My Blooming Path to a Music Producer
Sofia Lima Martins
Student of BSc(Hons) Sound Engineering and Music Production
Olá! (Hello in Portugese) My name is Sofia and I’m in my final year of Sound Engineering and Music Production. I’m originally from a small town in the heart of Portugal and I’ve decided to come to the UK to pursue my dream of becoming an independent music producer.
An abundance of music technology courses available in the UK
I have always felt within me a creative sense and approach towards life. Music is always close to my heart and I find it intriguing and fun. However, I come from Portugal, a country where only a few institutions offer music technology education. After graduating from high school, as my parents insisted that I should go to university and make the most of my time there, I decide to apply for universities in the UK, and try living alone overseas for the first time.
In the UK, there are lots of universities providing music production courses, so it felt like a blessing to be presented with so many options to choose from. I was extremely lucky to have been offered a conditional offer for the BA of Creative Music Production at the University of Huddersfield, and then I asked to be transferred to BSc Sound Engineering and Music Production simply because I was looking for something more technical.
Lecturers provide strong support to build music technology background
At first I felt anxious because I am new to this country and I didn’t have any music technology background. But soon I felt at ease because the lecturers were all very positive: all of them seem happy with their job which is reflected on the enthusiasm and eagerness in classes. They are consistently available to provide any help related to the course, should you need it, as well as provide constant feedback on your work and advice on how to follow through with assignment projects.
I am always made to feel very comfortable when expressing my difficulties, however basic they are. The lecturers and staff make sure that I am keeping up with the material being taught in class, the progress of my assignments and my overall wellbeing, which feels quite like a personal exchange.
Students could get access to professional musical facilities and equipment
Another remarkable advantage about this establishment is the extensive availability of professional facilities, equipment and materials you can request to work with. Whether it’s for academic or personal use, students are allowed to book a variety of tools that can aid their work progression. These include studios, musical instruments, industry standard software, recording equipment and so on. It is easy to access to these facilities as each student just needs to sign into the booking website, select the facilities/equipment you need, and then collect from the Music Tech Store. The staff in the store are friendly because some of them are fellow music tech students taking placement year!
My place here as a student at the university has exposed me to a lot of more different possibilities than what I initially arrived with. The large network and range of opportunities have definitely made an impact on how I plan to approach my career path as a music producer. Besides the constant pull towards due academic work, being at university has been mostly a place for me to reflect and grow as an artistic individual. University isn’t just a place for me to graduate with a degree, it is also a place that allows me to rethink my decisions and reshape my future away from the comforting influential bubble present at home.
I hope my words inspire you to be a music producer in a nearby future!
