Thinking of Doing Music in Maynooth, Is it a good university.

S.Moran

Is it a good university.
What is college life like up there?

K4t

Non music student here:

Everyone I know doing music in Maynooth cannot praise it highly enough. There is so much more for music students outside of their actual set cirriculum including numerous music societies, music sessions during the week etc etc. Seriously good college for anyone interested in music according to everything I've heard!

tootyflutty

K4t wrote: »

Non music student here:

Everyone I know doing music in Maynooth cannot praise it highly enough. There is so much more for music students outside of their actual set cirriculum including numerous music societies, music sessions during the week etc etc. Seriously good college for anyone interested in music according to everything I've heard!

What he said times a thousand!
I am a first year studying music in Maynooth and I absolutly love it! Not only do you have your set lectures and tutorial, but as apart of studying music you must join one of the approved ensembles, which you can find out more about here http://music.nuim.ie/musiccampus Also you can recieve free tuition on your first instrument if you are grade 6 or above. The university really couldn't do enough to benefit and enhance the experience for all students.
Outside of the academic and performance side, there is the jazz, composers and music society which have regular meetings and organise regular concerts for students to preform in. There are also regular day time concerts in Riverstown Hall with performances by lecturers, students and outside musicians. You can also go along to jazz and rock band weekly performances, and there are regular trad. sessions organised by students around campus and the town.

banquo

Used to be terrible. Then new professor. Now it's very good.

I'm harshest critic turned biggest supporter. So it's pretty good!

What kind of thing were you hoping to learn about, S. Moran?

dr.quirky

studied Music in maynooth for First year as part of an arts degree, from what i done and all people i still know who are still doing it, the music dept is fantastic, rakes of stuff for music students outside lectures etc. if your really interested in Music id highly recommend it. and the college itself is brill, a real camaraderie you dont get in other Universities , the Union is great aswel, and nightlife etc. around town is class. cant speak highly enough about it tbh:D

S.Moran

Thanks everyone for all the feedback, which is all very promising! well i am a trad musician main instrument would be the banjo! does anyone have any info on how hard the test to get into the course is? and is it really no points to get in?

PrivateEye

While not a music student, I'm a Dubliner that was torn between UCD and NUIM.I'm delighted I went with the 'Nooth. Socially etc. its great.

There is a problem in terms of services on campus but some of these (library) are being addressed. The lack of a canteen etc. should be resolved soon(ish) I would seriously hope.

The University isn't developing at the rate it should be with regards services. Still, it remains a GREAT place to study, despite these (small) faults.

Would you be a commuter or live on campus? A lot depends on this me thinks. I'm a commuter but still love the place like a second home.

5Aces

All of the above is true but the only problem is the buckets where the toilets should be... you would think in this day and age...

S.Moran

PrivateEye wrote: »

While not a music student, I'm a Dubliner that was torn between UCD and NUIM.I'm delighted I went with the 'Nooth. Socially etc. its great.

There is a problem in terms of services on campus but some of these (library) are being addressed. The lack of a canteen etc. should be resolved soon(ish) I would seriously hope.

The University isn't developing at the rate it should be with regards services. Still, it remains a GREAT place to study, despite these (small) faults.

Would you be a commuter or live on campus? A lot depends on this me thinks. I'm a commuter but still love the place like a second home.

I would be living on campus as mayo is too far to travel!

princess_calico

I *HEART* 'NOOTH!!!!

I'm a first year student who was torn between UCD and 'Nooth. Eventually I decided to come here... Basically because UCD didn't have the course I wanted! My BF is studying music through the arts and he absolutely loves it. He is pretty good at music (was accepted into Trinity's music degree but turned it down for 'Nooth) and said that the course is fantastic.

The ONLY downside is that it began at an extremely slow pace. Even I could understand the lectures and wasn't challenged! (I had originally considered music so I decided to go to a few lectures with him. I am a singer, not a musician so even though I got an A2 in the leaving, I had found LC music to be quite stressful)

However... he absolutely loves it now, especially with all of the extra curricular activities available. He is in the choir and apparently they are really great ( I can't wait to see them perform!)

If you have any question about the course or college life up here, PM me and I'll get him to reply to you.

I'm living on campus at the moment and love it. I was put into Rye Hall and even though I hated it at first, I have a huge room and the kitchen is now liveable in (after a lot of scrubbing) My apartment is now the place that most of my friends hang out in because it's closest to the lecture halls!
I'd say living on campus is a definite for first year anyway!
COME TO 'NOOTH!

banquo

Music is now very good here. What Princess says us true: prepare to learn the difference between crotchets and quaver all over again. However you'll do super well in everything if you turn up and put the work in and get thousands down the road for a John Hume scholarship If you play your cards right.

