Arts subjects and What to expect*

FV-Emperor

I have maynooth down as my first choice,(arts) can anyone give me any insider information on the lectures and tutors for the arts subjects they have done or useful information about the college in general?

Michellenman

French Geography and English tutors all very friendly and helpful. Go to your tutorials and let them get to know your face, this came in handy for me come results time.

Ostrom

The sociology tutors are excellent

FV-Emperor

Would anyone have any info on the anthropology teachers or business, they're just two things I was giving a lot of thought into doing.

allandanyways

didja miss the sticky at the top of the page? :rolleyes:

FV-Emperor

thanks for telling me....geeez so embarrassing...

barleybooley

What to expect, let me see, drinking and lots of it, a very small percentage of lecture attendance and of course, tonnes of free time. I kid
Well, I have to do my bit to promote the Science Faculty so Maths Physics is a good choice if you're even okay at Maths as a filler subject if you wanted to do something like Maths and Geography say in second and third year. If you did Physics in secondary school, that's also a handy filler subject. I *think* the same goes for Biology. Psychology can be quite challenging if you don't keep on top of it. Hope this helps

FV-Emperor

Yeah cheers any info like that is useful

CaoimH_in

Should I be worried?

I want to learn music, as in an arts course, is college the right pllace to really start an instrument from scratch? I have guitar, Im sure with a little bit of effort, I could figure how to sight read with notes etc and buy Nylon etc. But in truth my hopes were to start Piano. Is it stupid to head into college to study something your really interested in and will put effort into, but currently am **** at?

Should I be worried?

banquo

If you put the work in then yes, you can do it.

You're talking 2-4 hours a day practice though, whereas an already competent player would just need to rehearse their pieces in the weeks leading up to the exam.

However, in first year, you'll have plenty of time for practice assuming that you don't also have a full-time job, a bank loan, no car, and have to spend 4 hours a day travelling.

*bitter*

FV-Emperor

I'm learning the guitar as well, I hope to busk as soon as I can play some songs, and you find out a lot have the same chords.
Do they teach an instrument from scratch in arts, music.

CaoimH_in

yep, I shall be doing you sir

banquo

FV-Emperor wrote: »

I'm learning the guitar as well, I hope to busk as soon as I can play some songs, and you find out a lot have the same chords.
Do they teach an instrument from scratch in arts, music.

Yes. You can either sign up for free tuition there from a teacher, or else they pay your existing teacher up to a certain amount.

It's not as scammable as it once was.

Ostrom

barleybooley wrote: »

What to expect, let me see, drinking and lots of it, a very small percentage of lecture attendance and of course, tonnes of free time. I kid
Well, I have to do my bit to promote the Science Faculty so Maths Physics is a good choice if you're even okay at Maths as a filler subject if you wanted to do something like Maths and Geography say in second and third year. If you did Physics in secondary school, that's also a handy filler subject. I *think* the same goes for Biology. Psychology can be quite challenging if you don't keep on top of it. Hope this helps

On that point, this combination (Maths and Geography) will be an excellent high-demand degree to have over the coming years. Between the NCG and the increasing number of researchers working in modelling/remote sensing, you would be well set

banquo

Worked in Swords School of Music. On the last day of term the only thing anybody wanted to talk about in the staff room was the dole, process of signing on, etc.

Effluo

CaoimH_in wrote: »

Should I be worried?

I want to learn music, as in an arts course, is college the right pllace to really start an instrument from scratch? I have guitar, Im sure with a little bit of effort, I could figure how to sight read with notes etc and buy Nylon etc. But in truth my hopes were to start Piano. Is it stupid to head into college to study something your really interested in and will put effort into, but currently am **** at?

Should I be worried?

There are plenty of things that people would like to be able to do, but in fact when doing them we find that it's not quite what you thought it would be.

Learning to play a musical instrument is a very tedious and frustrating process.

Learning to read music and the amount of practice needed. It's a heck of a lot of work!

I would really recommend that you go for some piano lessons in the next few weeks and see how you get on. See if you really can stand all the frustration and keep on doing it.


