Music facilities at uni (for non-music students)

[DietCokeUser]

DS is a keen drummer and wants to carry this on at uni (he's applying next year). He plays at home on an electronic kit but really appreciates being able to play on a proper kit at school.

Obviously he won't be able have a full drum kit in his uni room and asked me whether universities generally have music rooms available to students where a drum kit might be available. I don't know anything about this- wondered if anyone had any experience? He'd be happy to pay room hire if necessary.

Some will, especially if they have a good popular music department.

Or if he is in a university city with a conservatoire I know that members of the public can hire rehearsal rooms at ds's conservatoire.

Hello, this is a question I would ask of the music department (email/webchat etc) in the prospecting stage of your son's research, if it's high on his importance list, especially with drums vs more mainstream piano, wind/string type that the student owns.

Most unis will have music rooms. Accessibility will vary by uni, some ring-fenced for their music students, some operating booking system etc, even if the blurb says inclusive to all.

DD is just finishing freshers year, high performing musician at school but not furthering music at UG, and is the only non music student in her symphony orchestra, with many of the students filling places from the conservatoires. Her roomie is a drummer, plays in bands formed from the available societies so has gained access to practice indirectly, but admits the kit would not have been accessible without this.

All DD's peers from school have said inclusion has been limited in their respective unis, apart from those studying music. Most with their instruments untouched in their rooms after rejection at audition or lack of facilities.

On the positive, band life is good if the student is prepared to put themselves out there from the start, so I would just check in advance to avoid disappointment.

We've been combing the uni music society websites trying to suss out likely opportunities for playing - in our case orchestras, for someone who is not a string player and not grade 8+. It does seem to vary a lot, and some of the unis which don't have a music course look like a better bet.

There are generally bookable practice rooms at most established universities ( can’t speak for ex-polys) but these are unlikely to contain drum kits.

Contact the unis he is interested in, only they will know as things change.

My son studied music at a London uni recently.

They had multiple practice rooms, with an online booking system. Preference was given to music students.

Only some of the music rooms had a piano in them and those practice rooms were heavily booked.

One music practice room had a drum kit and a piano in it. It was very hard to get time in.

He is a drummer. His regular practice is now 6am-9am as that was when no-one else wanted the rooms.

Focus on the unis with a large music department. Sounds obvious but some unis don’t offer music or have a tiny dept so don’t have lots of rooms. A large student union eg Leeds might have spaces for hire too?

@DietCokeUser
You do need a strong music department but don’t expect to take up space needed for music students. However he needs to get into the music community. Maybe via meeting people in music clubs and activities run by the music department. He needs to meet musicians who need a drummer! He needs to check if he can use music dept kit. Unfortunately taking your own drums is an issue. It’s really difficult to know what he might be able to do but meeting musicians is a start! DH played in a group at uni. Bass guitar though!

Taking Leeds as an example it is a great city to consider as you have Leeds Uni, Leeds Arts, & Leeds Conservatoire all with great music departments (and at the conservatoire any member of the public can hire a room). Plus there are numerous commercial practice studios in the area if prepared to pay.

Don’t drummers want to play with other musicians though? Not practice on their own. DH didn’t want to strum away on his bass guitar alone in a room. You have to find other like minded people.

Of course they want to play with others but they need to practise their rudiments etc, alone in the same way as pianists & guitarists practise their scales. And a bass guitarist should also be practising various techniques alone too. It’s how you become a better player.

I could get a practice room most days a university (piano) but I don't know abhout access to instruments. I was doing law not music. I think the music students had priority but I never had any trouble getting a room.

Echo what everyone else says. Music facilities will be prioritised for students studying music. He's better off finding a band with rehearsal rooms.

Also look at universities who offer music production. My son’s friend is studying drama at a university that doesn’t run a music performance degree, but does do music tech. He is able to book a band room with drum kit fairly easily in the evenings & weekends.

@Comefromaway
Nah! DH just played with the group. He was good enough! They got paid as university support act at big gigs so he was just fine. As he is now. Reading music helps. No one expected a virtuouso bass guitarist.

It’s fine to be good enough if that’s what someone wants. But OP’s son wants to practice. You were implying that wasn’t needed.

my keyboard player son and his drummer friend recently played with a shit hot bass guitarist who was worlds apart from their usual one. The difference was astonishing. My son gets very frustrated when he plays with drummers who don’t practice. (He’s been spoilt with his friend who practices for hours on end).

We have been to a lot of open days because my son wants to do sound engineering and music production. All the universities have recording studios and sound booths and they need people to play for them to record.

I would contact them and offer to play for them. That way there is a good chance he won't have to pay for the room as he is doing them a favour.

Most places had a drum kit in at least one of the sound booths, so it must be a thing.

Good luck.

Also look for something like a music players’ society. These are often hiring rooms and have kit available.

Most universities have music societies and some have funded programmes even though it's not a university with a university music department. If he gets involved he'll get access to kit