SEM Case Study

Stuart Wood

BA (Hons) Music Production (Foundation Entry)

Are you looking for an industry-accredited music production course? Do you want to follow your passion for music production and audio engineering, whilst gaining an internationally recognised academic qualification in the process? The BA Foundation course is designed for students who both love music and have the ability to study for a degree, but don’t have the necessary formal qualifications to enter directly on to their chosen Honours degree programme. Stuart Wood recently finished the course at SEM therefore we decided to ask him about his experience.

stuart-wood-ba-foundation-music-production

What made you take the decision to study the BA foundation course at SEM?

I’d been in a very boring factory job for over twenty years and I’d become very depressed with being on a conveyor belt everyday, being deafened by the sound of machinery. It was a recipe for insanity. When I turned forty realised I had to change the situation. I was always obsessive about music so despite having no prior music making experience I just decided to go for the BA Honours course. As a serious degree course it would help me channel my passion into a career change as well. I’d already met Lucy at the school a few years prior, she really impressed me on my first visit. I couldn’t take a course at that time, but when I finally got my chance, I took it.

Flexible entry requirements
Music production experience desirable but not essential
24/7 access to the Media Factory housing state-of-the-art industry-standard audio facilities.

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What did you enjoy about the course/ find challenging (if anything)?

I found the whole course challenging, but in a good way, having no prior experience producing (other than DJing) every lesson was a revelation and completely engrossing. It’s so much fun to learn something you love. I’d come from a very dry, scientific job so it was great to have a fresh subject to get into. The tutors are excellent so your understanding grows quickly. The first two months were daunting, having left college so many years ago. There were days I genuinely thought I’d gone completely mad and really doubted myself. Around halfway through the course, it dawned on me that I could actually do well, I got a bit of confidence and that was all I needed. And I was right, I got a better than a pass!

Now that you have finished the course, what are your career plans for the future?

I’ve honestly no idea. I’m really enjoying learning the craft of music making. From Ableton to learning the piano, Max For Live, Mastering, every aspect of it is fascinating. So I’m just committed to studying hard, building my experience and seeing where the adventure takes me. I’m already considering doing a Master’s (providing I do well with my degree course). I’m hoping for better than being chained to a conveyor belt whatever happens.

“I found the whole course challenging, but in a good way, having no prior experience producing (other than DJing) every lesson was a revelation and completely engrossing. It’s so much fun to learn something you love. I’d come from a very dry, scientific job so it was great to have a fresh subject to get into. The tutors are excellent so your understanding grows quickly.”

Were you producing music prior to joining the course?

The only time I’d tried to “produce music” before was with some awfully basic software called “eJay” in 2001. At the time I thought it was incredible. It was a good way to waste some time after the club. But I’d always had musical ideas, since rave music started when I was a teenager. I’d imagine my own tune, and “mix” another imaginary tune into it, and so on, like a DJ mix. It’s quite annoying when you’re trying to get to sleep. But until last year I’d never thought to do anything constructive with these ideas.

Are you producing / performing outside of SEM?

Yes/no. Producing is hard. I’m always hurrying myself to get music finished when I should probably be taking my time, just experimenting with the trillion options you have available to you these days, before attempting to capture something and call it a coherent piece of music. I’ve got so much to learn, from music theory to technology. The pressure is, of course, to have a sound that defines you but that’s a while off for me yet. Ultimately I’d like to be able to trigger or influence music that to some degree generates itself, on the fly, similar to what happens my imagination. I don’t even know exactly what I mean. Lots of people are working separately on that kind of thing, and it seems like tech is about to get frighteningly more powerful, as if that should even be possible.

Thinking about enrolling on a BA Foundation Course Why not call us on 0161 8334722 and arrange a chat with course tutor Tom Lonsborough.

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SEM Case Study

Stuart Wood

BA (Hons) Music Production (Foundation Entry)

Flexible entry requirements

Music production experience desirable but not essential

24/7 access to the Media Factory housing state-of-the-art industry-standard audio facilities.

Sign up for our SEM newsletter

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