Jake McCullough

Review of BIMM Brighton

1. The main thing I've realised about my time at B...

1. The main thing I've realised about my time at BIMM (both in Brighton and Manchester) is that there is a general political lean. If you do not subscribe to the radical left ideologies, you'll find it much more difficult fitting in. University is supposed to be where you share ideas, build an analytical mind and meet life long friends and industry contacts. I felt that radical politics had influenced the universities to the point where all of that important stuff is far outweighed by political ideologies and meaningless bickering.

2. Music education is necessary if you're hoping to become a music tutor in a school or a college. Otherwise, the industry is primarily self-employed and entrepreneurial. A degree holds very little merit to a career that doesn't require a CV.
Thankfully there are now countless alternatives to a degree qualification in music/event management/artist management.... There are eBooks, online courses, webinars and even free YouTube videos, all available 24/7 to the general public. I hate to have to admit it but I could have learnt everything from my time at BIMM for free by watching YouTube videos and online webinars.

3. The socialising aspect of university can be fulfilling but you need to be willing to make socialising your lifestyle. Remember, the music industry is not a hub for employment opportunities, so building an entrepreneurial mindset is key to forming a sustainable career that can span far beyond your time in university. Attend as many masterclasses as you can. If there's someone in your class who seems like they have things figured out, get to know them. You do not want to end up with no music-related prospects after finishing your course. Genuinely, get mingling.

4. After you have finished your course, you should become a member of BIMM's alumni. It looks to be expanding and offers a connection to the university and potential opportunities beyond your time in a course. Worth keeping an eye on.

5. If you're on an instrument or songwriting course, get in a band or start playing solo shows (edited: even during the lockdowns, virtual shows are still going strong). Build up your brand, your chops, your expertise in the field and your portfolio. It helps.
If you're on an event management, audio engineering or artist management course... Work with the instrumentalists and songwriters in your year group. Do as much collaborating as you can comfortable handle alongside your course because having a great looking portfolio after Uni will boost your career massively.

6.The tutors are mostly excellent but they are not miracle workers. You need to understand what you're attending the university for. Be specific with your reasons, for your own sake. Enrolling on a guitar course is great if you enjoy playing, but if that's the only reason, you need to open your eyes, because 3 years of studying can offer so much more than just enjoyment. Simply having fun won't propel you into a career. Instead, you could go into that course thinking "I want to work with as many different types of artists as I can. I want to record all of the performances I'm involved in, so I have a video portfolio that can help me get into better bands moving forward. I want to get everyone's numbers or contact details so I don't just come away with experiences and a certificate. I want to learn the intricacies of what makes a top session guitarist. I want to build an online presence for my guitar playing, so that I can get more and more work..." Etc etc

Lastly, I won't try to sway someone towards or away from attending BIMM, or any other university, but I hope my review at least offers some insight into what you should expect if you do enroll on a course at BIMM in the UK.