"Leeds has so much to offer, especially in terms of music and networking. There are a lot of young, open minded people in this city which I think makes it a great environment for students"
Ellie Bishop - FdA Electronic Music Production
Ellie Bishop is an electronic music producer, who is currently in her second year on the FdA Electronic Music Production programme at Leeds Conservatoire. Hailing from the North of England, the course has given Ellie a fresh perspective on Electronic Music making.
What made you choose Leeds Conservatoire?
I had already studied a BTEC here before and absolutely loved the place! I also had older friends that had studied here and passed on very positive messages about the courses.
Has anything been totally different to what you expected when you started at Leeds Conservatoire?
To be honest, not really at all. I guess the only thing I could say here is that it's even more inspiring than I thought it was going to be and some of the opportunities I've been given have been excellent and better than I first imagined.
What is the most mind blowing thing you've learned so far at Leeds Conservatoire?
We had a lesson on the future of music technology and how AI is already being used to make music. We looked into how some people have created special software and clothing to essentially create music by the movement of your hands and body. I had never heard of anything like this so it was quite interesting to see how people are looking to change music technology in the future.
Is there anything that has really made you push yourself as a musician or performer?
Yes definitely. A lot of the assignments have included skills that I haven't had much experience in so they have been pushing me to try new challenges and gain more knowledge about certain methods of producing for example. Also a lot of my tutors will often set little tasks for us to do after a lesson which are almost always a challenge and the majority of the time it really brings something interesting out in my music that I probably wouldn't have done before.
What was the best piece of advice you've had since starting at Leeds Conservatoire?
If you never fail, you're not challenging yourself enough.
What is your best memory from Leeds Conservatoire?
Recently my tutors organised for all the first and second year students on my course to meet in the venue for a socially distanced event that gave us all the chance to finally meet each other properly and give each other feedback on everyone's tracks. As this year has been extremely difficult, this was a lovely afternoon and definitely a great memory to have.
What sort of accommodation are you living in? What advice would you give to new students about accommodation?
I am living in a shared house with 2 of my friends. As I lived in Leeds before I started studying, I was already in shared houses with friends. My personal opinion is that this is a better option than staying in Student accommodation but it depends what kind of experience you are looking for. If you already have friends or know people you could live with then it's definitely a good idea to look into houses and see what options are available. However, if you're new to the city and don't know anyone it might be better to look into Student accommodation as you will most likely be surrounded by a lot of people in a similar position and a lot of time it is very convenient to get to the building from halls.
What do you get up to outside of studying?
Outside of studying I am still involved in a lot of music things. I often do collaborations with other musicians or get artists to come and work on my productions. This is a great way to network with other musicians. I also run my own electronic music events (outside of COVID) and do a lot of work at various festivals throughout summer. Aside from music I enjoy doing yoga, climbing, cooking and general outdoor activities like hiking and growing food. I am also currently learning how to speak Spanish and Portuguese.
What is the best thing about living and studying in Leeds?
Leeds has got to be my favourite city in the UK (I might be biased because I'm northern). It really has so much to offer, especially in terms of music and networking. There are a lot of young open minded people in this city which I think makes it a great environment for students and there is so much cultural diversity, which is one of my favourite things about it.
How would you describe your experience at Leeds Conservatoire so far in three words?
Inspiring, Engaging, Encouraging
