BandSoc at the University of Surrey is a community for all students who love music of any style or genre. Whether you like playing, performing, watching or simply just meeting new people, we have a membership option for you!
Musicians: We are committed to helping you develop as musicians whilst at University, no matter what course you study! You can book out our rehearsal space (full back line provided) at no additional cost to membership, you can perform at our live music events we host throughout the year (including our annual day festival in Rubix!), we also aim to provide opportunities through external clients by acting as an intermediary between local musical talent and those searching for it. For a full run down of what the musicians membership has to offer, please check out our website! (links below)
Music Lover: Music lovers membership is free, and enables you to exclusive discounts to all of our music events on campus (including BandSoc festival). Music lovers membership is perfect for all those who want to be involved in the local music scene here at Surrey but may not necessarily play an instrument or want to take advantage of our Musician facilities.
External Clients: Looking for performers for your event? We can help! Please get in touch via email (ussu.bandsoc@surrey.ac.uk) and we will put your request to our members.
BandSoc reduces barriers to involvement in music at the university, regardless of degree subject. This means that, through BandSoc, ALL students are now able to still engage with music when they move away from home and embark on their journey at Surrey. Before BandSoc, it was extremely difficult for non-music students to get involved with music; only music students can book out PATS and other music ensemble societies often have trials for entry and have a limited number of participants. BandSoc welcomes all students who want to engage in music, coordinating our own rehearsal space for students to book out, running our own live music events and also socials & general jams to help students network and meet new people.
Countless studies, such as Durham University’s Dimitra Kokotsaki’s research (2011) have proven that involvement in music at university positively impacts the student experience; whether the benefit being improving social and personal skills, developing transferrable skills for employment or simply encouraging students to engage their creative side of their brain through extracurricular activities outside of their degree. Music is also widely regarded as an effective tool for improving mental health and wellbeing (Solli, et al., 2013) (another vital factor of any University in 21st Century Higher Education, currently overwhelmed by the rapidly increasing demand for better mental health services that are accessible to all. BandSoc's growth in membership and involvement within the University has meant that more students are benefiting from the valuable opportunities BandSoc has to offer. Without BandSoc, non-music students would struggle to get involved in music at University.
