Tony is studying OCA's stage 2 Music course History and Context.
"I am in my late 60s and have retired from work. I live with my wife on the Wirral peninsular in the Northwest of England. We have three grown up daughters, and four grandchildren. My career was as a scientist, initially in academia, but for most of the time conducting and managing research for a multinational fast-moving consumer goods company. I have been involved with music from the age of 5 and took up the guitar in my early teens. Since retiring, I spend whatever time I can with music, either studying with OCA or playing guitar."
Find out more about his experience as a student of OCA below.
What is your previous educational experiences and what drew you to OCA?
I followed the conventional path of O levels, A levels and then straight to university to study Chemistry, initially to BSc and subsequently to PhD level. Although I played and performed music all my life, it was only in 2005 that I obtained any formal qualifications; initially working through the grades, and subsequently gaining a diploma from Trinity College.
I was always interested in broadening my knowledge of music in general, and when I stumbled across the OCA on the internet it seemed an ideal opportunity. I work well when in a structured, goal-driven situation as provided by the music course structure. I started with the Music Foundation course and loved every minute, so it was natural to progress to the degree course.
Can you describe your OCA journey?
The coursework and assignments have thrown up many challenges. There have been times when I have sat and looked at the required task and thought “I have no idea how to do this”. But I told myself that, if I had got to this point in the course, then I surely had whatever was needed to get it done. And interestingly, for some of those tasks where I had to just get my head down and force myself forward, I received some of the best tutor feedback.
I have experienced studying at a conventional full-time university and now a through distance learning with the OCA. One of the biggest differences with OCA is the lack of day to day contact with other students and staff. To an extent this is mitigated through participation in the various on-line activities and the OCA Learn Forum, and I would encourage all students to engage with these as much as possible.
What was the Tutor and/or Peer Support like on your course?
I would like to mention Music Programme Leader Carla Rees and her endeavours to establish monthly performance classes and more recently the lunchtime concerts. Such activities would be the norm in any conservatoire and provide an opportunity for instrumentalists to perform to and receive feedback from an expert audience in a safe and encouraging environment. I would encourage all players to participate. Afterall, what is the point of playing an instrument if you don’t perform to others?
What does studying with OCA mean to you?
I am studying with OCA to learn as much about music as possible. As such, I am not looking to speed through the course, but instead to take as much time as possible and explore as many rabbit holes that I encounter along the way.
You ask what the “piece of paper” will mean to me. My first response is to say “actually, not much”…I already have a degree and a PhD, so more formal qualifications don’t seem particularly important. That said, I am intensely competitive, particularly in terms of achieving personal goals, so I guess I will be nervously awaiting that final degree classification like everyone else.
What's next?
I just want to play the guitar as best as I can, and share my music with others. Everything I am learning through OCA is contributing to this.
Any advice?
Take time right at the outset to learn how to use the music software (Sibelius or Dorico), music streaming services, online music score databases such as IMSLP, and correct referencing. Then engage with and use all of the resources available to you such as the Forum, the OU library, and the various on-line discussion groups. And have fun...if you are not having fun, why are you doing this?
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