The best universities that offer Music & Art courses

[PardontheFrench]

Hi All, my daughter is currently studying her A levels and is starting to book in some uni open days.

Despite my reservations she has her heart set on BIMMS Bristol, however has said she will humour me and go and see some others. which I’m secretly hoping will turn her head

She is our eldest so this is all new to us and whilst very clever (particularly creatively) she isn’t the most self motivated so now at the point feel we need to get involved.

Where do I start?

She is predicted a 9 in art and distinction in both ASL music and AS drama, where should we consider for music and art courses?

Anyone?

Goldsmiths?

Not Goldsmiths right now, in meltdown. Music is very different to art....and BIMM music different to conservatoire, so really more detail is needed.

What type of art or music does she produce and what direction does she want to go in for either?

Goldsmiths is nearly bankrupt so not there!

So this is where we are very green.

she has absolutely no idea what she wants to do other than study a music performance & production course and said she will consider an art course

She would love to perform but emotionally I’m not sure she could handle the cut-throat world of auditions, knock back’s etc

Her Art A level teacher (fine art) said she is made for art school/degree and I think that is likely a much more transferable course to career but not her 1st choice.

I've been looking at this for other reasons.
The Guildford School of Acting do BA (Hons) Acting and BA (Hons) Musical Theatre.
I'll leave you to check the details - Good luck.

What part of country are you looking at?

Why do you think art is more transferrable to a career than music?

Honestly OP, they are both as good (or bad depending how you see it) as the other - they're both competitive and difficult to do as a full time career if you are looking at becoming a professional performer/ artist.

I really don't think you should push her towards art if she wants to do music, because it's unlikely to result in better career options. They're both creative industries and are equally hard to break into in their own ways.

That's definitely not to put her off doing either of them - she should do what she wants to do - just saying they're not really any different so you shouldn't push her one way or the other.

If she's doing something creative anyway then she might as well do what she wants.

If she's not sure what she wants to do as a career then she can just get a degree in anything in the arts, which involves a lot of transferrable skills, and use those to get into a career at a later stage.

If you wanted to compare and contrast a uni music course with somewhere like BIMM, Huddersfield is highly regarded.

Surrey used to have some good music courses

Also true! Very well regarded.

I can't speak to music, but if she does want to go to art school, she'll need to be working on her portfolio from now until Christmas. If you'd like to learn about that process and the whole world of art/design at uni, there is an (old) info thread here:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4795276-art-and-design-at-university-for-past-present-and-future-students-and-parents

and a (current) support thread here:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4796902-part-2-continuation-of-2023-uni-and-other-applications-for-those-pursuing-art-and-creative-routes

both of which are very friendly!

DS is considering a Music Production degree. So far we've looked at Leeds Conservatoire, Manchester Met and LIPA in Liverpool.

Thank you everyone, lots to consider.

just to add we are not trying to limit DD or push her in any direction more asking her to explore what different pathway/courses would look like so she can go into what she wants to do knowing that it’s the right course for her.

I didn't see this post until today. My son is studying popular music and has friends studying classical, songwriting & production at a variety of places.

For performance and production depending on what instrument your daughter plays I would recommend the following

LIPA
Leeds Conservatoire
Waterbear
Huddersfield
Surrey
Bath Spa
Salford
Birmingham Conservatoire (Production only unless it's classical performance)

I have very mixed feelings about BIMM. If she has her heart set on then have a look but please consider the top three in my list as well.