BA (Hons)Music Performance

Core modules

Music Performance 1

This module focuses on the essentials of performance. In order to progress swiftly as a musician, you must practise and rehearse efficiently. Alongside this, whether you are working on solo or group projects, on cover versions or original material, you need to develop an understanding of how popular music works in all its forms.

Music Performance 2

Building on the knowledge and techniques developed in Music Performance 1, this module continues the focus on the essentials of performance with a greater emphasis on instrumental/vocal skills and techniques. Whether you are working on solo or group projects, on cover versions or original material, you need be expected to apply skills from Music Performance 1 and work in a more creative and independent manner.

Digital Music Production and Composition 1

This module will teach you everything you need to know to compose and produce tracks from start to finish. These techniques are obviously invaluable for careers within composition and production. Equally importantly, this module will teach you to understand music on a deeper level.

Aural Skills and Theory

This module will help you develop the language to communicate musical ideas. You will learn how to describe and analyse songs and musical productions. Everything you learn may be applicable at some point in your future musical career. The knowledge gained will be particularly helpful when you are exchanging musical ideas or collaborating with other musicians.

Introduction To Songwriting

Songwriting is considered a key element in today’s rapidly evolving music industry. In this module you will be introduced to the skills and techniques involved in songwriting and you will begin to work on your own compositions. This module is not genre-restricted and is designed to broaden your musical horizons while enabling you to further develop your songwriting skills.

Music Business Essentials

This module offers an introduction to key elements of the music business ecology, including the many job roles and businesses that exist within the contemporary music industries, and the challenges and opportunities related to them. The focus is on the activities of record companies, music publishers, and music distributors.

Core modules

Music Performance 3

Building on the knowledge and techniques developed at Level 4, this module continues the focus on the essentials of performance with a greater emphasis on reflective practice. Whether you are practising on your own, or rehearsing with an ensemble it is vital that you link technical exercises and rehearsal methods directly to performance improvement. In order to do this you need to be able to reflect upon and evaluate the effectiveness of your practice methods.

Music Performance 4

Building on the knowledge and techniques developed in Music Performance 3, this module continues the focus on the essentials of performance with a greater emphasis on instrumental/vocal skills and techniques enabling you to continually improve the quality of your performances.

Studio Performance 1

This module examines how studio work differs from live performance and how to gain confidence and skills as a creative performer in the studio environment.

Making Money From Music

This module will introduce you to multiple methods of making money within the music, entertainment and cultural industries. The module will explore a wide range of artist income strategies and creative business approaches. It will examine the typical financial data used by music companies and then explore how this content is reported to artists, fans, the media and other businesses.

Songwriting Techniques

This module will help you develop and enhance your skills in songwriting and will allow you to develop your musical identities through a wide range of songwriting tasks.

Optional modules

Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

DJing

In this module, you will study the essentials of DJing and will look at how ‘DJ culture’ relates to the music industry in general, with an emphasis on the manipulation and mixing of music and sound. You will be encouraged to adopt a progressive and innovative approach to the art of DJing, and to explore the way that DJ-related technology has become a musical instrument in its own right. Hands-on experience will be an essential component of the module. You will also learn to research and critically evaluate music for playback within your sets.

Introduction to Experimental Music Performance

You will explore the creative dynamics of existing sound performances and recordings. You will investigate alternative approaches to music making by exploring experimental techniques that draw from creative music practices.

Music, Politics and Society

This module focuses on the intersections between music, politics and society, addressing such questions as the following. How do musicians, activists and politicians make use of music to promote a range of personal, social and political causes and movements? How do the lyrics and music of songs work to engage their audiences, and can they bring about societal understanding and change? How might organisations and governments seek to control the use of music through censorship?

Creative Sound Design

In this module you will expand your musical thinking into the world of film sound design. Whether through music or sound effects, films rely heavily on sound added post production; this module gives you the chance to develop skills required for sound in visual media.

Music and Sound for Games

In the module, you will consider composition within an interactive sonic background and create and/or edit sound effects for video games using industry standard software. This module asks students to consider previous ideas, theories and concepts relating to interactive video game composition and environmental sound design, whilst considering production and composition techniques

Core modules

Artist Development

As you prepare for life beyond University, it is essential that you continue the alignment of your practical music skills and artistic identity with potential portfolio careers. In order to promote yourself and develop income streams you will need to be fully prepared for high-pressure interviews and/or auditions. Building on skills developed at Levels 4 and 5 you’ll be encouraged to take your expertise to the next level.

Songwriting Portfolio

This module will help you develop your own musical identity through the execution of a negotiated individual songwriting project. You will also investigate contemporary and traditional practices used to successfully write songs across different genres. This will put you firmly in control of your career as both artist and songwriter.

Advanced Music Performance

This module brings builds on all the skills and learning developed in the Live Performance and Studio Performance modules at Levels 4 and 5. Advanced styles of critique, enquiry and analysis are introduced, and the meaning of ‘advanced performance’ is further unpicked.

Major Project

In this module you will undertake a major research project in an area of your choosing. It may take a variety of forms and is negotiated with support and feedback from module tutors who will discuss and approve project proposals.

Optional modules

Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Festival Cultures

This optional module focuses on the culture of music festivals, drawing attention to the historical development of different forms of outdoor event and the stereotypes and expectations that we associate with them.

Experimental Music Performance

Through this module you will explore the creative dynamics of existing sound performances and recordings. You will investigate alternative approaches to music making by exploring experimental techniques that draw from creative music practices.

Copyright, Publishing and Sync

This module gives you an up-to-date understanding of how copyright, publishing and sync operate. It also considers how artists and companies can negotiate the ever-developing digital environment.

Surround and Spatial Mixing

You will experience recent and emerging technological developments including 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Atmos. The issues in mixing music and film sound will be examined and you will learn how to achieve effective mixes in these formats.