Moving from Management Studies to pursue a musical passsion
Initially, I didn’t choose to pursue music. I didn’t begin taking music seriously until I was halfway through my first year at Staffordshire University where I was studying Management. I found that I was practicing the saxophone more than attending lectures.
Name: Matthew Hines
Nationality: British/Filipino
Years at Bangkok Patana: 4 and a half years
Graduating Class Year: 2009
University: Leeds College of Music
What are your favouritememories of the school?
The noodle bar, performing with the Patana Jazz band with Mr Larking, grad trip 09 and Senior Studies.
What have you been doing since leaving Bangkok Patana?
I have worked several jobs (behind a bar, a cashier, a telephone marketer etc.), backpacked most of Western Europe, graduated with a first class degree in Music from Leeds College of Music, pursued my passion of becoming a full time self employed musician, toured Europe/Asia with bands/DJ’s and I am currently exploring writing music.
What are the things that you learned/experienced at Bangkok Patana that you still use today?
Variety is the spice of life, pursue your dreams and nothing has been more stressful than the IB till this day.
Tell us more about your passion for music and why you choose to be an independent musician.
Currently, I am involved in three projects, one is called “Patient H” which is an electronic based project where I co-produce songs alongside another artist. We released our first EP a
The 2nd project is a jazz crossover which includes a 4-piece band (Saxophone, Drums, Guitar, Bass) running tracks alongside the program Ableton Live. I have co-written the music with the drummer of the band. We are launching this live project in January.
The 3rd project is my personal project that incorporates layering of saxophone and different textural loops. This is still a work in progress and something I plan on releasing separately in the second half of next year.
Over the next few months, I have
Initially, I didn’t choose to pursue music. I didn’t begin taking music seriously until I was halfway through my first year at Staffordshire University where I was studying Management. I found that I was practicing the saxophone more than attending lectures. I had never considered attending a music conservatoire, but quickly applied to all the available conservatoires in the U.K and was accepted by Leeds College of Music. It became clear to me that I should pursue my dream of becoming a musician.
Bangkok Patana gave me a solid foundation that led me to follow my passion. From performing with the Junior Jazz Band run by
Mr Larking to the Classical Orchestra run byMr Hopkins and doing after school music activities five days a week (and sometimes on the weekend!). Also, one to one lessons with Khun Ball and participating in concerts such as Patana Unplugged, Patana Jazz & Blues, gave me the opportunity to perform alongside fellow students in front of a live audience. Without these opportunities that Bangkok Patana provided and the friends that supported me every step of the way, my foundation and interest for music may have been very different.
I have tried other jobs from telemarketing to working in pubs and working in an office. Being an Independent musician is the most rewarding thing I have ever decided to do and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
What would you like to be doing in ten-years’ time?
Hopefully what I’m still doing now but with a deeper understanding of my craft and hungry to learn more. I’d like to think that the friends that I have now will still be here in 10 years time and I will be trying to lead a meaningful life.
