Hi, we all study Music, and we’d love to tell you why it’s such a great subject to
study at university.
When studying music, your brain needs to simultaneously process different pieces of information at
quick speeds.
When playing music, you are strengthening the bridge between your logical left hemisphere
and your creative right hemisphere.
So, the more you practice, the more this bridge is developed.
This means that musicians are more likely to process information quicker and craft creative
solutions, ideal for both academic and social situations.
Not only do you become more intelligent when you’re playing an instrument, it also maintains
good physical health, mental health and well-being, due to its relaxing and anti-aging benefits.
Your memory systems are also strengthened, as musicians have a great ability to create,
store, categorise and retrieve memories.
At Birmingham, you can study Music on its own, or you can combine it with Modern Languages
or Mathematics.
These Joint Honours combinations are complementary pairings with Music, as they strengthen your
left and right hemispheres further, boosting your brain-power.
Think a more creative subject won’t make you employable?
Think again.
Studying music has almost limitless benefits when it comes to employability.
Your personal organisation will be on top form thanks to your rigorous self-discipline,
time management and dedication to help you succeed in a competitive field.
Your event management and teamwork skills will show employers that you are able to come
up with creative solutions and work with others effectively.
Your communication skills will be enriched each time you research, analyse and interpret
complex information to come up with compelling, concise, and coherent arguments.
Birmingham also offers a number of optional vocational modules, including ‘conducting’
and ‘arts management’, to help you boost your CV even further.
The University of Birmingham has fantastic employability prospects, and a high percentage
of our students are in work or further study just six months after graduating.
This is no surprise, as Birmingham produces employable Music graduates with grounding
in all major musical disciplines.
In your second and final years, you can choose to specialise in performance, paper composition,
musicology or studio composition – so you can really tailor your degree towards your
interests and your dream career.
Our Music department is over 100 years old, but is housed in a state-of-the-art 21st century
facility, the Bramall Music Building.
It has fantastic features, such as our 450-seat Elgar Concert Hall, Electroacoustic Music
Studios and Centre for Early Music Performance.
Concerts also take place in the amazing Art Deco concert hall in the Barber Institute
of Fine Arts, which is also found on campus.
Plus, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to music-making opportunities at the
University of Birmingham.
Our Music Society was founded in 1907, and has over 700 members, including students,
staff and members of the local community.
Our society has two full-sized orchestras, Symphony and Philharmonic, as well as Brass
Band, Wind Band, Saxophone Choir, Chamber Choirs, University Chorus, and the award-winning
Big Band.
There are so many opportunities to perform on campus, including at the annual student-run
‘Summer Festival of Music’, and off-campus with Birmingham’s CBSO and even at the BBC
Proms in London.
You will receive lessons for up to two instruments, including voice, and we enjoy close links
with the CBSO and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where many of our students receive practical
tuition.
The city of Birmingham itself is home to an eclectic offering of annual music festivals
- from Jazz, Funk and Soul, to Experimental, Hip-Hop and Swing.
Festivals aside, there’s always something going on in Birmingham's diverse local music
scene for a well-earned study break.
From sell-out arenas and classical concert halls to intimate jazz and rock clubs, there
really is something to suit all musical tastes.
When I graduate, I’d like to apply for one of the University’s paid Cultural Internships
with a music organisation in the city.
After that, I’d like to go into composing for the media.
I know graduates from my course who have gone on to work for so many amazing companies,
such as the Royal Opera House and the BBC - and in many different roles from marketing,
teaching and composing, to events and orchestra management.
I hope that we’ve shown you just how many opportunities studying music at university
can give you, from almost limitless health benefits and performance opportunities, to
fantastic career prospects.
To find out more about what we’ve talked about, you can visit our website.