a career as an unemployed/underemployed musician?
down from the glens came the marching men...

carlaz

  • Welterweight
  • ****
  • Posts: 1061
Studying music further
« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2006, 05:28:34 PM »
Quote from: big steve
i'm interested in this, i'm thinking of going on to do this but my main worry is what happens after you've finished the course? a career as an unemployed/underemployed musician?

Well, that's what usually happens to anyone who tries to go into a musical career! ;)  I guess the difference is that a course at reputable school can equip you with at least a little extra advantage (which might be just enough).  I don't know if a lot of A-list celebrities have come out of Berklee, but clearly there are a lot of working musicians who are not A-list celebrities.  For example, I've seen lots of studio musicans and "backing band" players with Berklee (for example) in their credentials.

Weren't most of Dream Theater Berklee grads?  I think I remember seeing a gig of theirs at Berklee that was very "homecoming" like.  I think at least a couple of guys passed through Pride & Glory/Black Label Society who were Berklee grads.  When I was last down in Colombia, someone told me Carlos Vives's band had a few Berklee grads in it.

I'm not too plugged into what the industry scene is really like, but I'm sure there are folk here who can say a bit more about it.
"Lords of rock ... grace us with your mighty love ...."
http://soundcloud.com/carledlundanderson
http://soundcloud.com/espada-negra