A fine course

NonCheeseEater

Hey guys,
New to boards!, I actually don't know how to post my own question separately, but it's linked with this thread!,
I want to do Music tech. in maynooth and I'm pretty much 100% it's the course for me, but I'm slightly put off by Maynooth itself, I know very little about the town and was wondering what the social aspect for a college student in Maynooth is like?
If any one could give me any advice it would be greatly appreciated!!=]

Rafcam

NonCheeseEater wrote: »

Hey guys,
New to boards!, I actually don't know how to post my own question separately, but it's linked with this thread!,
I want to do Music tech. in maynooth and I'm pretty much 100% it's the course for me, but I'm slightly put off by Maynooth itself, I know very little about the town and was wondering what the social aspect for a college student in Maynooth is like?
If any one could give me any advice it would be greatly appreciated!!=]

Hey,just wondering if have you read up on all the different modules you'll be doing with Music Tech for the 3 years? Some of them are pretty icky! As for the social part of college, I personally think Maynooth is really good for going out in. There's a good few different places to go out to and the college has some good nights on throughout the year.
And even if you don't like the social scene in Maynooth, you're really close to Dublin where there's always gigs to go to and loads of nightclubs there as long as you have somewhere to crash for the night, you'll be grand!

wonton

banquo wrote: »

Used to be terrible. Then new professor. Now it's very good.

I'm harshest critic turned biggest supporter. So it's pretty good!

What kind of thing were you hoping to learn about, S. Moran?

I disagree.

I'M THEIR HARSHEST CRITIC.

nah you're right though, apart from taking away orchestration they done a good job pimping the course.

but seriously if your thinking about studying music or music tech , just be prepaired to listen to, and be expected to write a fair bit of a modern/ avant garde/shíte music.

especially some of the music tech comp modules, they're pretty out there if all you listened to till now was rock, pop or pre-20th century art music you should go exploring before you make your mind up maybe.

princess_calico wrote: »

However... he absolutely loves it now, especially with all of the extra curricular activities available. He is in the choir and apparently they are really great ( I can't wait to see them perform!)

Tbh, the choir thing isnt great for alot of people, music students generally start at 9 and finish at 6 on mondays and with the choir being 7-9 ,it must be one of the longest days possible in the college, especially for commuters.

Norrdeth

Rafcam wrote: »

Hey,just wondering if have you read up on all the different modules you'll be doing with Music Tech for the 3 years? Some of them are pretty icky!

I don't know what you mean by icky, they're all pretty useful.
Plus they have one of the best Csound teachers in the country.
Not to mention other good composers/teachers.

I started programming(SuperCollider) in 2nd year(BMus) and am revisiting it in the MA(composition).
I'm not a 'music tech head' so to speak but I have done a lot of audio theory and sound engineering outside of college.
It just takes time to get used to/appreciate, and I think that this is the same for

wonton wrote: »

modern/ avant garde/shíte music

I'd advise you if you're interested in music technology to download
(legally for free) and become familiar with the following programs
just to get a head start(most of them are cross platform:
PureData, Audacity(PC & Mac) or Ardour(Mac), MiniAudicle,
SuperCollider, Csound & QuteCsound, SPEAR.
Also get a trial version of MaxMsp6(a more colourful version of Pd)
and have a mess around with it. most of them can all be found
by clicking here.

NonCheeseEater

Rafcam wrote: »

Hey,just wondering if have you read up on all the different modules you'll be doing with Music Tech for the 3 years? Some of them are pretty icky! As for the social part of college, I personally think Maynooth is really good for going out in. There's a good few different places to go out to and the college has some good nights on throughout the year.
And even if you don't like the social scene in Maynooth, you're really close to Dublin where there's always gigs to go to and loads of nightclubs there as long as you have somewhere to crash for the night, you'll be grand!

Well I've read as much as I could find out about the course from the NUIM website andd the prospectus?, from what I saw, it sounds good. Are you doing music tech in Maynooth at the moment?
Cheers, I was worried that the social side of it would be kinda crap:/ I like my going out!, I've been down to Galway alot and gone out there, it's a great atmosphere! and they have Roisin Dubh! but they don't do the course there :mad:

Seren_

Sadly there isn't much in Maynooth in the way of the Róisín Dubh (although it is hard to beat tbf!). There was an alternative/indie night started in O'Neills a few years back, but I don't think it really caught on... You could always organise something with a few people though, like a weekly night in the SU bar or Creative Arts Centre or something Some of the pubs do have bands often enough though.

