University
University has always been a path that I thought I would take in life and my attitude hasn’t changed towards it. Music is what I want to do in future education as well as a profession. I am currently focusing most of my time as a musician on performance based activities and although I find lots of different areas of music interesting, for example how music relates with politics and history as well as music technology, this is the area that I would like to focus on at university. I therefore will need to take this into account when looking at university courses as well as other factors including location, finances and general course content. Although going to University isn’t the only path in becoming a professional musician, it’s a path hat many take and are rewarded by this choice, University allows you 3 or more years to really focus on improving yourself as a musician in whatever capacity you desire. It also allows you to meet potential new industry leaders and professionals working alongside you on your course or throughout your experiences as a musician and finally by obtaining a degree, you will be able to apply confidently for many different music jobs in the future. For musicians I have met who have taken the path of a University or conservatoire they have all attributed their success to their music network that they developed at University as sometimes in this industry it’s down to who you know as well as what you know.
Top 5 Choices
When I began looking into studying music at University, I was confused as to the difference between a BA and Bmus degree. After looking into some of the different modules and chatting to Nic about it, it became clear that a BA was a slightly broader course and leaned towards academic practices, on the other hand a Bmus leaned much more towards performing music. As I personally lean a lot more towards musical performance I decided to start focusing on Bmus courses, this allowed me to cut down my search time and to look into courses in more detail.
Glasgow-
Glasgow is a city that I have a lot of links with as a significant part of my family are based in and around it. This means that I have visited Glasgow many times and I have found it a very interesting and vibrant city. Glasgow also has a large music scene with multiple venues across the city and many noticeable acts emerging from it including Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian and Primal Scream as well as so many more.
A major part of my consideration when looking at a music course is the inclusion of Jazz. When looking at the Glasgow University there were options to take Jazz and Blues within the first two years as well as to specialise in the 3rd and 4th year.
There were also plenty of performance opportunities and the option to do a year abroad which is something that I would be very interested in doing. Placements are very widely spread and include Universities in America as well as in China and New Zealand as well as many more. One of the drawbacks of doing a 4 year course, although it would be my preferred option, is having to pay for another year of maintenance costs and depending on the University, course fees. A year abroad therefore could potentially lower my living fees and cost fees, however the travel costs to somewhere like New Zealand might be a factor in a year abroad as well. For Glasgow university, the maximum cost for a 4 year honours degree is £27,750 which is exactly the same as for a 3 year degree, therefore overall I think that a year abroad would be a huge benefit and plus of going to University.
https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/musicbmus/#tab=5
Above is a link to the layout of the course. Something that really excites me on this course is the wide base of performance modules that are advertised, overall I think it looks well balanced and engaging.
Newcastle
I have never been to Newcastle, however I know people who are currently studying there at University and are really enjoying living in the city. Newcastle like Glasgow also offers a 4 year Bmus course with option of a year abroad.
The appeal of Newcastle University is that it has the reputation of being a very performance based course as well as being in a very vibrant city.
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/w304/#courseoverview
As you can see from the course specifications, performance is a huge part of this course, as well as popular music studies. There is also a large opportunity to branch out with different music styles and into composition. If I were to get onto this course I would definitely look to take a year abroad and the choices look very interesting. Overall Newcastle looks a very promising music course.
Leeds Arts University
I had never thought that a Leeds University would make it into my top 5 choices as I always considered it too close to home and that University should be an adventure and an opportunity to live in a different part of the UK/world. However Leeds is a very appealing city for an aspiring musician and for students in general. The music scene, already huge, is increasing all the time and includes a large Jazz following across the city. Leeds has also been the recipient of a large amount of investment in the last few years including channel 4 recently choosing to have their new headquarters in the city. This alongside Look North means that Leeds is developing as a major media and creative arts hub. A major part of me considering this course is the teaching staff which is led by DR Tom Attah who is a blues guitar specialist.
https://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-courses/bmus-hons-popular-music-performance/
Birmingham
Birmingham was a city that I originally wasn’t going to apply to. However after visiting it when playing at the ICC, I saw a lot of potential in being a student thee. When looking at the course I saw it was heavily themed towards performance with explicit advertisement of ensemble playing as well as paper and studio composition. Overall it looks like a very varied and interesting course as well as it being in a very vibrant city containing a well known conservatoire for Jazz. Therefore I think that there would be a lot of potential for me to continue studying and performing Jazz music in Birmingham.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/music/music.aspx
Cardiff
Cardiff as a city is one of my favourite that I have been to in the UK, although I believe that I will probably stay in the north for University, Cardiff is one of the few places that has tempted me away from this. It has a really friendly and encouraging feel about the city and music scene as a whole. It is also the home of the Royal Welsh College of Music And Drama therefore there will be plenty of exciting music and Jazz opportunities happening in the city.
