DCG Success Stories

Guitarist and drummer Richard Mylemans has found that studying on Derby College’s Creative Practice foundation degree has stretched his interpretation of what music is.

Richard, who is 20 and from Allestree, likes the way the full-time course brings together different strands of the creative arts, teaching him about more than music.

The foundation degree, at the College’s Joseph Wright Centre, is designed to promote collaboration among arts students and broaden their skills.

Richard said: “At the moment I’m completing a digital technology assignment. It’s about how how digital technology assists us in the recording studio and how it’s used in editing and producing sounds.

Our course content is good. It looks at other fields, in this case computer technology, and how they work with the creative arts.”

In another example of how the various subject strands complement each other, Richard drew on both his artistic and musical talents to make a poster and produce an audio piece for an events planning assignment.

Richard is not sure yet what he wants to do after college but is pleased to be among the first cohort of students on the new foundation degree, which is validated by the Open University.

He started learning the guitar at school but also took up drumming after a friend gave him a one-off lesson on the drums.

Richard initially came to Derby College to study level 2 music then moved on to level 2 creative media then level 3 music.

He added: “I’m not in a band but I have played guitar with my uncle and cousin at charity and charity gigs. I’ve also played a few gigs at college as part of my course assignments and tasks.

I’d say my music choices are down to what mood I’m in but if I had to choose a favourite, I’d say rock’n’roll.”