Progressing to Post Grad - My Journey in to Further Study

Posted on: 4 November 2022 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Stephen Banks is a Class of 2021 BA Music graduate who progressed to the MRes before applying to undertake a Music Composition PhD.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE COURSE?

I planned to take the MRes and PhD since the first year of my BA. I realised that Liverpool had ideal options for me after researching nearby composition postgraduate degrees.

HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

The BA degree was valuable and went well (first class). Before that I took an extended diploma in music technology along with a 90 credit diploma in music. I am a classically trained pianist (and teach piano), but in my free time I always produced music that is just as much electronic as acoustic. These elements integrated together to enable me to take the MRes in music composition with a specialisation in how it can intersect with technology.

YOUR FAVOURITE EXPERIENCE AS PART OF YOUR COURSE?

I had a great experience recently of performing my first MRes composition “Progression” with Ensemble 10/10 at the beautiful new Yoko Ono Lennon Centre Tung Auditorium.

THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR GRADUATE JOURNEY?

I have found the endings of the degrees most challenging since I had to create full proposals for the next degrees at the same time as finishing off final projects. That’s something to watch out for and prepare for.

TOP THREE TIPS FOR OTHER STUDENTS?

1. If you want to take a postgraduate degree, it is worth accumulating the proposal ideas well in advance. My ideas took a while to determine. They centre around using timbre modulations as primary elements of contrast and tension in mixed compositions that include electronics.

2. Music composition degrees are often practice-led/practice-based, so the music is central and writing primarily makes up a commentary linking the music ideas together.

3. It is beneficial to start working on assignments as soon as you find out about them, otherwise deadlines can arrive with surprising momentum. That way, university is more of a gradual process with reduced stress.