[quote]A brand new degree in heavy metal music has been dismissed as a “waste of time” by a campaign group.
The pioneering two-year foundation degree at New College Nottingham (NCN) was set up by music performance lecturer Liam Maloy and includes modules in the history of metal music, live performance, writing songs and music theory.
Defending the course, Mr Maloy described it as “academically vigorous” and as relevant as music degrees in other genres.
He told the BBC: "In the past, heavy metal has not been taken seriously and is seen as lacking academic credibility when compared with other genres such as jazz and classical music. But that's just a cultural construction."
Once students have finished the foundation years, they can study a third year in music at Nottingham Trent University and be awarded a full degree.
Despite the course credentials, chairman of the Campaign For Real Education, Chris McGovern, is highly critical of the degree.
He said: "There are too many degrees being offered that lack credibility in the marketplace.
"I suspect that may be the case with this course, unless you want to be a heavy metal star, in which case why would you need a degree in the subject?
"It might seem an attractive, easy option to some people. But you don't need to do a degree in heavy metal. It's a waste of time."
What are your views on the heavy metal degree? A worthwhile course or an utter waste of time?[/quote]
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Any music degree is LEL.
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How metal are you? I have a -blam!-ing degree in metal bitches!
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Don't even listen to metal. But how would these people like it if their respective genres were labeled as, "A waste of time." Fa[u]g[/u]gots.
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You still active?
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I'm a fan of metal music, but I think this is a bit stupid. I mean, it's kinda useless, isn't it? You don't study a genre of music to get a career out of it; you learn an instrument, form a band and then go out and play that kind of music and hope you get lucky. I think the same about degrees in Jazz and Classical Music.
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As a music major, i'd have to agree that it's a waste. From the businesses stand point: Take the number of people getting music degrees. Cut that down to the ones that are such intense metal fans that they want a metal specific degree. Cut that down into the ones that can agree on what "heavy metal" actually is. Then cut that down to the ones that can afford to spend two years getting a degree that likely won't lead to a job. From a student's stand point, what are you going to do with a metal degree? If you look at jazz and classical degrees, you can easily apply that to teaching, or improved chances of working in a large group or at a music club and having a steady pay. Are metal bands going to want you more because of a degree? Are the venues going to hire your band and pay you more because of your degree? Probably not. Metal is great, but it isn't the biggest source of jobs out there. It's not something you need a degree for.
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Look at all the jazz degrees just in the UK http://search.ucas.com/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/EGeuc9SIDhRcynEMa8ADwmvZV5GQy-4lLf/HAHTpage/search.HsKeywordSuggestion.whereNext?query=373&word=JAZZ&single=N
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Any non-STEM degree is a waste of time, with the exception of things like medicine, law, and economy. If you truly have a passion for a non-STEM subject, that's fine, but unless you're rich, getting a degree in it is spending a lot of money that you don't have in order to fund a hobby.
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There are much less useful degrees out there. At least in this one you learn something valuable relating to your topic of interest.
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But you can get a degree in jazz and that's fine and dandy.
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I want my degree in Metal.
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Because gender studies is so much more fun...