Rafcam

Norrdeth wrote: »

I don't know what you mean by icky, they're all pretty useful.
by clicking here.

By icky I mean Computer Programming and it is quite possibly the most soul crushing module ever. In my opinion anyway. That is all.

dillo2k10

S.Moran wrote: »

Is it a good university.
What is college life like up there?

Im not a Music student myself, I think Maynooth is great. But from what I have been told Ballyfermot College is probably the best for music, however, I know that a lot of people would "have" to go to a University and not just a college. But if you are just looking at the quality of the course I would go with Ballyfermot, I know people that chose Ballyfermot over Maynooth.

But Maynooth is still Amazing and would probably have the best social scene! Everyone here is so nice and MOST of the staff are really helpful!

NonCheeseEater

Your Text Here wrote: »

Sadly there isn't much in Maynooth in the way of the Róisín Dubh (although it is hard to beat tbf!). There was an alternative/indie night started in O'Neills a few years back, but I don't think it really caught on... You could always organise something with a few people though, like a weekly night in the SU bar or Creative Arts Centre or something Some of the pubs do have bands often enough though.

Awh, not so bad I guess! There's always Whelans in Dublin, it'll do See, I'm pretty much set on the course, but locaton will always be a big factor for me.. would prefer a big city on the doorstep yano? :rolleyes:

Norrdeth

dillo2k10 wrote: »

Im not a Music student myself, I think Maynooth is great. But from what I have been told Ballyfermot College is probably the best for music, however.

I have never heard anyone say that. A lot of people I know have transferred to Maynooth from various places and the said they'd never go back. Maynooth is the best in Ireland for music in many respects. First because of the broadness of study(you get a good idea for what you want to do) and secondly because of the merit of the department.

That said, if you're not really into classical/art/computer music,
and just want to learn how to do specific things like play with a rock band,
record musicians & bands, manage groups, learn jigs and reels then perhaps ballyfermot would be of more use.
But if you want to learn how music works,
what goes into the sounds and notes we hear everyday,
how people react to music, how we communicate through sound etc.
Then university(Maynooth) would be a good place to start.

rcaz

NonCheeseEater wrote: »

would prefer a big city on the doorstep yano? :rolleyes:

Dublin's only a 40 minute train ride! I do that twice a day and it's grand. Sleep on the way in, tunes on the way back

notting hill

tootyflutty wrote: »

What he said times a thousand!
I am a first year studying music in Maynooth and I absolutly love it! Not only do you have your set lectures and tutorial, but as apart of studying music you must join one of the approved ensembles, which you can find out more about here http://music.nuim.ie/musiccampus Also you can recieve free tuition on your first instrument if you are grade 6 or above. The university really couldn't do enough to benefit and enhance the experience for all students.
Outside of the academic and performance side, there is the jazz, composers and music society which have regular meetings and organise regular concerts for students to preform in. There are also regular day time concerts in Riverstown Hall with performances by lecturers, students and outside musicians. You can also go along to jazz and rock band weekly performances, and there are regular trad. sessions organised by students around campus and the town.

Hi tootyflutty,
How can I receive free tuition on my first instrument? I'm interested in it which is great.

Norrdeth

Just ask the Dept.

rxan90

wonton wrote: »

I disagree.

I'M THEIR HARSHEST CRITIC.

nah you're right though, apart from taking away orchestration they done a good job pimping the course.

but seriously if your thinking about studying music or music tech , just be prepaired to listen to, and be expected to write a fair bit of a modern/ avant garde/shíte music.

especially some of the music tech comp modules, they're pretty out there if all you listened to till now was rock, pop or pre-20th century art music you should go exploring before you make your mind up maybe.



Tbh, the choir thing isnt great for alot of people, music students generally start at 9 and finish at 6 on mondays and with the choir being 7-9 ,it must be one of the longest days possible in the college, especially for commuters.

This is entirely true! I still remember when I was in first year in 2008-2009, having to get up at 6.30 am from Swords, get bus and train into Maynooth and not get home again until 11.30 at night because of the choir ... they could work on that timing because it really was horrible having to be gone all day long like that ... Thank God I drive now :cool: Nevertheless I did love choir when I was in it, despite it taking up my Mondays and Thursdays!