D8 - Careers



Bath Spa University:

Commercial Music Course 

Falmouth University: 



I need to look into these two courses further as I currently struggle to see the difference between them. 

WRITE ABOUT BATH SPA - ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE COURSES AND WAHT JOBS I'M THINKING ABOUT. 

Course:

Commercial Music - Commercial Music BA (Hons)

Requirements = DDM or DMM

- Prepared to learn a wide range of skills
- High level of performance/composing skill; assessed through MP3s or Soundcloud of your best three original tracks; music technology and performance experience submitted digitally prior audition
- Shortlisted candidates need to audition an original song (written or part-written by you); judged on music ability as well as personality (interview just as much as an audition) 





We looked around Bath Spa University on Tuesday 30th April with Jim Dickinson as our tour leader who is the course leader for Commercial Music. We visited the recording studios, rehearsal rooms as well as small pods and the canteen. It may seem irrelevant that I mention the canteen but I think it plays a big part into the University as it was a comfortable place which was large and split into different sections depending on if you sit by yourself or with others and if you want to do some work on a computer after and it showed a nice community at the University. This is also an advantage shown in the placement of the University as, despite being in Bath, it's on the outskirts of Bath and so, therefore, it is quite a serene place to be with beautiful views of green fields all around and it's rather quiet and a relaxing atmosphere. On top of the serenity and calm of the campus, it also well placed as it is in close proximity to Bath as well as Bristol which means that it feels chilled out and calm on the campus when working but you're still close enough to big cities for gigs and performances. 

Back to the actual topic of music, the recording studios had huge desks with many plug in machines to be able to enhance your audio and be able to manipulate it however you want in order to fit your sound. There are five recording studios in total and they're open from early in the morning until late which gives a lot of time for everyone to use them and I know for me personally it might be especially helpful as I tend to find that I'm most productive and creative at night. 

This picture shows an example of students using one of the desks available at Bath Spa. Also, in the background, you can see a student using the plug ins to manipulate the sound accordingly. Having these synthesisers in real life means that the sound will come out sounding more authentic and better quality compared to a VST on a DAW. However, there is also the argument that VSTs and real plugins don't have enough of a differentiating sound to make it worthwhile using the real thing compared to a virtual version. I think that this can be quite personal as to whether or not you agree but I think it also depends on the quality of the program you're using. For example, a free virtual version of strings will just sound like a synthesiser and lose all of the humanity compared to having actual people play the instruments but having access to better virtual instruments and more manipulation over the sound could lead to a realistic sounding violin or cello without having someone play any real instruments. 

They also have five full-band sized rehearsal rooms which provide a PA system, guitar/bass backlines, high end drum kits, amplifiers and Nord keyboards. These are similar to the recording studios in the way that they are bookable by students. Also, there's a 2 hour booking rule on all rooms in order to make it fair for all students as well as not being able to book a room more than two weeks in advance
for the same reason. These rehearsal rooms also come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, there is one room in this picture which is used a lot for performances and lectures but it can also be booked out by a student or band for rehearsal or for songwriting. We went into this room at the tour of the university which demonstrated to us the amazing acoustics in the room. It could project the sound across the room but without it becoming "muddy"; for example, there were two steinway pianos in the room and one of the pianos could be played without the top end of the notes disappearing despite being a more delicate sound. This is likely due to the diagonal design of the ceiling over the performance space.

Another useful part of the university is that they have working pods which are small rooms in which you can use in order to get some work done. These are really useful in order to be able to concentrate and focus on things on campus without having to worry about distractions and you'll have the proper equipment to get things done. You could work at your accommodation although many people live a long walk away as well as your home often having distractions in it which is why I think that the pods are a great idea in order to be able to get on with things. 

Speaking of accommodation, there are student villages very close to the university of which students typically live in for their first year at the uni. As you can see in the picture, they look very nice places to
live which are walking distance from the campus and have enough resources to live comfortably. 

Also, in the years proceeding the first, students will then typically live in the town which is further from the university and so will take longer to get there but it still isn't too far from the university or from where first year accommodation was so you won't have to move too far. 

The cost of the accommodation is 
















Taster Days:

8th June - Bath Spa University

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