My experience here has been excellent, there are no main concerns with the course itself, just some improvements to be made with extra-curricular things and student accommodation.

The facilities in LCM are good but I wish there were more performance spaces. The Venue is quite good, but it is still rather small, the platform is definitely not large enough to stage an opera, for example.

In the past I have used student services to help with my finance. The classical pathway leader is also organising some support sessions for those who experience performance anxiety.

The SU is really good, the President is extremely friendly. They could probably host a few more events than they do but this is most likely due to their low funding.

Leeds is an amazing city, it is genuinely one of the biggest social hubs in the UK. Everyone is friendly, there is a great atmosphere, and many nice places to visit. I particularly like Trinity Shopping Centre and the Everyman Cinema. In my spare time, I visit Bradford to go ice-skating, have a few cocktails in very sophisticated bars, and go out for very nice meals!

I have joined the LGBT and the Choral society. I do have some issues with the societies in that they could be run under better direction, some societies are not run by people who actually care about the purpose of it. I feel if they don’t have much care and interest for it, how will the society members enjoy being a part of it?

There course is very full-on and thorough, it covers many aspects of music. The teachers really support you in the work that you do and offer the right guidance. There are plenty of extra-curricular activities to get involved in as well.

LCM is really good for finding work. There are modules specifically designed to help you prepare for a professional career, it brings out the skills you have in you and puts them to use in the working world.

Student accommodation is not good value for money at all. £119 a week for a little room with a communal area that is shared between 4-5 others who do not clean up after themselves. It was often horrific living with other students who you were stuck together with. You are better off living in a student house which is £60-90 a week where you have your own space.

LCM is good for the course. LCM could be slightly clearer about assignment details and more support for students who did not come from a strong musical background. There are more opportunities here in the conservatoire than you would find at a university for any musician.

LCM is open till 3am on weekdays which is great for late night practising. During the day, this is a different matter as rooms are booked up extremely quickly by teachers and students so I do wish there were more rooms available. Can the college provide more free incentives please?

A lot of support is provided at LCM. Help is offered with careers, student finance and counselling. I used the counselling service myself due to my depression and anxiety and after having suffered a panic attack as a result of the loneliness I felt whilst living alone. After signing up for counselling, I was offered a counselling session once a week. This was incredibly useful and valuable to me and I felt like it was the first time someone listened to my problems properly.

Honestly, I was mostly unaware of the SU’s work until well into my studies. I wish the SU offered more societies and networking events, other events where you can take part in fun activities. It would be great to have this alongside all the intensive lectures we have.

Leeds has many things to offer as a city. The architecture is beautiful and I enjoy walks through the city. There are many concerts on show at the Town Hall, various cathedrals and in the many music venues in Leeds.

I have joined the LGBT society, their informal meetings are a great time to chill out with people. I was not aware of the sports societies LCM do offer until many months later, so I wish the SU had did a better job promoting and publicising these clubs for students to take advantage of. If LCM has anything to offer, you normally have to dig deep down somewhere to try and find something, it is very difficult to access this type of information on the online student portal. I have joined the symphony orchestra.

At LCM, meeting musicians who study the same course has been great because I have never had the experience of being with so many musicians in one place before. My favourite module is the performance module as the quality of the teaching is excellent. They encourage you to ask many questions as oppose to just “spoon-feeding” you information but at the same time making sure you understand everything before moving on with another part of the lesson. The solo and ensemble performance are compulsory modules, however, I do wish there were even more practical modules on offer.

LCM does not offer that much support in terms of helping you find work or offering working opportunities. The department that deals with jobs and vacancies in LCM are fairly unorganised.

I have not stayed in student halls in Leeds as I do not think they are of good value. I stay in my own private accommodation which is a lower floor of a Victorian house which I have all to myself. Of course, the downside to this is that it can get a bit lonely.