Joshua Comery

• Year of graduation: 2024

Growing up in Northampton, I was pleased to see the announcement of a new music production course being offered at the University of Northampton in 2021. Having a newfound love of music production, I decided to take the leap and after looking at the modules and course guidance, I knew it was the right option for me.

I particularly enjoyed the teaching style and the freedom of the programme. Music being an art means that it should allow for artistic licence and provide the opportunity for students to explore more, and I found that studying this course provided me with the tools and support to enable me to take my music in whatever direction I wanted to once I’d finished. I also really enjoyed the equipment and facilities that the course had to offer, especially the free use of the studio.

The skill I gained during my degree that I feel will be most useful is the knowledge of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). This is super important in the music industry as most jobs I’ve seen advertised require knowledge of multiple DAWs. I also believe the time management skills I learned help to give myself a level of professionalism when working with clients.

My studies helped my career development as they allowed me to learn about all the possible career paths I could take within the music industry. They also taught me the importance of self-development – even now that I’ve graduated, I continue to develop my portfolio and will hopefully be able to find a career in the subject area I love.

The music industry isn’t an easy career path, so it’s been a struggle to get a job so far. However, I’ve been continuing freelance work so that I can build a portfolio and gain valuable experience.

I currently have an ongoing relationship with a charity in the Gambia. Alongside the University’s Senior Lecturer in Music Production, I’ve been on two trips to Gambia, during which we’ve acted as acoustic consultants to make a new music studio. Whilst there, I’ve also been helping them create a new curriculum for their multimedia course.

To any undergraduates interested in this career path, the most valuable piece of advice I could pass on would be to make full use of the facilities that the University has to offer. Looking back, I wish I’d spent more of my time during my first year using the studios and practising the skills I was being taught.

For me, the University of Northampton provided a hub for supporting creative freedom.