Music Tec Ba

[guitpic]

I have Music Technology BA First Class Honours graduating this year.
Any suggestions what to do with it?

My tutor at college prior to Uni said no job at the end of it and a careers adviser said not worth the paper it is written on - both being seriously negative in my opinion - but I did it anyway.

The Job looking for doesn't have to be musical - but don't mind if it is.
I just missed the deadline for a local Library assistant vacancy which I would have liked that needed degree level but no specific subject. Museum work. Radio Stations etc.

At the moment I am working on a Farm.

I was thinking of doing an MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green technology because that is another interest - and I can with this grade - but would like to a well payed job. I like the Farm job (odd jobs spare hand) I have actually, but it is zero hours.

So I am fairly flexible but would welcome suggestions - maybe there is some direction I can take with it I have not thought of.

[Graham-W]

What a useful degree. Better start practicing, "Do you want fries with that?"
Sorry, but that seems to be the direction for a good few graduates these days.

[Zacs-Master]

I went to art college on a BA course and the tutors said 'no point doing this unless you want to be a teacher'. That was the last thing I wanted to do and so I changed to a more vocational course. I'm sorry but you've made a big mistake.

[boxtops]

These days a degree is, unfortunately, no guarantee of a job - and people with good degrees in specialist subjects may not find work in their fields. If you were going on to study at Masters level a) who would pay for it?. b) what sort of job would that open up to you?

What sort of work did you expect to find with the current BA? - it would be helpful to know what was in your mind.

[boxtops]

...and btw - I didn't study for a degree when I left school, I preferred to go to work - but later in life, when I found a job I liked and in which I could grow, I went on to study as a mature student, getting my Masters in a topic relevant to my then job when I was in my fifties. It was far better for me to draw on experience to gain that degree, than to go in cold straight from University.

[Buenchico]

Prospects is the official UK graduate careers website. 'Music Technology' isn't listed as a particular subject on its website (and I'd be prepared to bet that the vast majority of employers wouldn't have a clue as to what it's actually about!) but you might get some ideas by clicking any relevant links here:
http://prospects.ac.uk/options_with_your_subject.htm

The postgraduate study search facility might also be useful to you:
http://prospects.ac.uk/search_courses.htm

PS: Unlike some other above, I'd like to congratulate you on choosing a first degree course which suited your interests and talents, rather than simply looking for a career path. That's exactly what uni should be about!

[Maydup]

Sound Technician on a musical perhaps?

http://www.thestage.co.uk/recruitment/category.php/backstage

[EDDIE51]

I was going to ask what 'music technology' is never heard of it?

[Buenchico]

This link might help those who are struggling to understand what the course is about:
http://courses.wlv.ac.uk/Course.asp?code=MU003H31UVD
(Click 'Content').

It also has an 'Employability' sub-section, which might be of interest to Guitpic.

[black_cat51]

you seriously need a degree to be a library assisstant?
I thought it was just going round saying "shhhh" and using a stamper

[guitpic]

Thanks for the answers.
I don't think I made a mistake with the BA course.
It does create a confidence you may not otherwise have. Embellishes a personal interest. Looks good on a CV. Shows employers you can stick at something. Has transferable skills such as report writing, researching, working by myself or with people to get a result, capable of giving presentations.

The library assistant vacancy I just missed needed a degree but in any subject-which means I would have been eligible. It also means I could do an MSc in Environment Sustainability and Green Technology I would not otherwise have been able to do. Unfortunately you dont get a grant for that - so now I work on a farm - which actually is great as they have all the environmental tec etc to learn from.

As Buenchico says a degree course which suited my interests and talents, rather than simply looking for a career path is exactly what Uni should be about. By that it would mean cultivating interests and talents. Uni should also cultivate divergent thinking as well as focusing on specifics. In the end, irrespective of subject you should be able to handle quite a wide range of things the job market can throw at you. It would be nice if armed with that you could go and live your life the way you want to.

[Scarlett]

I think there is no point in doing a degree in something you are not interested in or good at. When I chose my degree I chose the most fun one I could find so that I could spend 3 years doing what I loved. I don't think I have ever been asked what my degree was in, just whether I had one or not. I went into a different area for my career but recently did at MA in my degree area, as I love it. I also taught music and music technology, and it is true that many graduates end up teaching, but also many are now self-employed musicians, teach privately, do youth work, work in non-teaching education jobs, work in the music business in record companies, PRS/MCPS, music publishing etc. Some have their own studios. It all depends on what you want to spend your time doing. Most people who do degrees have a random few years afterwards where they deviate, try new things, but ultimately you will end up doing what you are best at. So, identify what you would most love to do, and go all out to do that. Volunteer at first- do work experience and see if you like it. You could be a roadie, sound engineer for festivals, events organiser, find out about sound techs in the media- BBC/film world. Schools and colleges often need a music technician in the performing arts departments. Rather than just looking at what jobs are advertised, my advice would be to think of what you would love to do, and then do everything you can to get there, even if it means working unpaid for a bit.

[kinell]

Eventually with your armful of degrees you can be the middle-aged member of a University Challenge team.... the one who has never had employment and knows nothing about life outside school.

[factor-fiction]

I think that's a bit harsh, kinell. I did a degree and then post grad qualifications and have still worked for 30 years. Given that we may have to work until we are 70 I think there is plenty of time for people to fit in education