Tuesday, August 23, 2005
New Course for Would-be Rock Hacks
WOULD-BE Julie Burchills and Lester Bangs can now learn the art of music journalism at Huddersfield University.
A new degree course in the subject starts next month.
Lecturers came up with the idea when they realised that lots of their print journalism students were particularly interested in pop, rock, rap and indie music.
Now they're inviting applicants to spend three years learning about music, its history, and how to write about it.
Senior lecturer Stephen Dorril is in charge of the course.
He says: "We launched a sports journalism degree and that's become really popular.
"Now we're trying music journalism. Next, we may introduce film journalism.
"Music is particularly appropriate in Huddersfield, given our heritage.
"I used to be social secretary at the university and all the punk and new wave bands came here - Elvis Costello, The Jam, The Cure, Wire and Generation X.
"When the Sex Pistols came to Ivanhoe's in 1977, I was supposed to look after them but we just ended up having a laugh.
"I thought Sid was an idiot and couldn't play, and Nancy was all over him. Johnny Rotten and I shared an interest in a German band, Can, so we talked about them."
The course will encompass classical music, jazz, reggae or anything else that students want to specialise in, and assignments will include covering Marsden Jazz Festival.
Stephen, of Netherthong, continues: "We haven't had any feedback from the music press because no-one really knows about our course yet - we only got the go-ahead to run it two months ago.
"But music journalism is growing. There are so many magazines and online opportunities, plus every broadsheet newspaper has a music section now."
Call admissions tutor Andy Fox on 01484 478414.
¶ 8/23/2005 12:18:00 PM
WOULD-BE Julie Burchills and Lester Bangs can now learn the art of music journalism at Huddersfield University.
A new degree course in the subject starts next month.
Lecturers came up with the idea when they realised that lots of their print journalism students were particularly interested in pop, rock, rap and indie music.
Now they're inviting applicants to spend three years learning about music, its history, and how to write about it.
Senior lecturer Stephen Dorril is in charge of the course.
He says: "We launched a sports journalism degree and that's become really popular.
"Now we're trying music journalism. Next, we may introduce film journalism.
"Music is particularly appropriate in Huddersfield, given our heritage.
"I used to be social secretary at the university and all the punk and new wave bands came here - Elvis Costello, The Jam, The Cure, Wire and Generation X.
"When the Sex Pistols came to Ivanhoe's in 1977, I was supposed to look after them but we just ended up having a laugh.
"I thought Sid was an idiot and couldn't play, and Nancy was all over him. Johnny Rotten and I shared an interest in a German band, Can, so we talked about them."
The course will encompass classical music, jazz, reggae or anything else that students want to specialise in, and assignments will include covering Marsden Jazz Festival.
Stephen, of Netherthong, continues: "We haven't had any feedback from the music press because no-one really knows about our course yet - we only got the go-ahead to run it two months ago.
"But music journalism is growing. There are so many magazines and online opportunities, plus every broadsheet newspaper has a music section now."
Call admissions tutor Andy Fox on 01484 478414.
¶ 8/23/2005 12:18:00 PM
