Hi, I’m Josh and I’m a first-year student on the MusB Music course. What excited me the most before arriving in Manchester was the opportunity to push myself further as a musician alongside so many others also seeking to do the same. Before joining, my interest in music largely came from the joy I had experienced when composing and performing. I looked forward to collaborating with my fellow students, supporting each other in an environment where several musical experts help guide our progress. 

When I began my degree, I was nervous about how my musical ability would compare to others’. From music theory to improvisation, I worried that I might simply not be good enough, and that I might find it difficult to keep up with an intense university schedule. But in my first few days, I found out that every individual student has their own musical strengths and weaknesses. While much is expected of us from our professors, we aren’t immediately put under high pressure. Instead, the courses gently ease us into our new musical studies, with ample room for learning from your mistakes and asking questions.

I didn’t expect every single one of my modules to be so full of contrasting perspectives. Whether it be musicology, with its varying arguments on how we ought to approach the study of music; tonality, where harmony can be interpreted more subjectively than I’d thought; or composition, where various theories and approaches can inform the process of making and understanding music, as a student who desires to develop my own personal approaches to making music and understanding music that already exists, I find the discourse thrilling.

Think of the MusB at University of Manchester as an opportunity to study a diverse array of subjects in depth. This degree offers more than specialisation in only performance or composition, or musicology, or analysis or any other area. Despite this, it still gives us the benefit of depth, through which we can develop real expertise.

As a student near the beginning of my undergraduate journey, I would advise you not to rush making up your mind about which areas of music you find interesting and which you don’t. In trying my best to keep an open mind (likely failing some of the time!), I keep finding myself intrigued by topics that I didn’t know I took an interest in! This degree is for you if you wish to be well rounded in your approaches to music, exploring various areas, even if you aren’t yet sure of what you like. This is a great opportunity to find out. Finally, studying and making music is all about the joy and fascination that it brings, so please try to enjoy it!

Written by Josh, a first year Music student

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