Relocating to Falmouth from a big city
29 January 2024
This article was written by Music BA(Hons) student Sintija.
The big move
Moving from a big city to a seaside town after living in London for most of my life felt a lot smoother and easier than I initially expected. The move was definitely made easier by the people and the community here at Falmouth. Be it a plus or minus, you get the feeling that everyone knows everyone. Of course, this will vary depending on course size, but the friendships and connections that I have built with fellow course mates feel like they’ll last a lifetime. Everyone is in the same boat, being in a seaside and university town, so finding people to collaborate or work with on a project is never an issue. Especially as a music student, I’ve found that there is always something to be getting on with.
The key thing to keep in mind when moving from a larger city to a town, is that life is a bit ‘slowed down’, if you will. There’s none of that rushing and panicked feeling that I would often experience in the city and the general public seem a lot happier to stop and chat. As someone who began getting overwhelmed with the city, moving to a quieter, slower place has been much better for my emotional and creative well-being in the long run and, if you ever get the same feeling, Falmouth could be just the place for you.
Networking
As I mentioned earlier, collaboration opportunities are endless at Falmouth, as you’re always surrounded by other creatives, who most likely have projects and modules that recommend getting collaboration involved. As I’m starting my final module, I can confidently say that I’m now in a position to slowly move out into the ‘real world’ with the connections that I have made. The first few years may seem a bit daunting, but I can assure you it gets easier! Specifically speaking as an aspiring live sound engineer, I personally haven’t felt a lack of places to get workplace experience in, as everyone I’ve had the opportunity to shadow has been nothing but lovely and supportive.
The location
Something else to add is the location of Falmouth, as the spring and summers here are beautiful. I’m sure that’s no news, but my friends and I often find ourselves in awe over how beautiful it can actually be here and, with the beach just a short drive away, most of our time is spent outdoors, barbecuing and swimming into the late evening. With that being said, if you need a change of scenery from Falmouth, trains from Truro can take you directly to a lot of nice beaches, such St Ives and many others, which are often just a short walk from most stations. If you’re someone who wants to explore Cornwall a lot more when you’re here, then I’d really recommend joining the expedition society, who often organise walks around Cornwall. It’s a great way to meet a few more people too!
In many ways, the town feels student-run, so there’s never a shortage of gigs and other music events that are put on by students themselves around Falmouth. If you’re staying around Falmouth before Christmas, there are always markets in Penryn, Falmouth, Truro and at the Princess Pavilion, to name a couple places, which have really helped keep that sense of community, especially around the winter months. If you’re looking to find things to do around the colder months, the Students' Union is a great place to look, as well as the Falmouth newsletter you get sent to your email, as events and other things of interest are always advertised on there.
The last point I’d like to touch upon is the nightlife. With the bus stopping right in town, getting to and from a club or pub is by far a lot easier than it would be at any city. The clubs are obviously not as big as they would be in a place like London, but it’s safe to say that your night out won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Oh, and there’s a lot of great freshers’ events that happen in town, but you’ll just have to come and see for yourself...
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