Not Going Quietly: The UEA School of Music

(Image courtesy of @SaveUEAMusic)

Music and protests have a long-standing history of going hand in hand. An understatement, I know, but this week students and staff at the University of East Anglia have been making good use of this knowledge following news that the uni’s musicdepartment is under threat of closure in the next few years, a move that suggests worrying things about current attitudes to arts and humanities degrees.

The Save UEA Music campaign has very quickly emerged, supported by current and former music students and staff as well as the student union. So far their actions have included organising today's campus busk-in –like a sit in, but more melodic –and racking up over 1000 signatures to the petition they have created, which can be found here. Their campaign slogan, referencing John Lennon and the power of musical rallying, asks you to ‘Imagine there’s no music...’

To help you to do this and to take in the levels of creativity and talent that has been brought into and nourished by the department, here is just a small sample of the projects and collaborations created by UEA music students:

Snakes with Wings by collidertheband


String Quartet No. 2, 'Prelude' (in one movement) by EasternScores


Easy Come Easy Go [Says Simon Ft. Sarah Bowles] by Says Simon


He Was Despised by Paul-Ethan Bright


Whether you’re at university or not, it would be great if you could show your support for both education and the arts by following this campaign via Tumblr, Twitter or Facebook –and most importantly by signing the petition. Thanks in advance!