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2019/music-bmus
The Cardiff course is overall quite academic leaning compared to some of my other choices , however there are still many opportunities to perform on the course. An academic course wouldn’t be something I immediately say no to, however I think that a practical course would suit my character much better as I like to put my theoretical ideas into practice and get hands on with a project.
Reserve Choice
Manchester
Manchester is another city with which I have lots of ties with. It is only an hour away from Bradford on the train and has a huge music scene which, along with the city, is growing all of the time. The introduction of media city in Salford means that Manchester is a growing hub for the creative industries.
Manchester University is a different course in as it has a heavy academic focus. Although this isn’t a route I really see myself going down in the future, opinions change and I’m not sure if I’ll have the same opinion in the next few months. I therefore have chosen to include a more academic course in my top 5 as I have a strong connection with Manchester as a city and therefore this would be a favourable destination if I did choose this path. I am very interested in how music relates to society and other subjects including history and politics, therefore an academic route could be one that I look at taking in order to look into these in more detail.
Ucas University Personal Statement
I am very committed to and extremely enthusiastic about music, whether it is performing, composing, music theory or listening. I strive to collaborate with other musicians and I dedicate most of my time to performing or researching music. I am involved in a range of ensembles including a wind orchestra, a funk band and a Jazz band as well as performing as an accompanist.
Being involved in a strong community is a major part of my life and I constantly seek to use my skills in music to collaborate with and help others. I am an active member of the Wood Craft Folk and I often run music workshops locally. Next summer, as part of a team, I am preparing to run a music centre at a week long national event with an expected attendance of 500 people. I love how music can be used to convey ideas as well as create a conversation through improvisation. This is an area that fascinates me and I regularly participate in community music activities in order to discover new opinions.
My main specialism is piano with my secondary instrument being alto saxophone. I hold Grade 5 in both these instruments and I am preparing to take Grade 8 in both next spring as well as Grade 5 in theory.
For my final college project last year, I put together a Jazz band, featuring myself on piano, to perform a repertoire of classic Jazz standards. The project saw me collaborate with a number of musicians and perform in multiple environments including cafe performances, an art gallery and a fashion show during the run up to my final performance. I had many other responsibilities including organising and promoting the event, band leading and arranging as well as improving my organisation and time management skills. After completing this project, I acquired the knowledge to organise an ensemble and to coordinate performances with independent venues, including stage management and live sound. My final performance included my own composition. This is an area I am becoming more accomplished in as by studying Jazz structures and musicians I am discovering new ways to compose and I hope to record these ideas in a future project.
I performed in a funk band at Bradford Festival this summer, which gave me the experience of playing in front of a large crowd and discern the expectations of a professional performing musician. It challenged me to further hone my transcription and sight reading techniques which I am always looking to improve.
At the UAL awards in London this summer, I was selected from a large number of applicants to perform a Jazz piano set at the Oxo Tower. It was a demanding experience but one I enjoyed.
I’m an avid reader especially with social and music history, I recently finished ‘Possibilities by Herbie Hancock’ which gave me an incredible insight to the life of a successful Jazz pianist. I believe that it is very important to understand the origins of the music that I would like to make a career of performing. My enthusiasm in Jazz has led to me hosting a monthly radio show about Jazz music on my local radio station, which I love to do and has taught me a lot about presentation skills in addition to stimulating my confidence and enthusiasm in music.
Over the past year and a half on my UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma, I have committed seriously to performing and studying music. Music empowers me to learn, as after spending hours on researching theory and practical skills, the sense of applying them and seeing my own technique improve is incredibly satisfying and motivates me to do more. I strive to become a professional musician and I feel that I have acquired many notable skills needed to achieve this. I believe that a music course at a conservatoire would be the best path for me to take as it would allow me to fully concentrate on exploring music and collaborate with a community of excellent musicians. I am a very optimistic and motivated individual and I would love to see where my enthusiasm and dedication to music could lead me in the future.
Conservatoires
The main difference between a Conservatoire and a University music course is that a Conservatoire course focuses mainly on performance whereas a University course covers a broader music course. Conservatoire’s are very competitive to get into as the resources and equipment are generally to a very high standard as well as there being some incredible teaching staff who are often leading professionals in their field. Not to say that Universities don’t have incredible teachers as well as resources, however in terms of music performance conservatoires generally have the edge.
The conservatoire deadline was well before the beginning of this project on the 1st of October however if selected each conservatoire required an audition to be prepared to show your practical and theoretical musical strengths as well as an audition in order to determine your personality.
