SAE University College has had a vision to deliver industry-focused education since 1976 – its music-related offerings training and educating industry-ready graduates for careers in the real world.
SAE University College is located in Brisbane, Byron Bay, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. Its Australian student body, made up of more than 2,500 creatives, excels in programmes across nine disciplines to be exact: Animation, Audio, Computer Science, Creative Industries, Design, Film, Games, Music, VFX & Virtual Production.
The SAE courses are responsive to the real world and embrace the digital revolution. This means those enrolled are able to get a taste for what lies ahead before they get there.
SAE's Bachelor Of Music, one example among SAE's vast offering, gives students the opportunity to build all the essential skills needed to create a successful career in today's modern music industry.
Those in this field will gain proficiencies in songwriting, composition, music business and industry, stagecraft, recording techniques and production.
For more on the SAE experience, and the kinds of things an education at SAE University College can lead to, we spoke to Sophie Ryder.
Sophie is an SAE Bachelor Of Audio graduate, who has gone on to establish an independent music label and travel overseas to further her skills.
You’re an SAE graduate. Tell us what drew you to SAE in the first place.
Ever since I was a teenager, I knew that all I wanted to do was work in music. It’s been my passion for a very long time. I still can’t picture myself doing anything else. Although I didn’t plan on attending further studies after graduating high school, SAE Byron Bay really stood out to me. It is a small university that has small classes, offering a more personal and practical approach to teaching. I was keen to learn more about audio production and live technology, as I initially wanted to engineer large festivals such as Splendour In The Grass. SAE offers a more non-traditional way of teaching and project work, which for creatives like myself, was very appealing.
Tell us about your relationship to music – you studied a Bachelor Of Audio! Where do your roots in this field originate?
I always point to 'Guitar Hero 3' on the PlayStation 2 as my gateway into music discovery. The soundtracks to the movies 'Surf’s Up' and 'School Of Rock' also led me further into the endless void of rock music. I fell in love with music at a pretty early age and only really got into music production after discovering an artist called Clairo on SoundCloud back in 2017. Her 'bedroom pop' aesthetic at the time was very cool, and encouraged me to experiment more with GarageBand, an MIDI keyboard and a USB microphone. I guess since that point, my interest in learning more about audio developed quite a lot.
And what sorts of things did you learn during your time there?
I got to learn so much about all aspects of audio, which was a really interesting and informative experience. The Audio degree covers all aspects of studio production, live sound engineering and post-production/sound design. You learn a lot of technical skills, but you also learn a lot of personal skills. I really enjoyed the processes of studio recording, mixing and mastering – developing a song from a thought to a final result. These classes are what made me want to pursue studio mixing further. The degree is very project-based, which is great when you have lots of ideas you want to work on and experiment with.
Sophie Ryder
Why is a place like SAE so crucial for up-and-coming creatives?
SAE is a great university for creatives because there are lecturers that really cheer you on and you also get to meet and work with other like-minded individuals. The facilities you have access to are also fantastic, like the recording studios and mixing consoles. I really think the networking opportunities I got through the university gave me the confidence to pursue starting my record label.
And what made it a great place to learn?
I became really close to some people at SAE, even now we remain good friends and support each other’s work. When you get to study and create things with other creatives, it really makes a difference in producing great things. I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the SAE Byron Bay campus. And everyone who works there is very encouraging and supportive.
While you studied at SAE, you also established a music label! Talk a bit about your passion for up-and-coming artists, and elevating/celebrating local music.
I established Flaming Heart Records during my degree as I was so inspired by what I was doing and wanted to start a music-related business. Here, in the Northern Rivers and the Gold Coast, we have some of the most incredible young musicians. It really is my passion to support the scene here because it is so diverse and so thriving. I feel like the Australian music scene is going through some pretty intense challenges right now, such as our famous festivals being cancelled. The arts sector is so important to Australian culture and we should be nurturing it as much as possible.
What’s been the greatest part about establishing Flaming Heart Records?
Getting to know and support so many musicians in the local area! When I was in Australia, I ran two mini day-festivals called Flaming Heart Fest. These had only younger, emerging artists on the line-up. Organising these events was really great and both events were successful, as all profits got donated to the Byron Youth Service. Besides the record label, promotion is something I am really interested in and have a lot of fun producing.
You’re over in Berlin at present. Tell us what got you over there and what you’re up to!
I came over to Europe after going through a bit of a rough time a couple of years ago. Traveling for three months was by far the most incredible experience of my life. Afterwards, I came to Berlin (without ever being here before!) to try and find work in the music industry. The music and arts culture here is so fantastic and so rich. I got very lucky landing an internship at Sony Music, under their metal label, Century Media Records. It has been a truly special experience learning more about the ins and outs of how a record label works. I’ve really enjoyed my time over here and hope to return next year!
What advice would you have for someone wanting to take the leap and apply for SAE?
Just do it! You never know who you will meet, where you will go or what you will do next. There is so much excitement in the unknown – scary, too, but that’s all a part of it. The knowledge and skills I learnt at SAE are invaluable and I encourage any creative to attend an Open Day and see what it’s like. It may be the start of an amazing story for yourself!
The SAE University Colleges will be holding Open Days on Saturday 24 August from 11:00am-3:00pm at all campuses.
SAE’s music courses are designed to build the essential skills for a successful career in the creative industries. Enrol now for September 2024. Find out more at SAE's website.
