Finn West

CHOOSING SURREY

I have known from a very young age that music was the only pathway for me, but when researching higher education, I found that I was struggling to find a course which suited all my interests. I have a background in classical music, but my passion has always been electronic and popular music, plus, I have always been much more interested in composition than anything else. Most music degrees seemed to be too traditional for me, focusing too heavily on classical music and instrumental performance, whereas most of the music technology courses I found didn’t look as if they would be intellectually stimulating enough. However, I then heard about Surrey’s Creative Music Technology course, and it looked absolutely perfect for me… and I was right!

YOUR COURSE

This course has allowed me to flourish. It has definitely set me up for a career in music, teaching me valuable skills such as the basics of creating sound design for video, but my favourite thing about this course is its ethos of finding beauty in every style of music possible. The music lecturers are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and their love and passion for what they do is so infectious.

The majority of the modules I have taken so far have been composition-based, allowing me to play to my strengths and practice writing music, while also encouraging me to explore different styles which I would never have previously encountered. Something I wasn’t fully expecting when I chose this course was the experimental side to it, which has turned out to be one of my favourite things about CMT. For example, in my last semester, I took a module where conventional uses of melody, rhythm and harmony were banned, and it led to us listening to and creating some absolutely beautiful music. I am not exaggerating when I say that this course has completely redefined music for me, and I know that no matter what I end up doing, this fundamental shift in attitude that CMT has provided, will stay with me for life.

YOUR LIFE AT SURREY

I am a part of lots of societies, both musical and non-musical. I’m currently the Vice-President of the LGBT+ Society, which is such a rewarding role, and I also love attending the Craft Society, where we do activities such as rock painting and clay modelling – it’s amazing for reducing stress levels. I’m also part of the university’s Gospel Choir, which is open to everyone regardless of ability or background, and I’ve been able to meet so many lovely people through our weekly sessions.

LOOKING FORWARD

Coming to Surrey was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I certainly don’t feel like the same person that I was when I joined, and I’m sure I won’t be the same person in a year’s time when I graduate. I’m excited to see who that person will be.