News

This year the University Centre Barnsley has seen a massive increase in student applications for its music courses, with Music Production and Sound Recording experiencing the largest rise.

Applications for the three year BA(Hons) degree have risen from sixteen, in 2007 to an incredible 146 in 2008.

The University Centre provides students with top class industry-standard equipment and great facilities in order for them to produce the highest quality work, Al McNichol, course leader, said: “We have three recording studios, five performance rooms, Apple Mac suites and industry standard kit which people recognise and want to learn how to use. All of the equipment we have is the same as what is used in a professional studio.”

Students on the music courses are taught a wide range of skills, Ali Ruane, a third year student on the course said: “We are taught everything from basic music theory to mixing and recording, the list goes on really. It is an extremely collective course and is focused at every stage.”

Al also thinks the increase could be due to the music industry becoming more accessible, he said: “I think this course seems to appeal to students who want to progress from BTec or A-Level, they see it as a way of getting them where they want to go. Before it may not have seemed such a good idea to go into the music industry but because off all the online networking it has opened up the distribution of music. You can sign a deal with Itunes or similar companies and they will distribute your music.”

The course is obviously proving to be very successful as some of the students currently on the course are already gaining experience in the industry, Al said: “A lot of our third year students are already working as producers on a freelance basis around their studies, and are often trying to set up on their own, they have got business plans and are investing heavily in their own equipment.”

Ali is one of the students working in the industry along side his studies, he told us, “I was already a professional singer before I started on the course, but I needed a technical background so after some research I decided on the course at the University Centre Barnsley. I am have been building up my relationships and working in the industry, I’ve done things like radio advertisements and at the minute I’m working on making demos for two bands. I have my own studio which I have built up over the three years I have been at university.”

The University Centre is providing students with access to a state of the art business development facility ‘The Business Mine’, which offers students and recent graduates funds and support to experiment with ideas in order for their business plans to take form. 

Al McNichol added “Our students get some real opportunities and they feel like they’ve got the skills to go out there, we encourage them to get out and work, as that’s the biggest thing they need to do to succeed.”

With such great courses on offer and facilities which prepare students to enter their chosen careers successfully, it looks like the University Centre Barnsley will be seeing increases in student applications year after year.