BA (Hons) Popular Music

This top-up programme will provide you with interdisciplinary and collaborative working opportunities, and an opportunity to explore the aspects of popular music that interests you most. You will develop your own music practice within a variety of professional contexts, whilst refining your academic skills and technical understanding. The programme aims to reflect the professional reality of the contemporary music industry, preparing you to creatively respond within a range of professional situations.

You will be provided with opportunities to study projects that explore performance, analysis and the creative practice necessary to produce technical professionalism and application. You will engage in entrepreneurial activities that are likely to support future work in the field of music, such as work in music performance, creative practice, freelance work and music education. With a teaching team that combines practitioners and academics, it is intended that you will be supported to develop confidence in conceptual thinking, problem solving, presenting ideas and project management.

Aims

• Encourage the development of professional, innovative and creative outcomes in a supportive work-focussed learning environment.
• Allow you to engage in academic activities and projects, as simulated or live client briefs, underpinned by personalised learning and individual focus.
• Promote engagement in industry focussed work, supporting the acquisition of professional skills relevant to employment or self-employment opportunities within the music industry.

Modules

• Creative Practice this module aims to facilitate opportunities to explore, expand and deliver a project/product based upon creative practice within music. You will demonstrate advanced skills in the realisation of a creative project and to apply an understanding of the processes involved in the delivery of a successful venture. You will work individually to realise a creative project to a professional standard, synthesising a range of techniques and skills, critically evaluating your product against concepts in line with industry expectation.
• Individual Recital The module provides opportunities for you to establish a mature understanding and capability as a solo performance specialist. You will develop musicianship through professional performance practices that refine individual performance skills within vocal and/or instrumental performance.
• Ensemble Performance Project This module provides the opportunity for you to function as a professional within a music ensemble. You will be expected to achieve professional standards in the context of music ensemble performance. You should consider developing a repertoire base which demonstrates versatility, adaptability, insight, imagination and creative flair.
• Working to a Client Brief - The module aims to build professional skills through the application of musical skills and knowledge. You will independently pursue a client brief to gain experience of an example of practical real world musical activity and to develop the skills and understanding necessary to appropriately respond to a prescribed set of requirements in the form of a commission.
• Research Project The module aims to develop academic research and promote the analysis and critique of a topic based on the interest of individual students. You will develop arguments and rationales to support theories and concepts that are relevant to an area of music linked to their expertise.

Interview Instructions

If you are an external applicant, you will be required to complete a short academic piece as a response to a provided text. You will demonstrate evidence of appropriate creative or performance experience or employment within the music and creative industries.

Entry Criteria

• To gain entry to the programme, you will be required to satisfy the standard or non-standard entry requirements.
• A Level 5 qualification in music or a related creative arts discipline.
• A successful audition and interview where level of music ability and experience will be assessed.
• Completion of short academic response to text provided (external applicants only).
• To have or be working towards Level 2 or equivalent in English Language (or a minimum 5.5 IELTS in each band for international applicants).

Non-standard Entry Criteria:

• Evidence of appropriate creative or performance experience or employment within the industry.
• An audition and interview to determine working level of music ability and experience. International applicants can be auditioned via internet/email (e.g. Skype).
• Completion of short academic response to text provided (external applicants only).
• To have or be working towards Level 2 or equivalent in English Language (or a minimum 5.5 IELTS in each band for international applicants).