Inverness musician Liza Mulholland contrasts her career route with the chance North music courses offer today
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Today is a big day! I have my first gig in a long time, and naturally have planned the day accordingly.
When I finish writing these words, I’ll do some warm-up scales, look out my sheet music and songs to ensure I have the correct repertoire material in my case and play through some pieces in preparation.
Being a solo gig using the beautiful Steinway piano in the venue, I can travel light compared to what I normally transport to gigs. My usual gear includes keyboard, accordion, stand, gig bag full of leads, mics and pedals and sometimes an amp, so just driving myself and a small bag of music books feels like luxury.
With many youngsters having left school this week, my thoughts have also turned to the opportunities available to those keen to make a career in music. When I left school, I did not have a clue about what work could be open to musicians, other than in the classical world and teaching.
The internet, the go-to research tool we now take for granted, did not exist, and I hotfooted it to Glasgow to study completely new subjects. However, I hugely missed playing and so regularly popped into the university music department to grab a wee fix of piano in the practice rooms.
Music retained its strong pull and soon after I finished my studies, I got a job playing in a Glasgow piano bar. Since then, most of my working life has been in music, whether playing, teaching, recording or composing, but other than my foundation in piano, I’ve had to learn on the hoof.
Today, thankfully, the landscape is entirely different for young people passionate about music, with superb opportunities here on our doorstep. And not just music; there is a fantastic range of creative arts courses on offer at the University of the Highlands and Islands, including film production and creative writing.
In music, North Highland College – UHI’s Alness campus – offers excellent performance and sound production courses at NC and HNC levels, with additional degree courses. Content includes performance and musicianship skills, live and studio sound engineering, recording and production, digital media, composition, theory, practical experience in ‘real world’ industry environments, and much more.
Whether your interest lies in trad or rock, playing in a band, performing as a solo artiste, taking charge of the mixing desk at live gigs, composing, working as a recording engineer, producer, or in communications and digital media, these courses will equip you.
‘Creative industries’ was not a term I ever heard in my young days, but its coinage reflects a much greater professionalism in the arts ecosystem, with diverse great careers on offer.
With full and part-time funded places still available, please share to young, or not so young, creatives who might be interested. These fantastic courses will set budding musicians on their professional path!
