Why study this course?
On this innovative, career-led degree you’ll be able to choose a pathway that reflects either a specialist (music production) or multi practice (sonic arts) career outcome, You’ll also have options to develop a creative portfolio of works across a range of industries. Develop your skills using our music studios and computer labs, industry-based software and practicing with a range of musicians and styles.
More about this course
This course will provide you with a vast range of tools and techniques needed to work with music, sound and sonic arts, immersed in a music studio environment. Our set of professional surround sound music studios and live recording room is complemented by video editing suites, a foley studio and a music computer lab equipped with iMacs and MIDI keyboards.
A wide range of specialist software is available in line with the newest trends in the industry, equipping students with the most up to date technologies. Our cross-school partnerships ensure an impressive array of expertise from highly specialised lecturers and researchers. You’re not simply enrolling on a music degree; you’re becoming part of an exciting new endeavour, that extends its practice to all aspects and areas of the creative industries.
You may also benefit from opportunities to work with other subject areas including computer games programming, animation modelling and effects, live entertainment, digital media, dance, theatre and performance practice. These colloborations and shared studios can give you the opportunity to work on interdisciplinary hybrid projects with your fellow students.
Music and creative industry research modules have been conceived to provide a dynamic and direct reflection of the production, sonic arts pathway, and their respective industries.
From short exercises to long-term projects, the work will be focused on the interaction between the different disciplines, through projects designed to support students in expressing their creative interests and professional needs.
During the course there will be opportunities to travel for short activities, such as music festivals, industry talks and performances. Our lecturers are always proposing new ideas and promoting an integrated practice that surpasses the boundaries of the studio or the classroom. Guest lecturers complement the team on a regular basis, contributing the refreshed view of a professional life immersed in the industry.
Enterprise and industry exchange has been planned to develop additional audio industry links and potential partnerships, changing landscape for music and audio together with computer, electronics and creative technologies.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 1 modules include:
Audio Visual Production (core, 30 credits)
Music Technology Theory and Practice (core, 30 credits)
Music The Business (core, 30 credits)
Music and Song Writing Approaches (core, 30 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Advanced Composition and Song Writing (core, 15 credits)
Advanced Music and Audio Production (core, 30 credits)
Advanced Sound Design (core, 15 credits)
Live Electronics (core, 15 credits)
Music Marketing and Business Planning (core, 15 credits)
Music for Film and Media (core, 15 credits)
Recording Studio Practice (core, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Analysing Popular Music (core, 15 credits)
Dissertation/Investigative Study (core, 30 credits)
Final Project (core, 30 credits)
Project Development: Music Technology (core, 30 credits)
Work Based Learning for Music Production (core, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
This course will provide you with creative and technical expertise to open up a wide range of career opportunities to enter the art or music industries. During the corse you’ll develop as a creative and reflective practitioner, with employment and self-employment opportunities in music production, sound recording, sound engineering and sound broadcast.
Graduates of the course could go on to become professional composers, sonic artists or sound designers, working in post-production, sound or music for film, video editing, sound and music for games, or live sound such as sound for theatre, concerts and outdoors festivals, all of which represent an important sector of employment for music and media graduates. You may also choose a career in education, or to progress to postgraduate study and research (master’s and PhD).
