Lottie - Music
Name: Lottie Greenhow
Subject: Music
Year: 3rd
What does your working week entail?
In the first year you'll generally have 4 or 5 lectures a week, and most of these will be 90 minutes long. This basically leaves you with most afternoons free. You'll have about 4 supervisions too which will last anywhere between 15 minutes and an hour. Generally you'll be set an essay every 2 weeks for analysis, and two essays every three weeks for the history papers. Your supervisions for these subjects will be in groups of 3 or 4. In addition you'll have to do one or two harmony and/or counterpoint exercises every week for individual supervisions. You'll also have an hour's aural class (around 15 people) and an hour's keyboard class (around 4 people) a week.
In the second year the lecture list shortens - there was one term where I only had 4 lectures! You'll have a 90-minute Analysis lecture every week, plus two or three history lectures per week depending on your options, and there will be a couple of lectures on composition but these only last for 2 weeks. You'll have a weekly Analysis supervision, and a supervision every 2 weeks for each of your history papers - these will be in groups of 4 ish. You'll also have individual supervisions for Tonal Composition (and/or Free Composition if you're taking it).
In the third year you don't really have lectures or supervisions - courses are mostly taught in seminars which means you get to contribute to the discussion a lot more. It's difficult to describe third year because everyone specialises, but it's a lot of fun!
How easy was the transition from A-levels to the first year of your degree?
It was certainly different - the music course is largely unstructured meaning that you have to plan your time very carefully. However, in terms of workload, it's not too different and I certainly found time to enjoy myself!
How easily can you fit social activities into your working week?
The music degree is structured to allow lots of time for practical music-making - you'll have afternoons and evenings off so there's plenty of time to get all your work and your playing done! There's also lots of opportunity to play sport and do drama, etc. I've been involved in several societies during my time at Christ's and I've still managed to get most of my work in on time!
What sort of things did you talk about in your interview?
Generally you'll be presented with a piece and asked to analyse it on the spot - the questions aren't hard, don't worry! You'll also be given an aural test - usually this is transcribing a Bach chorale that the interviewer will play to you, followed by harmonising the top line of another chorale without a keyboard. Then you might be asked about what aspects of the Cambridge course interest you, or why you want to go to university rather than music college... but remember, the interview is what you make it, so make sure you talk about what YOU want to talk about!