The British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM) is the largest and leading provider of contemporary music education in Europe, with colleges in London, Brighton, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Dublin, as well as Berlin and Hamburg in Germany. For over 35 years, BIMM has helped shape students’ raw musical talents while connecting them to the music business, and ultimately turning them into industry professionals who earn a living doing what they love.
BIMM’s music education is hugely successful, with alumni including singer-songwriters George Ezra, James Bay, Izzy Bizu and Tom Odell; Jon Beavis and Lee Kiernan from punk band IDLES; Ben Thompson from Two Door Cinema Club; and indie bands The Kooks and Fickle Friends.
Blueberry helps many students apply to study at BIMM, including Natalie Cedergren from Kalmar, Sweden, who’s now doing amazing things as part of her Music Business course at BIMM Berlin. In this interview we caught up with Natalie and found out what she loves about studying music in the German capital, her experiences at university so far and how Blueberry helped her along the way.
Tell us a little bit about why you chose to study at BIMM Berlin.
I was actually considering both BIMM Berlin and BIMM Hamburg at first, and ending up in Berlin has been great. I wanted to expand my opportunities, which I didn’t feel I could do to the same extent in Sweden. Germany is the perfect place for that, and so is BIMM.
How would you describe BIMM Berlin?
It’s an extremely tightknit community. Everybody is involved in projects together in some way and there are always things to do and things to work on. I’m very happy that it’s not a huge university where you don’t know most of the faces you see.
What kind of classes are you studying? Do you have a favourite class?
Right now, in my first year, I’m studying Artist Development and Management, Event Promotion and Tour Management, Administration and Entrepreneurship, Live Sound Technology, Introduction to Digital Music and Music Business. My favourite class is Introduction to Digital Music, as I’m very interested in digital marketing and how the music business is changing to fit a digital era where everything is handled online. I love all of the classes though and the tutors do an amazing job!
What does a regular school day look like for you?
I get up around one-and-a-half to two hours before my class starts, get ready and drink (too much) coffee. Then I take the tram for about 35 minutes, and usually get to my classes 15 minutes before they start. Depending on the day, the other students and I usually have lunch together after class, or maybe work on something together.
What is it like to live in Berlin?
It’s very free, compared with where I lived before. I can basically find anything I want here.
Do you think there’s a big difference between studying in Berlin and studying in Sweden?
Yes, definitely… and it’s a positive one. Berlin allows you more freedom, and encourages you to be more creative too.
What do you do in your spare time?
I listen to lots of music, read books, sometimes go to a gig, and hang out with friends or my boyfriend.
What is your best uni memory so far?
I actually think it was the first day when we all met each other for the first time. I was so nervous but it felt so right.
What places must you definitely visit in Berlin?
Of course, the normal tourist areas, like Brandenburger Tor (the Brandenburg Gate) and the Berlin Wall. Dunckerclub is really cool too, if you like clubs with goth vibes. I also recommend the RAW area where one of BIMM’s buildings is located. There are amazing clubs and street art everywhere.
Why did you turn to Blueberry when having decided to study abroad?
I was Googling universities and found Blueberry’s site. There was a link to BIMM on there, so I reached out to them for help and advice. I was a bit scared to use UCAS but, luckily, I found this isn’t needed when applying to BIMM in Germany – you can apply to them directly.
Do you have any tips for others interested in studying abroad?
Do you research and just do it. Don’t let ‘what ifs’ scare you off, because I promise you’ll have the time of your life, even if you choose to go back to your home country afterwards. You’ll gain experience and friendships that last a lifetime.
Är du intresserad av att söka till BIMM? Just nu erbjuder vi tillsammans med BIMM 10 % Early Bird-rabatt på ditt första år om du söker till en utbildning med kursstart i oktober senast den 31 mars!
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