Like a university application, you could potentially apply to 5 conservatoires. However each one required an audition charge therefore I decided to apply to 3 conservatoires. These were –
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College Of Music is a brilliant hub based in the centre of Manchester. As I said when talking about the University of Manchester, the city of Manchester would be a perfect city for me as a University student in terms of both geographical location and the city in general. It is not too far from home but still provides me with as much independence as I would need. I also have a few links to family and friends in Manchester which would help me to transition to life in a new city.
The course at Manchester was incredibly appealing to me from the get go as it looked really energetic and inspiring and included a year in industry which would prepare you for all manner of careers in the future. When attending an open day, the staff and students were all incredibly encouraging and welcoming and I got the feeling that it was a very friendly atmosphere where the teachers really respected the students. I also got the opportunity to see what some of the students had composed as well as the career paths they were beginning which were all very impressive.
Audition
For the RNCM, I was required to attend an Audition and Interview. This consisted of me performing 2 pieces, one set by the college and one picked by myself as well as performing technical exercises and completing a Grade 5 standard theory test.
The pieces I performed were
High and Dry – Jamie Cullum, this was set by the RNCM and is talked about in much more detail in my solo performance section.
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington This can also be seen on my solo performance page.
Overall, the audition and interview process went well, however I don’t expect to get in as the RNCM is very prestigious and receives hundreds of applicants from all over the world for the 6 places on the piano course. It was a rewarding experience however as I got a great insight into a proffessional audition process as well as receiving some great feedback.
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
The Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama attracted me at first by the beautiful architecture of the building. After looking at the range of courses I was very excited at the potential of studying a fully Jazz focused University Music course as Jazz is the area of music I am most interested in.
https://www.rwcmd.ac.uk/departments/jazz.aspx
The overall course structure and detail of the course is amazing if you want to be a professional Jazz player as it is full of opportunities to learn and play with international Jazz artists.
Audition
For my audition I was required to play 2 contrasting Jazz pieces within a trio.
The pieces I chose were –
The Days of Wine and Roses
This is a classic ballad and featured in my final performance last year. I added an intro to this piece as well as some extended chords and different voicing’s and overall it went well when I played it in the audition.
Oleo
My second choice was a Bebop tune called Oleo. The original is ridiculously fast therefore I slowed it down to 170bpm which is still relatively quick. Although it was a challenge, I really enjoyed practicing and performing this piece as well as learning about the theory behind rhythm changes.
I also had to go through an interview process where I was asked to talk about my favourite Jazz pianists as well as an aural test. The aural test was recognising 5 different seventh chords and I really surprised myself in getting 4 out of 5 right. Maybe too much of that surprise showed as I didn’t get offered a place, however I don’t think I would have been ready to make that leap in such a short time and I may look to reapply next year. It was also extremely competitive with only one or two places going for over a hundred applicants, therefore I wasn’t too disheartened by the result.
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
As you can see in my University of Glasgow section further up the page, Glasgow is a city that I am very passionate about and this course seemed the perfect fit in a perfect city for me.
https://www.rcs.ac.uk/postgraduate/masters-music-mmus/jazz/
Like the course in Cardiff, the Jazz course looked very impressive and covered all of the necessary areas desired to become a professional Jazz musician, this included some exciting areas to work towards such as composing and arranging Jazz music for an orchestra in year 4.
Audition
For the RCS audition, I was initially required to send in two videos of myself performing 2 Jazz pieces. They specifically required Oleo for this and I also played the Days of Wine and Roses, however I was completely taken off guard by the short amount of time they required it within and therefore my quality of both wasn’t great therefore I was unsurprised when I wasn’t picked to do an audition in Glasgow.
Ucas Conservatoire Personal Statement
I am very committed to and extremely enthusiastic about music, whether it is performing, composing, music theory or listening. I strive to collaborate with other musicians and I dedicate most of my time to performing or researching music. I am involved in a range of ensembles including a wind orchestra, a funk band and a Jazz band as well as performing as an accompanist.
Being involved in a strong community is a major part of my life and I constantly seek to use my skills in music to collaborate with and help others. I am an active member of the Wood Craft Folk and I often run music workshops locally. Next summer, as part of a team, I am preparing to run a music centre at a week long national event with an expected attendance of 500 people. I love how music can be used to convey ideas as well as create a conversation through improvisation. This is an area that fascinates me and I regularly participate in community music activities in order to discover new opinions.
My main specialism is piano with my secondary instrument being alto saxophone. I hold Grade 5 in both these instruments and I am preparing to take Grade 8 in both next spring as well as Grade 5 in theory.
