Marion Smith, a student of MusM Music (Ethnomusicology) shares with us some insights into her time at Manchester.

Why did you choose to study this master’s course at The University of Manchester? 

I had really enjoyed studying Music in my undergrad, and I was particularly interested in the ethnomusicological things I had learnt – this was a discipline that I had never encountered before I started my MusB. In my final year I just felt that I’d only scratched the surface of the topics I was studying, and I wanted to stay on longer – I felt there was so much more for me to learn. At the time I was weighing up whether I wanted to do a Masters in Musicology or Ethnomusicology, and ultimately decided that Ethnomusicology was the more appropriate choice, as I didn’t want to approach the music I was studying through a predominantly Eurocentric framework. 

How much time do you spend in classes and private study? 

My Master’s is part-time, so as well as regular dissertation supervisions, I’ve had roughly one taught module per semester over the last two years- this amounted to around three or four hours a week of class time, plus any modules I was auditing. I work alongside my degree in a residential job as a freelance researcher and musician, and doing a part time Master’s has made it significantly easier to balance my jobs and my studies – on average, I would spend around half of my working week on my Master’s work. 

What has been the highlight of your course so far? 

I’ve found the dynamics of lots of my classes to be very enjoyable – the modules I’ve taken that are specific to ethnomusicology have had under 10 class members, which has meant we’ve been able to have very in-depth conversations and debates, and that we’ve been able to draw specific focus to the things that we’re individually interested in. These classes have provided a really encouraging and interesting foundation for beginning my ethnomusicological research. I’ve also been able to take free choice modules outside of my academic department, such as modules in gender and sexuality studies, and I’ve really enjoyed being able to apply things I’ve learned in these classes to my work in Ethnomusicology. 

What has been the most challenging part of your course so far? 

I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this, but working on a Master’s degree during a pandemic has presented considerable challenges. When you’re in the face of a pandemic, going about your day in isolation working towards essay deadlines becomes a strange way to spend your time, but I’m really glad I’ve been able to work through this challenge.  

Have you undertaken any fieldwork as part of your course? 

Fieldwork plays a significant role in ethnomusicological research, and my dissertation project has a fieldwork component – I’m exploring the role that music has on the Manchester drag scene, and I’m conducting interviews with drag artists in and around Manchester on their drag and musical identities. As this has taken place during the pandemic, the majority of this fieldwork takes place online – I’m conducting interviews with participants over zoom, and the participant observation I’ve been doing has become a study of Manchester’s virtual drag spaces as entertainment has had to move online. Although this fieldwork has looks very different to how I first imagined it at the beginning of my Master’s, I’ve not only been able to adapt my fieldwork in these unexpected circumstances, but incorporate my own experience of e-fieldwork during the pandemic into my project as a form of autoethnography.  

How would you describe your student experience so far? 

I’d describe my student experience as a welcome and enjoyable challenge. I’ve found my Master’s more enjoyable than my undergrad, more so because I’ve had more freedom to explore the areas of study I’m most interested in, and studying part time has made my schedule of work versus academia far more manageable. I feel like this time working on my Master’s has allowed me to work as both a student and a graduate freelancer, which has been really invaluable.  

What is the best thing about living and studying in the city of Manchester? 

There’s really nowhere else in the UK I’d rather be living. There’s just so much going on in Manchester when it comes to arts and culture. It’s also a lot cheaper to live in than other large cities in the UK, which helps.  

What kind of accommodation do you live in?  

During my Master’s I’ve worked as a ResLife Advisor in student halls of residence, which means that I’m the first port of contact for students in my hall if they’re experiencing any problems– in return for working in this role, RLAs live in the halls of residence free of charge. Living in halls as a student can be really beneficial if you’re looking for a greater sense of student community in where you live, and it can be very handy to have most of the services you need onsite.  

Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?  

Alongside my degree I’ve also been involved in a climate activism organisation that focuses on local environmentalism and aims to hold institutions in Manchester such as the City Council accountable for their (in)action on climate change. Aside from this being fulfilling work as it’s a cause I feel very strongly about, my involvement has enabled to develop lots of new skills and forge so many new connections in both climate spheres and cultural sectors in Manchester – this work has led me to write, edit and design a handbook on climate change directed at students, which is absolutely not something I thought I would do in my time here! I’d really recommend that students consider doing some volunteering around an area of change they feel strongly about, because the work you do can take you to some very unexpected places. 

Do you have any tips for future students? 

The main advice I have is to be open to lots of different opportunities, because you really don’t know what things might spark your interest and what new things you might learn. I feel like a very different person from when I started my Master’s two years ago, and a lot of that is to with the activities and communities I’ve been involved with during my time studying. The same goes for exploring Manchester –there’s really something for everyone living in a city like this, and it’s really important to explore Manchester outside of the Oxford Road corridor! I’ve also found a really good way to relieve some stress if you’re overwhelmed with your workload is to get out of the city and into Manchester’s surrounding countryside – you can find some really lovely walking trails via a 30 minute train ride out of Manchester, and it’s a really good way to get out of your head if you’re stressed.  

What are your plans for life after graduation?  

I’m really interested in studying for a PhD, although I’m planning on taking a break for a little while beforehand. I already do freelance music and research work, and I’ll be looking for more jobs after I graduate – I’m really interested in jobs that are working to make arts and culture more accessible.  

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