Finding Comfort In Sound

Casting my mind back to the heady days of 2007, I can remember the weekend that Dad bought me my first acoustic guitar: a cumbersome but trusty piece of kit, which I eventually christened ‘Sasha’. (Fans of _Scrubs_ may get the reference.) Over the years since, I’ve undertaken my fair share of lessons, college jam sessions, and split many a fingertip thanks to over-vigorous renditions of ‘Pinball Wizard’.

The process has taught me a considerable number of life lessons, from the rudimentary (e.g., always check the gain level before turning on an amp) to the reflective. Through it all, though, the one piece of wisdom which has stuck with me the most is something that Dad told me on the day he first presented me with Sasha: “Get a guitar, and you have a friend for life.”

Yes, I’m aware of how corny that may sound, but as I’ve progressed through the last six years of my life, I’ve come to realise just how relevant those words have been. Sure, I’ve fallen out with guitaristry many times. Learning how to play an instrument can occasionally be a frustrating and repetitive vocation – not to mention a highly potent source of procrastination – but, as with all good friends, Sasha – along with the other instruments I’ve picked up since – has proved to be incredibly loyal. And in the context of university life, owning an instrument has been (if you’ll pardon the pun) instrumental in shaping my experiences.

It’s something which we’ve all been lectured about in some form or another, but possessing musical ability (at whatever level of competence) can be an endlessly gratifying asset, and utilising these skills while at university can prove to be a lifesaver in more ways than one.

First and foremost, it can be a major social tool, allowing you to get involved in a broad range of activities. I won’t even be able to scratch the surface of this particular topic, but there are countless opportunities open to budding musicians at Warwick. Though it may not boast a music course of its own, this university is a heavy condoner of a variety of arts, including soundscaping.

There is a wealth of societies which can nurture an individual’s musical abilities among groups of like-minded people: Big Band, Drumming Society, and string, wind and symphony orchestras, to name but a few. A passion for a particular instrument or musical style can thus open up a number of doors at uni, allowing you to develop skills, become more proactive, and meet new faces in new circles. (Also, more socials!)

On a similar note, it’s amazing how many friendships can be sparked just by mentioning that you’ve dabbled in playing one instrument or another, and in such a communal student environment, putting together a band or finding a jam buddy isn’t all that difficult. If you’re feeling ambitious, there’s always the option of melting some faces at the Dirty Duck’s Unplucked evenings or proving your mettle in our annual Battle of the Bands competition.

Alternatively, push beyond the campus scene and strike out for venues such as The Coventry Mint or Leamington’s Zephyr Lounge, and show off your skills to even broader audiences. And even if you do step up but don’t quite nail it, so what? Uni isn’t forever, so just go for it and savour the opportunities while they’re so easily available. Besides, there’s always the chance that somebody in the audience will buy you an appreciative pint afterwards.

On a more personal level, making music is a great form of creative catharsis. There are only so many academic journals that can be pored over before some serious musical therapy is needed to keep the brain stable. Nothing soothes the soul like freewheeling over some keys after dealing with a particularly beastly essay. (Couldn’t fit the grand piano in the car on the way up? Head to the Music Centre Practice Rooms in the Warwick Arts Centre, and tickle the ivories there.)

And of course, instruments are also highly dependable companions. There have been numerous evenings whereupon I haven’t been in a fit state to join my friends in hitting the clubs (usually due to either an onslaught of work, or the after-effects of consuming too many Purples during the previous evening), and on these occasions, having a guitar to hand is a great source of comfort. Something as simple as five minutes of noodling can raise your mood, purge your emotional traumas, and if everybody else is out, you’re free to screech off-key all you like.

And finally, owning an instrument at university allows you to annoy the crap out of the guy next door to you in halls: the one who always plays his drum and bass playlist really, _really_ loud whenever you’re trying to write an essay. Sweet, sweet justice…

So, whatever be your chosen tool of sound, whether ukulele, keyboard or didgeridoo, be sure to bring it along for the university experience. It’s where that “friend for life” really earns its title.