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Original poster

Thoughts and experiences on Music degrees at Universities

93 replies

Aktea · 28/07/2022 07:46

DD, awaiting GCSE results, is strongly considering a Music degree. There are a lot of choices and having looked at modules offered it would appear Uni's vary greatly in the kind of degree and experience you get. She is a better academic than performer and so we assume Uni a better choice than Conservatoire? She particularly enjoys composition. She doesn't really know what she wants to do afterwards.

OP posts:
waltzingparrot · 03/08/2022 22:26

Uni of Chichester has some interesting music degrees. My friend's son is there and has had an amazing experience.

colouringindoors · 03/08/2022 22:47

Aktea · 28/07/2022 07:46

DD, awaiting GCSE results, is strongly considering a Music degree. There are a lot of choices and having looked at modules offered it would appear Uni's vary greatly in the kind of degree and experience you get. She is a better academic than performer and so we assume Uni a better choice than Conservatoire? She particularly enjoys composition. She doesn't really know what she wants to do afterwards.

wow I could have written this about my dd!

We rate Royal Holloway, Cardiff, Surrey, Leeds, Huddersfield.

choirmumoftwo · 03/08/2022 22:48

@OperaStation not harsh but I must disagree with you. DS wanted to study music to degree level and was very capable of doing so. I know of few 18 year olds who have a very definite career plan so a degree apprenticeship is actually a risk for them, as is any very vocational degree.
There is still huge value in studying a subject for the love of it and ultimately, DS will be paying for it (I'm very aware that the student loan system is flawed). Music is very definitely regarded as a rigorous academic degree, particularly from a RG university, and is actually a common qualification held by entrants to postgraduate law courses for example.
His current job did not require a degree but in a very competitive field certainly did not hold him back (UK central government department with excellent progression opportunities).

JoJoJoyner · 03/08/2022 22:56

Colouring, ooh great! Yes Cardiff and Leeds liked here too, also RH but not sure on the locale.

sorcerersapprentice · 03/08/2022 23:04

Watching

sorcerersapprentice · 03/08/2022 23:05

Anyone considering or have knowledge of joint maths and music or computer science and music degrees?

OxbridgeHopeful · 03/08/2022 23:23

My DS is another would-be composer; when we first started discussing how to choose A-levels last year we had an interesting discussion about "ways to make a career in music that would support you until composing could earn you a living". I've tried to encourage him to look at some of the combined courses but his decision has come down to maths for undergrad and trying for a organ scholarship. For him I think that will keep doors open; when he commented a couple of months back that he doesn't like writing about music (though we get told he's very good at it), it cemented that he was making a good choice.

I caught up with a friend of my daughter's a few weeks ago, who's two years into a music degree. I asked if she was still into composition, she commented that her course doesn't really cover the kind of composition she's interested in ...

CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 03/08/2022 23:52

Ahh yes @OxbridgeHopeful that is one thing to look out for...how strict a degree is about studying only Western Classical. Some won't veer too far away, great to have the foundation. Not so great if you want to do composition for e.g computer games.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 04/08/2022 04:58

@OxbridgeHopeful
As mentioned upthread DS2 has been accepted into Oxford with an organ scholarship. If you've got any questions please feel free to PM me.

JoJoJoyner · 04/08/2022 07:14

Sorcerers, yes as mentioned upthread DD has looked at joint degrees with Maths. Has looked at Cardiff, Leeds, RH and Birmingham. Likes the idea but wonders if this increases flexibility and employability or if it actually narrows it. You have to look at modules closely, Birmingham for instance doesn't let you follow composition on the joint course. But you do wonder what combinations are actually possible for all these courses.

Some Liberal Arts courses also allow this combination, although Nottingham for example also requires some compulsory overarching modules which DD not massively keen on.
Would definitely welcome views on this.

Saker · 04/08/2022 08:07

There are so many would be composers out there and it is such a competitive field! As mentioned in my earlier post my Ds1 did composition at RNCM as part of the Joint Course and is now going on to do a Masters and I would definitely say that if you are keen on composition you need to try and get some sort of 1:1 teaching from a composition teacher and not just rely on a university course. If you apply to conservatoire you would have to choose an instrument or composition and obviously if you choose composition you would automatically get tuition in that.

OP, and those with children in a similar position who might be interested in composition, I would actually suggest taking a few lessons privately with a composition teacher in the next year or so before applying. It doesn't need to be weekly like with a musical instrument so shouldn't work out really expensive. But that way they can see whether they would really be interested and having a few well-presented scores that they can show at interview would really give them an advantage. It is not so difficult to get into conservatoire for composition as with e.g. piano because there is a generally lower standard as most students haven't really had the chance to do it.

