Answered by Tony Platt...

Q. How do I know which course is best for me?

A. You need to use a combination of research, information and common sense! Obviously any course with JAMES accreditation gives you an indication of value and industry relevance but I suggest you make a point of visiting all the possible colleges on your short list before applying. Look for the quality of the facilities and ask about access to them. Find out how many students will be competing for access and how many hours are available – then work out how much chance you will have to use them. Ask about how easy it is to change modules to find the best combination for you because you may find that your preferences change as you learn more.

Q. How important is work experience?

A. Extremely important. I always advise students to take the attitude that from the moment they start the course they are actually in the music business. That means you should start making yourself known to as many people as possible in your area of interest. Take any job in any part of the business and make yourself very useful – someone will notice.

Q. Will a degree help me to get a job?

A. No but it may help you to hang on to it though! What your degree (from an accredited course) will do is alert prospective employers of your capacity to learn and that you come to them with a solid understanding of the business and its mechanisms. What you have to prove for yourself is how well you can apply the knowledge. This is especially true for those of you taking production courses – the creative application of what you have learned is what will determine your success.

Q. What is the difference between 2, 3 & 4 year courses?

A. Two year courses are generally offered by private colleges and do not follow the normal academic year preferring to continue through the long break and complete the course sooner. This can be advantageous because it gets you out the other end more quickly, however it removes your potential for incorporating work experience into the course and the networking possibilities that offers. It can be quite intense too and reduce your access to practical facilities. Three year courses are the normal case, whilst four year courses incorporate a year out in industry which can be very useful indeed. Some three year courses have the option to defer the third year and do this yourself if you can find an employer to take you on.