For me, between 3rd year French and rigorous media studies courses, not much time remains for hobbies. But, there is one hobby I could never give up, no matter how much work college throws at me- music. There is always time for music. Love for music is versatile; it can be fit into every waking day, whether it’s by itself, or providing a background soundtrack while you drive, do homework, or clean your dorm. Music is everywhere, and if you set aside just a smidgen of time, before you know it your semester will be lively and musical. I couldn’t have it any other way!
- Get a collection going – Choose your weapon: iPod dock, record player, boom box, etc. Find something that projects your music, and loudly. Once you have your medium, start to build an expansive collection. Obscure, old records run dirt cheap, and used CDs can be purchased at Goodwill or Half Price Books for under $10. Used music fits splendidly into a college budget, so take advantage!
- Check Out Your Campus Music Scene – Every campus has some sort of music scene, whether it’s students having drum circles in the grass, or local/student bands performing in campus rec centers or cafes. Ask around, look at fliers posted about, and spend an evening enjoying the sweet gift of music on the grounds of your very own college campus.
- Load up your iPod/ Mp3 Player – Okay, so maybe it’s a bit antisocial, but listening to music as you walk to class really sets a nice vibe and gets the adrenaline pumping. Making ITunes playlists to load onto your IPod is also a great break from studying!
- Local Venues – Depending on the town, there are almost always dives and music venues where live music is performed regularly. Check out schedules and ticketing, and plan to see a show with some friends. Nothing takes the load off from the stress of college better than rocking out to a great band in a crowd of fellow fans.
- Make Mix CDs for your friends – Sharing music is a beautiful thing. Make a compilation of what you’re currently listening to and burn your friends and mix cd. If you do this regularly enough, you just may become your friends’ music guru!
- Discover Music Online – Music sharing sites like Rhapsody, Spotify, Grooveshark, and Last.fm are great for discovering new tunes. You can also compile playlists, listen to radio channels, access other users’ playlists, and unearth underground artists you’ve never heard of before! Check out my previous article about different music sharing sites here. Warning: This is addictive and may distract you from homework.
This list just scratches the surface of how music can live inside your college experience. You just have to be willing to dig. Have a harmonious and melodic semester!
Lily Angelle is a Radio-Television-Film major at The University of Texas in Austin, TX. She hopes to one day be a cinematographer or screenwriter. In her spare time she enjoys going to concerts, and often writes music reviews for the blog “30 Days Out.” Lily’s favorite bands are Weezer, The Beatles, and The Velvet Underground. You can often find her studying on campus in the Cactus Cafe, or around Austin at Home Slice, her favorite pizza place.