For my final college project last year, I put together a Jazz band, featuring myself on piano, to perform a repertoire of classic Jazz standards. The project saw me collaborate with a number of musicians and perform in multiple environments including cafe performances, an art gallery and a fashion show during the run up to my final performance. I had many other responsibilities including organising and promoting the event, band leading and arranging as well as improving my organisation and time management skills. After completing this project, I acquired the knowledge to organise an ensemble and to coordinate performances with independent venues, including stage management and live sound. My final performance included my own composition. This is an area I am becoming more accomplished in as by studying Jazz structures and musicians I am discovering new ways to compose and I hope to record these ideas in a future project.
I performed in a funk band at Bradford Festival this summer, which gave me the experience of playing in front of a large crowd and discern the expectations of a professional performing musician. It challenged me to further hone my transcription and sight reading techniques which I am always looking to improve.
At the UAL awards in London this summer, I was selected from a large number of applicants to perform a Jazz piano set at the Oxo Tower. It was a demanding experience but one I enjoyed.
I’m an avid reader especially with social and music history, I recently finished ‘Possibilities by Herbie Hancock’ which gave me an incredible insight to the life of a successful Jazz pianist. I believe that it is very important to understand the origins of the music that I would like to make a career of performing. My enthusiasm in Jazz has led to me hosting a monthly radio show about Jazz music on my local radio station, which I love to do and has taught me a lot about presentation skills in addition to stimulating my confidence and enthusiasm in music.
Over the past year and a half on my UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma, I have committed seriously to performing and studying music. Music empowers me to learn, as after spending hours on researching theory and practical skills, the sense of applying them and seeing my own technique improve is incredibly satisfying and motivates me to do more. I strive to become a professional musician and I feel that I have acquired many notable skills needed to achieve this. I believe that a music course at a conservatoire would be the best path for me to take as it would allow me to fully concentrate on exploring music and collaborate with a community of excellent musicians. I am a very optimistic and motivated individual and I would love to see where my enthusiasm and dedication to music could lead me in the future.
Gap Year
A gap year is something that warmed to me more and more when looking at University choices. Originally I was slightly put off by a year out as I was scared that I wouldn’t do anything and would loose my motivation to make and practice music. Sometimes, I think people can put too much emphasis on the importance of University and can encourage you to rush into things, whereas if I took a year out, I would be able to try different paths and see what worked best and what I enjoyed the most.
Preparing For A Conservatoire Audition in 2019
My conservatoire audition process for the 2019 entry was let’s say quite rushed and not organised very well. When applying for a course at a place like the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where there is only one or two places offered for Jazz pianists and over 60 applicants for those places, it is probably wise to approach your application on a long term basis. For me personally, I feel that I have developed massively over the past year but my Jazz Piano skills still have a way to go before I could really compete for a place like that, by taking a year out to reapply I could really focus on my Jazz piano skills and look at creating an extensive practice of routine of 5+ hours a day. I could also look to gain further experience as a working musician which would further benefit my personal statement.
Teaching Abroad
Going abroad and teaching are two major areas that I would like to experience n the future, therefore teaching abroad would kill these two birds with one stone.
https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/teaching-english-abroad-as-english-teacher
Here is a link of one of the leading websites in training and deploying English teachers across the globe. Travelling is something that I have always wanted to do and teaching abroad would allow me to experience different situations compared to most tourists. Achieving a teaching qualification would also be a major step for me in pursuing a career as a teacher and it would allow me to get some work experience to see whether this is a career I would like to pursue long term. If I took this route in a gap year, I would need to look into the cost and the overall course of obtaining a certificate as well as different placements and potential problems I might face.
Working As A Freelance Musician
Although I am no where near the point of musicianship of which I can make a living from performing or teaching music, my confidence and musical ability is growing all of the time. I have become much better at learning a lengthy repertoire for a band and understanding my role as a band member. I would love to play in a function band at some point in my life and by taking a year out I could potentially follow this dream. It is very hard breaking into the function band market and certain limitations like me not being able to drive have so far discouraged the idea of me attempting to set a band like this up. However as I have recently purchased a relatively light and mobile piano set up and this would potentially make travelling to gigs a lot easier. To start playing functions I would need to create an interesting band and repertoire as well as promote myself and manage all of the business side of things involved. I was thinking of creating a solo piano set, a piano and vocalist set and a full band set in order to maximise on flexibility. Most of my promotion would be done digitally and would rely on me standing out from competitors with a well designed website and social media presence. Although this would be a challenging task , it would be something that I would love to do as it would allow me to learn so many new skills as well as working in the field I most enjoy, performing music. I would also hopefully be able to meet many new people and collaborators.