DMU Open Day

Saturday saw an early start for a new adventure. I had booked this weeks ago and become so excited about it that I didn't really realise how time consuming it would be until a couple of days before. I usually work Saturdays, but I managed to be allowed to work only half day once I got back. I went with Chantelle, a friend who is unsure about Uni and I was happy to learn that she enjoyed the day. Places like these establishments are eye opening.

The drive down was easy and we parked up just after 9am in the guest car park. Free parking - bonus points! I was anxious walking up to the check in of how the day would go, but it seemed by the end there really was no need to be. There was a welcome talk from the Vice President to start the day. The room he presented in filled up extremely fast that by the time we had reached the floor we were being directed into a different lecture theatre to watch his talk via a live stream; which was extremely impressive. Considering I was there to see the tech department, to see such a high standard of technology outside of that was comforting. No technical issues, no broken equipment in sight, just a slightly dodgy cameraman.


After the first talk had finished, we had about 15 minutes to get to the next welcome talk specifically for Technology in which their music department is based. In that space of time, I asked my friend to take some landmark photos of the day such as the one on the right, stood next to a very welcoming wall. The technology department is in the Queens Building and the lecture theatre we were in next was pretty breath taking. Decorated with wooden acoustic treatment and strange, yet not-enough-to-distract lights. As music is only a fraction of the department, it wasn't mentioned all that much. This didn't really dishearten me because the talk was still aimed at a diverse range of individuals.

It felt like there was so much to do. We had a small break in which I conversed with a few current students before heading to the next lecture room for a talk with Dr Bret Battey. He was very welcoming and enthusiastic and went into detail about what the course is about. It's sad to think that if I go I will miss out on certain things as I only wish to do my final year with them. After the talk, we all dispersed from the room which was fairly small yet full, to be toured around the department. We started with the studios in the Queens Building. The facilities absolutely blown me away. The quality of the studios, packed with up-to-date tech, various mixing consoles and preamps and live rooms which are able to be patched anywhere you need them. They even have a radio booth which they shown us and it is possible to patch the studios to the radio booth to broadcast a live session. Madness! These are facilities I can only dream of while I remain in Nottingham.

After all the fun of the tours, we had about an hour and half for lunch so it seemed right to explore the city. I'm unfamiliar with Leicester so we didn't get very far. We got as far as finding the closest McDonalds and dived in (we were getting really hungry, it was about 1pm by this point.) We still had one last tour to go back for to view the mastering studios and performance space, which was worth the wait. The journey home wasn't as fun. On the way back I had a small accident getting out of the city, but the car, myself and my friend still made it back in one piece, just very teary and shaken up. The thought of the costs and damage to my insurance premiums is still enough to set me off.

Otherwise, this was a fantastic day. I had so much fun and may have gotten a little to excited, but I need this right now. Something to be excited for. The feeling hovering around the department at college at the moment is dire, although seems to be settling.

Damn, I really want to go here.

First Day Back, Second Year.

Since I my body rudely awoken me at around 5am this morning I hadn't been very optimistic and I had surrounded myself in doubt as to how the day would pan out. I didn't need to be in college until, so I debated playing a quick game on the Playstation before I needed to be properly awake and out of the door. Maybe there was some excitement in waking up so early, but it wasn't very prominent. I had laid out my clothes and packed my bags the night before, so I didn't have too much to do and I didn't need to leave the house until after eight. I probably left a little later than I should as I ended up running across the road for the bus. I don't usually do this, but I would recommend it as the run resulted in a free bus ride (I think the driver was running later or something.) I was probably a little too emotional to deal with the kindness of the gesture, it was a good job I kept my sunglasses on.

I already had my headphones ready for the journey. I've been listening to a lot of Nicholas Wells recently, and Grand Ultra, that or the usual Green Day or Simple Plan. I was in town for just after 9am and seriously debated getting the bus up to Uni from Victoria Centre to Clarendon. I usually drive, but Goose Fair is on so I'm not used to such conundrums. It was a difficult choice, but I chose to walk in the end. It takes about twenty minutes if you don't stop for a breath. It's quite a hill, good o'l Mansfield Road, still all too familiar.

Naturally, I arrived half an hour early. I noticed while crossing the road the staff car park seemed emptier than usual. Normally, it would be full. It felt almost illusive to step inside. NCN logos still plastered everywhere yet, its now Nottingham College... Officially. It makes me wonder when they will let go of the whole NCN and Central names displayed as partnership, or if they could ever agree to that. It's odd. It's weird to be back. The department is smaller and if I'm too honest looking very sparse. One positive is that it makes it a niche community of creative minded people, for both staff and students. I sat upstairs once I arrived and everyone (that knew me) said hello; Rob, Andrew, Andy, Harry, Jacob. It was nice to feel welcome, but a little overwhelming and anxiety tipping. It wasn't until about 09:55am that the rest of my group started to show, Rob was second in followed by a new girl called, Melissa. She seems really nice and we got off to a comical start in sharing stories, I just wish I had been in a better frame of mind to build conversation rather than be cynical.

We had a long introduction to what we will be doing for the next few months. The two big projects at the moment are foley and soundtrack to video and some kind of Dub track. Despite listening endlessly today, I'm not sure I know exactly what I'm doing. Things are still being moved around to accommodate the changes, the Midi keyboards have changed colours and been moved around, but there are still no funds for new Macs. Admittedly, I'm quite disappointed. Not just because of the lack of new equipment, that would be unfair, but its clear that it's needed when there were so many petty technically issues today. These are errors beyond control of the lecturer, but when it happens regularly throughout the day, it certainly looks unprofessional and slows down the pace of everything.

I'm unsure what to make of this academic year, even though I've already been openly pessimistic to the other students, maybe even suggestively to staff. In a way, strangely I'm happy to know that my future will not be at Clarendon after this year, if what I have heard about the BA is correct. I'm still in the process of looking elsewhere and will need to review my personal statement before the end of the year. The current options seems to be NTU, DMU or Confetti since they aren't too far. I have an open day booked for DMU next weekend and I'm rather excited for it. There is a chance I could be going alone, but it will be worth it to find out more.

Through The Worst Of It

Although, I fear that I can't mention what it is that is truly troubling me, I do believe that I'm though the worst of it now. This last month has been difficult, but things are starting to take shape again as I start my second year. Enrolment was short and sweet. I filled out my forms with a DCSU pen, which I didn't realise until the end. The painful irony was enough to tickle me, making my tutor give me strange looks as I giggled away.  I bumped into Zanna, our HE Engagement & Employability Officer and reminded me of the responsibilities I had picked up last year as a rep. I had thought of ditching them through anger, but maybe after all it is best if I grit my teeth and stay on the team. With my course, it's not like there are many of us to represent. There were a couple missing at enrolment and our course has again gotten smaller. I believe there are severn of us this year. I'm interested to meet the new students and see the numbers for their courses.

Popers, not buttons...

In other news, I brought my first waistcoat yesterday. It seems to go well with my worn-navy jacket, tried with an autumnal blouse I bough last year. It is tanned leather and warm to wear out at this time of year. I fear that I may by more. I just need some posh shoes now.

Also, the band is doing well. We are up to our third gig now and have a couple more booked in for the rest of the year. For our last gig we played at The Maze with Talking to Frank, Super Furniture and Scott Bugg & The Vital Few. We are still at a stage where we don't particularly earn anything, but with the effort we have all put it hopefully it won't be long until that starts. I'm hoping to arrange some studio time at college for us soon, but I guess I need to get back into routine first although I'm hoping to pop the question this Thursday. We are more than ready.