I would also suggest entering a few competitions - there are quite a few opportunities for under 18s and often the prize includes some sort of mentoring and the chance to get your work played and again that is invaluable in understanding whether it's really something you would like to do.

Malbecfan · 04/08/2022 13:51

@RandomMess the music and sound recording course at Surrey is excellent but very competitive. You need A levels in Maths and Physics to get in there and it's hard work once you are there. I had 3 of my A level group go in 2020 - not bad for a course of only 24!

Soma · 04/08/2022 14:26

@Aktea we attended a college open day a few months ago and the head of music was very excited when several girls expressed an interest in studying composition and in particular film at degree level. He said there were lots of opportunities available to talented female composers and the industry were doing a lot to attract them.

Side note, not many MNetters would discourage a DC from studying law or a stem subject, but law is massively over subscribed with the majority of students unable to get a training contract or pupillage. Most will never work anywhere near law and may end up working in a role that doesn't require a degree.

JoJoJoyner · 04/08/2022 15:01

How interesting. Did he elaborate on what the industry was doing to attract female composers in particular?

Saker · 04/08/2022 15:58

From what I have seen there is definitely a drive to improve the gender balance and the diversity of composers in general. However there are still relatively few jobs compared to would be composers.

Saker · 04/08/2022 16:05

https://soundandmusic.org/ is a useful website.

Soma · 04/08/2022 17:06

@JoJoJoyner he didn't say how. But he did say he would be able to get them internships, access to industry insiders and recommend various competitions.

Soma · 04/08/2022 17:08

@JoJoJoyner I forgot to say the head of music was talking about composition for film and games.

gogohmm · 04/08/2022 17:44

@colouringindoors

Dd is at Cardiff doing the BMus currently. It's very good

colouringindoors · 05/08/2022 19:39

@gogohmm oh thanks! That's great to hear 😀

Mumwithbaggage · 18/08/2022 00:06

One of my dd's friends graduated from Guildhall in 2018 and is making a very big name for himself as a composer/arranger.

My degree is in music (a very academic RG course and many years ago) and I have a performance diploma too. I taught music for a while before children but I never loved it, was just good at it and listened to my mother too much. Friends from my year are lecturing at universities in music, performing, working in opera as well as being yoga teachers and all sorts. I should have done law. Mind you, dd1 with a great law degree and PG is coding and loves it. It's all part of a lifelong journey of learning and exploring.

Meanwhile, a long night in our house waiting for Youngest dc's A level results...

CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee · 18/08/2022 00:39

We have a thread (or two) in further Ed @Mumwithbaggage if you've seen apologies so busy tonight

YingMei · 18/08/2022 09:57

I did a music degree at Southampton uni (ages ago! - Graduate 2008). It was a great course and still is, however, 14 years later I regret doing a music degree and wish I had done something else. Outside of being a music teacher (which I used to do but don't anymore), it has been very hard to get anyone to take my degree seriously and believe that I have transferrable skills. I don't think music degrees are taken particularly seriously by a lot of people.

Littlebird43 · 18/08/2022 10:16

I did a music degree at University and went on to a career in the industry as an administrator. I recommend looking for a course with:


  • lots of staff with actual industry experience and contacts (a lot of academics have only ever been in education having gone from PHD to teaching - this is pretty useless!)

  • go to a Uni with a wide range of other arts courses so that you can mix with the sort of creative people you will mix with during your career (actors, dancers, writers, teachers, creative computer programmers etc)

  • Near or in a city with a good cultural scene - great for work experience and seeing lots of professional culture.

  • For a-levels I recommend doing just one music and then a mix of other subjects - this will serve you better after your degree if you continue working or studying in a non-music field

  • Don't necessarily go with the default instrumental teacher who your University recommends - they can be awful.

  • The other option for a career in music is to study something else for a degree but continue music studies with a private teacher alongside - I know several excellent professional musicians (including soloists) with first degrees in business, science etc who never studied music at University or College, they just had a really good private teacher for their instrument.

  • Look at summer schools at places like Dartington - they often have bursaries for students and offer excellent experience and contacts

Berkomum11 · 19/06/2024 11:32

Looking for advice on music degrees for DD. Want good range of modules, supportive faculty. Daughter sings, not sure what she’ll do after but potentially teach… does music, music tech and media A levels.
thoughts wed attend following open days: Southampton, Northumbria, Surrey, Bangor, any suggestions welcome