Music Management & Sound course @ Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, Cork

Stephen90

Hi guys,

Been giving some thought to enrolling in this music course in the next academic year, starting Sept 2010. I've been reccomended this course by a good friend who's studying for a degree in classical music in CIT. Just wondering has anybody got any knowledge of the college itself like the general vibe, the livliness, the size etc.? I plan to soon take a trip down there for a look and a chat but in the mean time, has anybody got any thoughts on or experience with Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa?

Heres the link to the course I'm looking at:

http://www.csn.ie/htms/perf/c-p-music.htm

Any info on the college itself would be great.
Cheers!

Further Ed.

CSN has an excellent reputation in and a very good atmosphere. The music department seems to be very good too. I would suggest that if you are interested to apply early as demand also exceeds the number of places on offer.

Kenzi

Hey Stephen,

That course is a great course(Not in that course myself but wasnt far away from it).2 brilliant sound engineers involved aswell but as Further Ed said, Apply early as those courses fill up quick. The college double in size this year(student population)

NyquistFreak

Hey Stephen,

I did that course a few years ago myself, can't say I was too particularly impressed to be honest, they have changed to curriculum since I went there having said that though, so you never know. It depends what aspect of Music you're interested in I suppose, they cover quite a lot of basic theory in first year, and different styes of Modern Music in second and third, not a whole lot of classical structures at all bar the very basic theory stuff you'd learn for the junior cert. I came from aB1 honours in Leaving Cert music at the time and found myself bored to the core in that module. There's over-emphasis on performance also, so if you're any way stage-shy its next to nearly impossible to get on well. The music theory teacher knew her stuff but seemed a little bored of not being able to communicate with students, everyone playing a guitar in front of her and she a classically trained pianist whithout a clue how to even hold a guitar, I can see why she'd often dissolve into rants that ended with "nyaaaaaaah!" and her hands over her head, and that was nearly 6 years ago so I can only imaging how that's progressed...
Another poster mentioned the very good Sound Engineers working there, well I actually can't agree with this more, Conor O'Brien was there when I was there, and I have so much respect for the man it's not even funny, the other fella who was working there in my time has since retired though, he was lovely too but away with the fairies....
The management area covers copyright law and case studies, which is actually quite interesting if not completely depressing, as the subject was never really elaborated beyond "dont do this, these peole did this and look what happened to them"... like I said though, the curriculum has changed since I was there.
I've heard about a good few people coming through that course who's work got mysteriously "lost" out of their permanent folders before being shipped off to the powers that be for assessment, and many of the same people reporting noticing at least one of the lecturers making things a bit personal if they didnt like the person...
I'm crrently doing the Music Tech Degree in Limerick, and am noticing that things we're going into detail now were glossed over in CSN, kind of like reading the headlines in a newspaper and disregarding the article if you get me?
Main thing to consider is though (when I went there it was just a one year course with n optional add-on so it wasnt so bad) To get your BTEC DIPLOMA, which is what is on offer there, you must spend three years in a seriously acoustically unsuitable room, listen to the opinions of the same three or four individuals running the show, as opposed to getting a broader view of things as you might in a university or IT for example, and all for a qualification that will only allow you skip first year of a "real College" for another two years to get a degree or whatever. Bear in mind that the qualification itself will not, in terms of getting you a job at the end or whatver, put you ahead of any other student who spent their three years studying their chosen area in CAO Isntitute like Maynooth, LIT, UL, UCC, etc who between them all offer more in-depth versions on specific areas of this course. There are many sound engineers in Cork currently working off their Fetac Level 5 from there, but please do remember the first batch of graduates from the honours Degree in UL AND the ordinary with add-on honours degree in LIT will be let loose at the end of this school year, so the bar will be raised (at least you'd imaging it should be anyway :rolleyes:)
Like I said though, its been a while since i was there, and the last person I know to actually complete the course was about two years ago too, so with any luck things have changed a small bit? I'd give some serious consideration to what value you're getting for your three years in this course versus another institute to be honest!

Solidarity

Hey Stephen,

The course is aboslutley fantastic! You do your own gigs around the town, responsible for all the set up yourself, provised great experience. The assignments are alright. You form a band for your first year with other classmates and write and perform songs together.

Not a course for the talentless!