Student Spotlight - Jessica Armstrong
Is music in your veins? Can you recognise good sounds from bad and are you motivated to make a listening experience the best it can be? If a career in this thriving industry sounds good to you, you've come to the right place at UHI Perth. We are the longest established audio engineering education centre in Scotland, with a reputation as a centre of excellence.
Now in her final year, Jessica chats to us about her experience 👇
What is your name, and where are you from?
My name is Jessica Armstrong, I am 26 and I'm from Glasgow.
What course are you studying at UHI Perth, and what year are you currently in?
I am currently in my fourth year of Audio Engineering. I came from doing my HNC and HND in Riverside Music College and entered into third and fourth year at Perth.
How did you hear about UHI Perth?
Through Riverside - at the end of second year, we were given some university options. I chose Perth because it coincided with the course I had just been on and wanted to continue in the same direction.
What were you doing before you came to UHI Perth?
I was at Riverside for two years but, prior to this, I was working in a kitchen. After becoming comfortable in my situation, I realised I became too comfortable and had to get back to education to achieve my goals.
Why did you decide to pick this course?
Music is my passion and having had experience in composing, I felt it was time to learn how to engineer it myself. I am always wanted to be a 'one man band' in terms of producing my own work so I felt that by choosing this course, it would enable me to progress in the right direction.
What is your favourite thing about the course?
The course has provided me with the opportunities I was not given in Riverside. I chose a difficult year to start (COVID-19) and the two years I was there, we struggled to gain any in-person learning. Most importantly, we couldn't put anything we had learned into practice. No venues were open and despite having the privilege of our college being open to us, our time in class was very limited. Being at the UHI Perth campus full of amazing facilities has helped me to maintain the focus I need, so much so I want to do my masters to stay for another year.
The lecturers of this course have a fantastic insight to the industry, are very understanding and explain what is needed from you extremely well.
Has there been any standout/memorable moments from your course?
Having the realisation that I am actually better at what I do that I ever thought. The longer you are at something like this - you can only reach your full potential.
What knowledge, skills and experience have you gained from your course that will help you when you leave UHI Perth?
Work relationships
Voice my opinions (being student rep)
Presentation and speaking skills
Mixing knowledge
Understanding the music industry that bit more.
Have you undertaken a placement or work experience whilst at UHI Perth?
Watercolour is a studio in Ardgour, where we got to stay for five days, and total immerse ourselves in songwriting and using the studio facilities and equipment. Being somewhere far away and free of any distraction really helped us to focus.
Have your lecturers been supportive during your studies?
Immensely. I don't think we could have been provided with better.
Any other achievements you have gained on your journey?
CONFIDENCE is number one. As well as this, what an achievement it has been to have others listen to my professional opinions in terms of music making and engineering.
What do you like about the campus/facilities?
Access to library (who give you a lot of free prints)
Starbucks/Costa coffee options.
The Big Project - helping you in a time of need. Providing not only free items you may need at home but giving you the option of free breakfast and other free items at lunch time.
The lecturers ARE SUPER SOUND.
The equipment I got my hands on was top notch.
Cheap, cheap, CHEAP treatments and gym memberships.
Have you enjoyed studying at UHI Perth? Any highlights?
Extremely - so much so, that I do not want to leave. The best experience I had was the songwriting residency I got to go to as part of my work placement this year. Here I met some fantastic artists and engineers as well as being one of them myself. I learned so much and can now carry this with me into the future.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of your studies?
Listening to music and making music 🙂
What are your future career plans?
My biggest aim to become a producer. Not only producing my own work, but working with others to achieve their goals too.
And finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about studying at UHI Perth?
Use every opportunity you are given. The year flies in and it is taken for granted the minute the motivation starts to dip. In fourth year especially, you aren't required to be in class as much and if you don't hold on to that determination you feel at the start of the year, you will lose it.
