Popular Music BA (Hons) (Performance and Production Routes) (FMUS)

The BA (Hons) Popular Music (Performance or Production Route) will prepare students for a career in the music industry or progression onto higher level academic study or training. The course provides opportunities to develop a broad range of both practical and academic skills.

BA (Hons) Popular Music (Performance Route) covers areas such as solo and band performance, through studio and stage technology to composition and case study. BA (Hons) Popular Music (Production Route) covers areas such as sound recording, mixing and production as well as computer music, composition for media, music business and promotion and video production for the music industry.

All modules link to music industry contexts such as working as a session musician, songwriter, media composer, arranger, performer, studio or live sound engineer, music producer, sound designer, instrument and effect programmer, events promoter, educator or researcher. This leads the student to produce both practical and academic work which is deemed to be of a professional standard within the music industry, culminating in all students working professionally in their final year work experience (which forms part of the Employability Skills for Music module).

Year 1

Core modules:

Music Industry and Society

Composition for Popular Music 1

Musicianship Skills 1

Ensemble Performance 1

Studio and Stage Technology

Solo Performance Skills 1

Year 2

Core modules:

Music Business and Society

Composition for Popular Music 2

Musicianship Skills 2

Session Musician Skills Ensemble Performance 2

Solo Performance Skills 2

Year 3

Core modules:

Music Case Study

Ensemble Performance 3

Advanced Session Musician Skills

Employability Skills for Music

Portfolio: Solo Performance Skills/Composition for Popular Music 3

BA (Hons) Popular Music (Production);

Year 1

Core modules:

Music Industry and Society

Composition for Popular Music 1

Ensemble Performance 1 (DJ skills and live sound manipulation included)

Studio and Stage Technology

Audio Principles, Synthesis and Sampling

Music Technology 1

Year 2

Core modules:

Music Business and Society

Composition for Popular Music 2

Ensemble Performance 2

Recording and Mixing Techniques

Production Project

Music Technology 2

Year 3

Core modules:

Music Case Study

Ensemble Performance 3

Employability Skills for Music

Promotion and Video Production for Music

Production Project Portfolio

You will learn through lectures and seminars, workshops and studio activities. Your work will be assessed through portfolios, practical demonstrations, written assignments and promotional critiques.

96 tariff points from:

Three Cs at A Level

National Certificate – distinction, distinction

National Diploma –merit, merit, merit

Higher National Diploma – strong exit grade

Mature students are accepted on an individual basis via the interview process

You will be required to attend an interview and audition upon application.

Graduates have gone on to work as performers, session musicians, composers, songwriters, teachers, sound engineers or producers for groups or artists. Some have chosen careers in other media, including advertising, film, installations and game.