See also
Sorrel Hoare, PhD student, Audio Lab
I was a disillusioned web designer with a BSc in Sound Design who was in the process of completing a post-graduate diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control when I applied to do my PhD. I knew I wanted to continue studying, but it was not until I started looking into different courses that I came across Dr Damian Murphy's work related to auralisation and virtual acoustics. The subject, although new to me, really captured my interest and seemed to satisfy both my artistic and scientific leanings. I was very fortunate that a funding opportunity came up and I was able to commence my studies in October 2009.
For the first few months of my Phd, I felt quite intimidated by the amount I needed to learn and the prospect of standing side by side with those way ahead of me in terms of their knowledge and experience. Yet under Damian's watchful eye, and thanks to the tireless support offered to me by my fellow PhD students, I managed to get to grips with my subject area and, much to my surprise, had written and published my first paper within 6 months of starting! Since then I have published and presented at a second International Conference, and am on course to complete a journal paper by summer 2012.
I don't think I am unusual in the respect that, in the early stages of my PhD, progress has often felt slow and lacking in momentum. Now that I am into my final year, things couldn't be more different! Having reached the stage where I feel my work and its end goals have been `validated', I am currently finding my studies both very enjoyable and rewarding, and I look forward with anticipation to each impending milestone. I hope I will still be feeling this way this October when I start my writing up year(!)
My advice to those interested in starting a PhD in Music Technology would be this: provided you have sufficient interest in your subject, (and sufficient funds), to sustain you for the 3-4 years it takes; do it! I can't overemphasize what an extremely challenging and worthwhile experience this is, in terms of both professional and personal development. The staff and students of the Audio lab and the wider Electronics Department create what couldn't be a nicer and more supportive environment in which to survive and conquer a PhD. 
If you'd like to find out more about how Sorrel is getting on at York, she can be contacted at shnh500@ohm.york.ac.uk
Postgraduate Admissions Tutor: Dr. Steve Smith
Tel: (+44) 01904 324485