Music,Media and performance tech-course info!

Omega28

Hi

I have this as one of my choices on the CAO, I'm a mature student.

Just wondering if there is anyone here that is attending this course, perhaps u can tell me whats it like? how many hrs a week u do? is there exams?

thanks:)

Burswood

Hi there

I've just finished 1st year, with exams still left to do (completely finished on May 16th).
So yes. There are exams. You have 5 modules per semester. Depending if one or more modules is just continuous assessment/project work, you won't have 5 end of semester exams (I had 4 last semester and only 3 this coming May).

Most weeks average at about 18-22 hours, so in comparison to courses like Law, there are quite a lot of contact hours.

Overall, its a hard enough course mate (so far, from my perspective).

I only had Ordinary Mathematics from my Leaving Cert going into the course. If you have Honours Maths, you'd be at an advantage, because they basically teach you the Honours Maths course for the first year.

There is a significant amount of Java Programming for 1st year students. Surprisingly, this amount is still only a basic introduction to java programming. You will learn HTML/CSS/PHP/MySQL, as part of your involvement in the Web Development module.
Also, you will learn editing/producing programs. The ones we've learned in 1st year are Adobe Flash CS4, Logic Pro 8, and Sibelius 6. From your knowledge of these programs, you will have to create your own project/creation/work of art. (We had to compose musical pieces in Logic & Sibelius, and also had to create visual effects in Flash)
In addition, you will undertake a research project (research relative to history in technology)

Please check out the module's website here: http://www.csis.ul.ie/currentcourse/LM114/

Check out the prospective students' page at the UL site here: http://www.ul.ie/main/prospective/index.shtml

Any more questions? Don't hesitate to ask!

Omega28

Burswood wrote: »

Hi there

I've just finished 1st year, with exams still left to do (completely finished on May 16th).
So yes. There are exams. You have 5 modules per semester. Depending if one or more modules is just continuous assessment/project work, you won't have 5 end of semester exams (I had 4 last semester and only 3 this coming May).

Most weeks average at about 18-22 hours, so in comparison to courses like Law, there are quite a lot of contact hours.

Overall, its a hard enough course mate (so far, from my perspective).

I only had Ordinary Mathematics from my Leaving Cert going into the course. If you have Honours Maths, you'd be at an advantage, because they basically teach you the Honours Maths course for the first year.

There is a significant amount of Java Programming for 1st year students. Surprisingly, this amount is still only a basic introduction to java programming. You will learn HTML/CSS/PHP/MySQL, as part of your involvement in the Web Development module.
Also, you will learn editing/producing programs. The ones we've learned in 1st year are Adobe Flash CS4, Logic Pro 8, and Sibelius 6. From your knowledge of these programs, you will have to create your own project/creation/work of art. (We had to compose musical pieces in Logic & Sibelius, and also had to create visual effects in Flash)
In addition, you will undertake a research project (research relative to history in technology)

Please check out the module's website here: http://www.csis.ul.ie/currentcourse/LM114/

Check out the prospective students' page at the UL site here: http://www.ul.ie/main/prospective/index.shtml

Any more questions? Don't hesitate to ask!

Hey man

thanks for the info!

like youself I did ordinanry maths in my leaving, which by the sounds of it doesn't help! Is there a great deal of maths involved? cause I hate maths!

I'm an inspiring DJ so will that help my cause at all? Do u do much music production?

It sounds like a tough course, with the exams etc

is it a 5 day week? Just I'll be comin from Dublin but I'll be staying down there obviously.

Whats the campus like? much to do? I must pop down and have a look around, they were having a workshop only recently but it clashed with an exam I had to do so couldn't make it!

Whats your plan when u finish the course or have u thought that far ahead?:D

thanks again for the info mate.

McSween

i pulled out of it in 1st year but there are always people that will pull out of a course. we were in for 5 days a week. finished at 2 on fridays

i had been working for years and wanted to do a music course. i tried to find out as much as possible in the year prior to starting but i didnt gel with it. now i have done a foundation course to go on to do an arts degree, subject to admission, but i would have loved if a similar preparation could have been given at the time for the mmpt.

Burswood

Dylanmc111 wrote: »

Hey man

thanks for the info!

like youself I did ordinanry maths in my leaving, which by the sounds of it doesn't help! Is there a great deal of maths involved? cause I hate maths!

I'm an inspiring DJ so will that help my cause at all? Do u do much music production?

It sounds like a tough course, with the exams etc

is it a 5 day week? Just I'll be comin from Dublin but I'll be staying down there obviously.

Whats the campus like? much to do? I must pop down and have a look around, they were having a workshop only recently but it clashed with an exam I had to do so couldn't make it!

Whats your plan when u finish the course or have u thought that far ahead?:D

thanks again for the info mate.

Hey man Been busy with my studies. I'll give you some answers now

Is there a great deal of maths involved?

There is indeed. You have 5 modules every semester and in 1st year (total of 10 modules) you will undertake Technological Maths 1 & Technological Maths 2 (one in each semester). Tech Maths 1 is the majority of the Ordinary Level Maths course for Leaving Cert. There are also some elements which are included that would be taken from the Honours course. Tech Maths 2 is the remainder of the Honours Maths course. There are, again, some elements which will be new to everyone (i.e. College level/not previously covered in 2nd level education).

Do u do much music production?

So far, we have dabbled in it. We were given an introduction to Logic Pro 8. It's up to you, or whoever takes part in the module, to further you're skills in the program. Generally, music production programs, whether it be Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase, etc etc..., all have similar interfaces. Basically, once you learn 1, you know them all. Basically. Not completely.

is it a 5 day week?

Yes. Its Monday to Friday. Its hard work man. As I said, 18 to 22 hours a week. So you'll have, roughly, 4 hours a day. Some days you could have 6 hours. Depends on how your timetable works out. You can rearrange your labs and/or tutorial slots (if the tutor/lecturer is okay with it) but you can't rearrange lecture slots. Everyone goes to them. They're not mandatory. But really they are if you want to grasp an understanding for anything you intend to learn. On the other hand, the labs are mandatory. Some modules give a % for lab attendance. Tutorials are meant to be mandatory. Its no big deal if you don't attend one or two but if you miss like 5 in a row, there's a good chance you could get an angry email from your tutor.

Whats the campus like? much to do?

Campus is fantastic. Sports arena, multiple shops/bars/cafes, student accommodation, huge library. Lots of clubs and societies to join. The odd gig now and again in the campus bars.

Whats your plan when u finish the course or have u thought that far ahead?

The MMPT page on Qualifax.ie says:

-Career Opportunities
The programme prepares students for careers in Audio and Video Technology and Arts. Students are allowed to develop their knowledge within an academic setting where experimentation and creativity are encouraged. Graduates will be equipped to create and develop interactive music and multimedia projects. They will have acquired a sophisticated understanding of the aesthetic and technical issues involved.

There is an increasing need for graduates with the openness to cross technical and artistic boundaries and develop the use of computer technology in a range of industries and services such as recording, general media, broadcasting and education.

Specific Careers:
• Music Performance
• Recording Engineer
• Composer
• Radio and Television Broadcasting
• Sound and Audio Engineer
• Video Engineer
• Video Artist
• Musical Production
• Music Education
• Video Editing and Production Specialist
• Media, Music, Audio and Video Researcher

So basically, I'd be happy to get a job working in any of the above fields

Hope this cleared some things up.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask

kjsckth

Are there any opportunitys to study abroad on erasmus with this course?

OhMSGlive

kjsckth wrote: »

Are there any opportunitys to study abroad on erasmus with this course?

Nope, just Co-Op.