BIMM - any thoughts?

[bimmmum]

Ds is thinking of applying to BIMM next year and I was wondering if any MNers have dcs there and could give advice / info? He's currently at uni in his first year but unhappy having made the wrong course choice and unable to change.

He would be applying for the performance and music business joint honours. He currently plays guitar (self-taught) and is in a band who are getting gigs in London, Brighton, Manchester etc. Basically he's obsessed with music, but he's still quite pragmatic and would like to learn about the 'business' side of things too.

Reviews of BIMM online are mixed - the whatuni ones seem almost universally positive but student room etc is much more negative. The website is super-slick and looks amazing but I know not to reply on that! We have signed up for some open days but it would be good to hear from MN too. Also how did your dcs manage with not having university halls etc and needing to go straight into private accommodation?

Any thoughts would be really welcome - I want to support him to do something he's really passionate about, but am a bit nervy about him taking this step as it's quite different from what we've been focused on so far.

I’m going to have to be a big vague here with the details for obvious reasons but I’ve got a friend who teaches there that really doesn’t rate it.
Doesn’t rate the quality of the teaching in general, and finds student engagement and motivation pretty poor, a lot of people already in semi successful bands who seem convinced they’ll make it and just don’t care.

BIMM is on ds's shortlist too but he's preferring Salford and Leeds Conservatoire (LIPA too but he doesn't think he'll get in).

I recently spoke to a BIMM student who is loving it there but ds's ambition is not to play in a band but to work as a session musician/theatre pit player/assistant MD/Mainstage keyboard programmer/orchestrator/arranger so he worried the music theory side won't be as strong and he wants to be in a place where he can collaborate on projects where he can put sheet music/arrangements in front of people and they can play them. He also wants to study somewhere so that he can try and make contacts for the future.

We have had somewhere called LCCM recommended also.

My daughter recently graduated from a Musical Theatre college and to be honest she liked being in private accommodation. She went into a private halls of residence but this year (as postgrad) she's in a house share she saw advertised on a Facebook book for creatives).

@lastqueenofscotland

I’m going to have to be a big vague here with the details for obvious reasons but I’ve got a friend who teaches there that really doesn’t rate it. Doesn’t rate the quality of the teaching in general, and finds student engagement and motivation pretty poor, a lot of people already in semi successful bands who seem convinced they’ll make it and just don’t care.

That's interesting, thank you. It echoes some of what I've heard, but then again there do seem to be plenty of positive reviews / comments as well. It's hard to know whether it would be worthwhile, really.

@Comefromaway funnily enough we did look at Salford last year (for a different course), but ds is very keen to stay in London (would go to Brighton at a push).

We've signed up for the London open day this weekend so will see how it looks after that!

Very interesting to read, I attended an open day on the 6th of November and 'i was really impressed with it there (nothing to compare it too) my daughter wants to do the Music media and communications course which does look interesting. My worry is that she will pigeonhole herself in an industry that could be too extroverted for her. She likes the idea that she will be able to play her bass guitar during her lunch hour. I worry its clouding her judgement and that she should look at other unis for her first choice.

Interesting to see what people thought after the open days.

Thanks

Ds loved the open day. He's come home and put in an application for the London campus for this Sept. Just waiting for notification of an audition to come through (fingers crossed!) He's also signed up for an accommodation day so hopefully we can get that sorted as well.

I was relieved by the emphasis on a sustainable, long-term career and the fact that too much focus on 'being a pop star' seemed to be actively discouraged. I felt that they were actively trying to allay parents' fears! It all seemed pretty professional and ds's eyes were out on stalks at some of the practice rooms and equipment. We shall see, I guess...my feeling is better that he does something he's committed to rather than undertake a 'standard' degree just because he feels that's what mum expects.

Ds has also applied to the London campus and is waiting to hear about an audition. He has an audition through from LCCM which I think he prefers over BIMM so we shall see.

@Comefromaway and @howtogetoutofthismess - what did your dc decide in the end?

DS is off to BIMM and is moving into his shared house in west London this weekend! He seems excited, so we just need to keep fingers crossed that it's been the right decision.

Ds had offers from everywhere he applied to and chose Leeds Conservatoire where he starts in a couple of weeks.

Three of his friends are off to BIMM

BIMM is not worth attending if you are serious about music. I attended BIMM Manchester and wish I hadn't and nearly everyone else tthere that I discussed the subject with shared that opinion. Few are applicants are rejected because BIMM is mostly interested in taking course fees.I would recommend anyone to apply for a music course at a proper university.

@bimmmum

Would love to know how yours is getting on at Bimm. So many mixed reviews but seems like Manchester is the one I mainly read the dodgy ones about. How is London?

Watching with interest, my friends son wants to do music production at BIMM Berlin.

It’s a business. It’s more talent school than university, and runs on mostly hourly- paid tutoring.

And they sacked a woman for doing her job in teaching cultural studies. See Cathy Boardman’s case.

@EveryWitchWaybutLoose This is definitely the vibe I’m getting. Thanks!

I work in an adjacent field in an RG university and have family who are creative arts professionals. What I often see is these more marginal colleges making
money out of aspirant kids who don’t quite make it to the publicly-funded conservatoires and art schools.

Now sometimes the outcomes are good for such students. Conservatoires are not infallible in their selection and teaching/assessment processes (it’s interesting to track the careers of dancers “assessed out” of the Royal Ballet School for example). So it can be a useful track for training beyond the major conservatoires.

But caveat emptor. These places are commercial propositions.

There is a newish place called Waterbear based in Brighton & Sheffield which is run by people who used to be involved with BIMM. It's degrees are in association with Falmouth university who do have a good reputation in the creative industries.

A friend of my son has chosen to go there rather than places like Leeds Conservatoire or LIPA as it appears to be offering what he wants in the right environment for him. It might be worth looking into. Only time will tell of course.

@Comefromaway @EveryWitchWaybutLoose thanks both, good info. Will probably go the more classic uni route but will definitely look up waterbear.

Hi thanks for that, really appreciate the information and looks like you’re pushing for him to do well, I really respect that.

I am a prospective student looking to attend Bimm this September or next (regarding I pass my driving test)

I have read the same, so many mixed reviews. It’s hard to decide but I think it all comes down to what you want to get out of the course and how hard you are going to work towards it, once you are in you really can’t give up.

All the best! 🙂

As this thread has been updated I too will update.

Feedback so far from Waterbear has been brilliant. I think it's going to be a real contender to rival the likes of Leeds Conservatoire & LIPA in the future. My son's friend has not only improved in his musicianship he has been getting some great opportunities and already starting to earn money from his music.

I have no skin in the game either way, my son as I said before also has friends at BIMM and he himself is at a different music college. But I'm impressed.