"Your future career will thank you for applying for this degree, it really will!"
Olivia Crawford - BA (Hons) Music (Film Music)
Olivia Crawford is an ambitious Film Music student, currently in her third year. She has already gained a range of experience within the industry, including current projects that include scoring films in London, as well as scoring multiple video games in the United States. Olivia has also showcased her work in front of industry experts as part of her course.
Has your music / approach / technique changed at all since your first year?
The professionalism and industry readiness has improved drastically since my first year. My spotting session is much more thought out thanks to Stefan Gordon's direction, my music is much more complex and industry ready thanks to Brian Morrell, and my demos are far more realistic thanks to the technical side of learning with Andy Barraclough.
What has been the most interesting project you have worked on so far?
I scored a couple of short films for various directors in London who participated in a challenge where their film had to be completed from start to finish in one month. This left me with very minimal time to score the films, with one of the films giving me two days to complete a score. This forced me to compose well within an incredibly short time-frame, which helped me prepare for the industry (which can be very much the same). The most fun part was definitely attending the screening on a winters day in London, where I established friendships and ongoing business partnerships with directors.
Is there anything that has really made you push yourself as a musician or anything new that you've not tried before?
Knowing that industry professionals could see my compositions at film night really challenged me to perfect my scoring all around, but particularly with orchestration. I started out scoring mainly for string orchestra or solo piano, but now I regularly test the limits of my computer's processing due to the full orchestra projects I compose by using East West, thanks to Andy's challenging but incredibly helpful lessons.
What sort of accommodation are you living in? What advice would you give to new students about accommodation?
I currently live in a studio in the city centre. However, I much prefer (and also recommend) living in a house share just outside the city centre, where you can hang out with friends and cycle into Uni.
What do you get up to outside of LCoM?
There's countless abbeys or ruins, and loads of unique little villages to visit within a short bus journey's distance from Leeds, so I tend to adventure out and hike when I can. There's also a water sports centre just a train ride away towards Hull for the enthusiasts like me who just want some time out on open water.
Have you been involved in the SU / societies or other LCoM activities?
I loved the International Bake-Off where an American friend introduced everyone to some good ole' PB&J sandwiches. It's been fun to meet with others away from home and just have a good time together.
What is the best thing about living and studying in Leeds?
The amount of sheer musical talent around you in Leeds is incredible. Even within the film course, people have different and brilliant strengths. Because we're all good friends, we've been able to learn not only from our tutors, but from each other as well. It's such a fun and tight-knit community to be a part of, which can be incredibly rare within a university environment.
What advice would you give to a prospective student thinking of applying to your course?
Your future career will thank you for applying for this degree, it really will! This course is challenging, but not overwhelming. The best advice I can probably give is to prepare for the course by keeping up to date on your music theory. It helps with understanding the lessons but it also improves your composing in so many surprising ways! Be prepared for a challenging amount of work, but as long as you take the time to pace yourself and avoid procrastination, you'll compose music that you never thought you could!
How would you describe your experience at LCoM so far in three words?
Unveiling Creative Potential
Study Film Music at Leeds College of Music
Come to one of our Open Days
Find out more about Olivia Crawford: YouTube