I've 1/4 learned to play loads of different instruments, i know i can't do it. That's why i think you should try it out before you potentially waste a year on it.
(prob should call the department too and see what they think)

FV-Emperor

I already have a guitar anyway and I just love playing it even though I'm not much good at it yet. What about lets say if you decide not to do music as a subject, would the college music department cater for anyone like that, who has an immense interest but doesn't fancy it as a course of 3rd level study?

banquo

No. Nope. Zilch. Nein hope.

Which is a shame, tbh. Having said that there is the Music Society, led by our own very sexy Funky Penguin, not to mention a campus full of otherwise cash-strapped potential teachers.

funky penguin

I'm only the lowly VP I'm afraid! :P

We have a few things in the pipe, have to meet with el presidente and SU Brian as well about them.

Something DCU do interests me - their Music Soc is the middle man between music students and other students who want decently priced tuition.

The only problem with this is a place to teach. Guitars and other portable instruments aren't a problem - the students house is as good as the teachers - but with teh likes of piano, its music students only in the practie rooms.

Saying that, I'd have no problem teaching someone on my digital piano. Might teach them bad habits though.

Oh feck, I've hijacked the thread. Sorry!

FV-Emperor

no that's alight its all helpful info, I'd be definitely up for fairly priced tuition.
Would anyone be able to ansewer how many society someone can feasibly join without you know, flunking all your exams come test time...

geurrp the yard

Has anyone had any experiences with the double maths (MH104) or geography.

Michellenman

Just finished 1st geography. Course was grand. 3 out four modules were exam based and the other was continuous assessment. First semester the modules were intro to physical geog and intro to Human geog. 2nd semester it was Physical geog: Climate and Human geog: People and places.

The classes are huge. It was split in to 2 because not everyone could fit in to JH1 (holds ~350 people I think...) which meant it was only 2 hours of lectures a week.

Tutorials were also split in to so we had a tutorial every second week. Tutors are lovely, very helpful and easy to get in touch with. The tutorials are Physical one week and human the next, they alternate. About 10-16 people per tutorial. These count towards your grades and the work you do for them is important too.

I'd say about 40-60% of the physical geography stuff is stuff you've learnt at leaving cert level. You don't have to have taken geography beforehand by the way. It's done as if you've no prior knowledge of the subject which is savage because at LC level things are glossed over and taught in laymans terms.

The human geography in more complex. Quite similar (I assume) to sociology. Why people settle where they do, what factors are taken in to account for population densities etc.

Quite and enjoyable subject. I took it for my LC and I love it in NUIM but I've a friend who's done the same and has hated it.

Hope this helps.

FV-Emperor

The human geo side is more interesting for me personally, I was thinking Anthropology but then geo is much more useful if you want to do secondary teaching.

Do people think its better to specialise in 1 subject in their 2nd year or take 2....major/minor I think

tootyflutty

Banquo, how much is the teacher payment thing? I'll be staying with the teacher I have hopfully, well at least till I have the RIAM Diploma next year. Or would it be a good idea to take the one offered there? Do they teach with with the aim of passing college exams, or do they allow you to continue with RIAM/Associate board?

Michellenman

As far as I know if you've an Anthropology degree you can teach cspe and the likes at second level. It's a new thing brought in.

irish_goat

Unrelated but stickin this in here. I've an interview with Vincent Comerford of the history dept this week. What's he like? Any tips on impressing the guy?

Ostrom

irish_goat wrote: »

Unrelated but stickin this in here. I've an interview with Vincent Comerford of the history dept this week. What's he like? Any tips on impressing the guy?

A straight up guy

No nonsense with him. He is very pleasant, but also very focused. Know your stuff!

meganj

efla wrote: »

A straight up guy

No nonsense with him. He is very pleasant, but also very focused. Know your stuff!

seconded! Comerford rocks, the man knows everything worth knowing about Irish history. The one problem with him is if your on your own with him he does tend to go on a bit.. but you'll just have to let him. But he's a genuinely nice guy!

hypersquirrel

irish_goat wrote: »

Unrelated but stickin this in here. I've an interview with Vincent Comerford of the history dept this week. What's he like? Any tips on impressing the guy?

Ah you needn't be worried about a meeting with him. He's one of the nicest lecturers in the college. The best way to impress him is just to be enthusiastic. If it's a postgrad you're after then he'll just want an idea that he thinks you seem excited about.

LoLth

closing this thread. there's a sticky, please use it for enquiries and descriptions etc.