2012
Music Technology & courses in the Popular Music Scheme
Courses claiming the title 'Music Technology' became popular in the late 1990's as programmes began in 'A' level with the subject title 'Music Technology'. In the early 2000's Edexcel and BTEC launched Music Technology as a course in its own right, a course normally studied within Further Education Colleges and Sixth form Colleges. BTEC courses presently take the form of six, twelve or eighteen units – six units BTEC Award, twelve units BTEC National Certificate and eighteen units, BTEC National Diploma.
AS Music Technology and A2 Music Technology, exists alongside BTEC Music Technology for students that wish to pursue the 'A' level route and also possibly study other 'A' levels alongside their Music Technology programme. City and Guilds also run programmes in Music Technology and Sound Engineering. At Further Education and Sixth Form schools and colleges, the qualifications we have mentioned are know as 'level 3' nationally in the UK.
You are not alone
Many students that study on the Popular Music Scheme courses at Southampton Solent University come from sixth form colleges or Further Education having studied the following primary music courses in the UK:
BTEC Music Technology
BTEC Music Practice
A Level Music Technology
A Level Music
We also have students on our BA music related programmes who have studied courses other than music related ones, but may play a musical instrument, record, music, promote and write about popular music - or just have a keen interest in popular music in general.
The division in practical Music Technology courses
It is important to realise that Music and Technology are, in effect, two different elements:
- Music courses often promote the skills in playing an instrument, music theory, performance and composition
- Technology, by definition, would involve the use of computer hardware and software, purely technical elements and a working knowledge of technological issues.
Music Technology courses would usually see a split into distinct study areas. Firstly creating and manipulating music using a computer and software. Programs such as Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reason could be used to manipulate and sequence music. This is the first distinct area of Music Technology in use.
The second area of music technology to consider, is manipulation of music in a larger studio environment; recording music using a large mixing console and associated outboard hardware, software and microphones.
Specialising
If you have recently studied a Music Technology course and want to study at a higher level, you may wish to consider the options available and specialize in a specific area. You may wish to study advanced professional studio recording and music production arts (and, for example, study on our BA (Hons) Popular Music & Record Production course) or you may wish to specialize in music sequencing programming, composition and manipulation using computers and the latest software (and study on our BA (Hons) Urban & Electronic Music course). Some students prefer a studio production recording environment and others lab based computer music – some students may consider an amalgamation of the two areas commonly known as 'Music Technology'.
Degree Courses at Southampton Solent University and Music Technology
At Southampton Solent University we offer a range of music courses that would see Music Technology students advance their skills on an Arts programme – further enhancing their abilities as musicians, music producers, makers and performers of music using the very latest equipment.
See our prospectus and read the course overview carefully, pay particular attention to the specific units on offer and their description. The unit content will show exactly where and how the work is done to achieve the full BA (Hons) Degree. The specialisms carried out in each unit are critical, when deciding on which course you would like to study.
Links to Popular Music Scheme courses with a taught music technology component:
BA (Hons) Popular Music & Record Production
BA (Hons) Popular Music Performance
BA (Hons) Urban & Electronic Music
Other Popular Music Scheme courses:
BA (Hons) Music Promotion
BA (Hons) Popular Music Journalism