BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Music Technology
2 Years: Equivalent to 3 A-Levels
This qualification gives students the opportunity to study a broad music technology curriculum, developing music and music technology skills for both the workplace and higher education.
Units studied may include:
Music Production Techniques
This will provide you with a fundamental understanding of sound recording technology. It applies theoretical and practical learning, including hands-on experience in the recording studio.
Planning and Delivering a Music Product
This unit focuses on the preperation and delivery of a recorded music product. Students will produce a conceptual music package such as a CD to demonstrate recording and production skills, project management, team work and product marketing.
Audio Engineering Principles
Covering aspects of audio technology in the studio you will learn about analogue and digital audio, connections and storage.
Sequencing Systems and Techniques
The unit introduces you to sequencing, sampling, MIDI systems and representative commercial music software.
The Sound and Music Industry/Music Freelance World
These units take an in-depth look at the workings of the music industry. The unit is supported by a wide variety of guest lecturers from all aspects of the industry. The unit will also help you develop your career aspirations and understand the working conditions within different areas of the music industry.
Music & Society
You will explore the relationship between music and aspects of society such as politics, social movements, protest, technological change and development.
Composing Music/Arranging Music
These units will teach the skills of composing and arranging in popular music styles. Students will be able to expand their creative abilities and produce a selection of pieces.
Live Sound Techniques
This unit will introduce you to the skills of operation of music technology equipment as used in support of live performance.
Listening Skills for Music Technologists
This unit will help you develop the aural skills needed for effective and critical listening. You will learn to identify musical structures, timbres, intervals and tonality.
Sound Creation and Manipulation
This unit will develop your understanding of sound creation using computer applications that allow synthesis.
Acoustics for Musicians
This unit explores the science of sound. Topics covered include the physics of sound, instrumental sound, hearing processes and room acoustics.
The Functional Music Keyboard
This unit will help you develop your keyboard skills to enable you to use the keyboard as a tool for a variety of musical applications. This unit is ideal for non-keyboard players who wish to learn these valuable skills.
Music Theory and Harmony
You will have the opportunity to study aspects of music theory that will prove invaluable when working with musicians. This unit teaches theory in the context of popular music styles and genres and involves the creative use of sequencing software.
Music & Sound for the Moving Image
Through this unit you will explore the relationship between image, music and sound. You will learn hot to enhance visuals through the use of sound effects and original scoring.
Admission Requirements
Minimum Age
The minimum age at the time of enrolment for Further Education courses is normally 16 as stated in the Edexcel Programme Specifications. There is no upper age limit on entry.
Qualifications
A minimum of 4 GCSEs (grade A*–C) including English Language and Maths. You should also demonstrate and provide evidence that you have experience with music technology.
Interview
You will be expected to attend an interview and take a short music technology test.
If English is not your first language then you must have a British Council English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5.5.
Functional Skills
Where appropriate students will also undertake Functional Skills qualifications.
