From studio to stage: How Elliott gets hands-on with industry experience
Elliott Taylor is in his second year of Music Technology Level 3 at Newbury College, working towards a future in the creative industries. Like many students, he arrived with a clear interest and a simple question: where can I learn in a way that feels real?
For Elliott, the answer came down to two things: access and opportunity.
“I chose Newbury College because of the location,” he says. “Music Technology courses aren’t really common anywhere, and I’ve always liked music.”
That rarity mattered. Elliott did not want a course that kept music at arm’s length. He wanted to get hands-on, to build skills he could carry into work, and to feel like he was actively moving towards a career, not just completing a qualification.
Choosing practical learning over a purely academic route
When Elliott compared Music Technology at college to a more traditional academic option, the practical focus stood out straight away.
“It’s more practical work,” he explains. “And Newbury College gave more work experience opportunities, and I was looking for work experience as well.”
The Music Technology Level 3 programme at Newbury College is designed to be practical and hands-on, supporting students to develop across production and composition, with a focus on building industry-relevant skills. It is also built around the reality of working life in the creative sector: collaboration, deadlines, and developing a portfolio that proves what you can do.
A different kind of approach: coursework, consistency, and confidence
One of the biggest changes Elliott noticed, compared with studying music at school, was the shift in how learning is assessed.
“The main difference between GCSE music and college music is that it’s mainly coursework here,” he says. “There’s less exams and less stress on that one week where you have to be perfect.”
That does not mean the course is easy. It means the pressure is different. The emphasis moves towards consistent output, practical work, and showing progress over time.
For students like Elliott, that structure can be a better match for the way creative skills develop: repeated practice, learning through doing, and building confidence through feedback and improvement.
“The equipment… is incredible”: learning on kit that mirrors industry expectations
Ask Elliott what he would tell someone thinking about the course, and he goes straight to the facilities.
“Go for it,” he says. “The equipment at Newbury College that you get to set up every week in The Forum is incredible. You don’t get that at other colleges. I’m very lucky to have it here.”
That weekly set-up matters because it turns learning into a routine that feels close to real work: preparing equipment, working in a live environment, and getting used to professional expectations.
The Forum is the College’s performance space and is used for live performance, production activity, and events. Being able to work in that kind of environment helps students practise the workflows that matter in the industry, including set-up, sound checking, and collaboration.
Careers, not courses: work experience that builds more than technical skill
Elliott’s experience also reflects Newbury College’s “Careers, not courses” focus, which centres on progression, skills-based learning, and building employability through real-world experience.
For Elliott, that became real through a work experience opportunity supporting a live production.
“The work experience I’ve done, I was an assistant for a Christmas cabaret in the town centre,” he says. “I was basically on the big stage, helping set things up and pack things down.”
It was a chance to learn what matters when you are supporting performers and working as part of a crew.
“It taught me how personal you have to be with each and every person playing,” Elliott says. “Not everyone likes it the same, and you have to change everything for each individual.”
That blend of people skills, adaptability, and practical responsibility is exactly the kind of learning employers look for, especially in creative and technical roles where you are constantly working with different personalities, preferences, and pressures.
Looking back, Elliott is clear about what stood out most.
“The highlight of my studies was definitely the work experience,” he says. “That was a very interesting day out.”
Industry insight you cannot get from a textbook
Work experience is one part of the wider picture. Elliott also talks about how visits and guest speakers help students understand what different pathways really look like.
Elliott has already had a taste of that.
“We went to the Pete Townshend studio in London,” he says. “We got to see a bunch of first edition synthesizers and mess around with them. You won’t be able to do that anywhere.”
He also sees the value of visitors coming into College, especially for students considering university routes.
“The guest speakers have been really helpful,” Elliott says. “They give you a very good description of what it’s going to be like, and also opportunities for visits and tours.”
Planning the next step: apprenticeship or straight into work
Elliott’s goal is not vague. He is thinking about the transition from college to employment and how to get there.
“I’m looking to do an apprenticeship, or go straight into work after the course.”
And while the creative industries can feel like a big leap, Elliott is already narrowing down what he wants.
“The line of work I’m thinking about going into is anything to do with music technology in a company, preferably in media, because I quite like films.”
He also points to the career-focused support he has had while studying, including learning about the business side of the industry.
“We’ve had sessions on setting up a music business, and what entrepreneurs show throughout their careers,” Elliott says. “I’ve also asked my tutor directly. He is very helpful, and he has his connections.”
That combination, technical development, career insight, and access to people with industry links, is what “Careers, not courses” looks like in practice: learning that stays connected to the world you want to enter.