Current student
MA in Music
“Music has been close to me from an early age. Years of musical education in piano, cello, voice and organ made specializing in musicology a natural choice for me. After receiving MA degree at Tokyo University of the Arts, I came to Bristol to pursue my second MA with a new research subject, the history of British organ music after the 19th century. To launch my project, the Music department of Bristol University was especially attractive for having four musicologists who are experts on British music, and the Centre for the History of Music in Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth (CHOMBEC), which is a unique research organisation that provides various seminars and conferences related to this genre.
“Having spent five months here, I have been fascinated with the living and cultural environment of Bristol. The city is safe, modestly-sized, and richly endowed with nature. On a sunny holiday (with which, I believe, Bristol is relatively blessed), I often take a stroll in the Brandon Hill or Clifton Suspension Bridge, watching robins and great tits. I also enjoy music making activities at the university. Besides the concerts of the University Symphony Orchestra to which I belong as a cellist, what amuses me greatly is the 13-stops chamber organ in the Victoria Rooms, the main building of the Music department: it is really incredible that I can learn real sound of British organ, playing this lovely instrument regularly by myself! There are many other venues nearby to be exposed with good live music as well, such as St Georges Bristol, Colston Hall, and Bristol Cathedral, whose various event programmes would give delight to music enthusiasts.
“As for the course structure and content of MA in musicology, I have the impression that they are flexibly arranged according to the students’ concerns and needs. In the previous semester, for instance, the course director organised several sessions which focus on British music for me, which were very helpful to deepen my understanding of this field. Although there are few overseas students in the Music department and it is always challenging to keep up with the discussion among native students, my course mates and tutors are all supportive and incessantly encourage me to be involved in the community, by which I have felt helped a lot.
“The biggest reason I decided to come to this country was that I wanted to feel with all my senses what British people had seen and felt in creating their music and that which emanated from it. Now I have a sense that my desire has been fulfilled through the days at the Bristol University, even to the extent of utilizing my extracurricular experiences. In the future, I would like to play an active part in introducing to my country a wide variety of British music. Including all difficulties and differences I come across through living in abroad, I am convinced that my study at Bristol University would offer a precious treasure to pursue such a goal.”
