BA (Hons) Music (Popular Music)
Duration
3 years full-time
UCAS Institution Code
L30
UCAS Course Code
W302
Vaildated by
The University of Bradford
www.brad.ac.uk
Apply online at
www.ucas.ac.uk
The BA (Hons) Music (Popular) degree consists of three strands (Specialist Study, Musicianship and Professional Studies) which encourages specialism whilst offering opportunities for cross genre collaboration and preparation for a career in the creative industries. Each strand continues through all three years to enable you to fully develop your skills in each area.
Specialist Study
In each year the Specialist Study strand consists of:
– Specialist Study 1-2-1: your one-to-one lesson and supporting class
– Group Study: small ensembles
– Specialist Projects: intensive projects which both support your specialist study and offer the opportunity to collaborate across genres
In years one and two your Specialist Study will focus on the development of your technical and musical skills both through your curriculum studies and through performance or composition opportunities. As a performance student you will be encouraged to perform your own material or original interpretations of existing material whilst ensuring that key repertoire is also studied.
As a composition student, you will be encouraged to compose your own material in pursuit of your own unique style, whilst ensuring that key compositional styles are also studied. In the final year you will focus on your strengths working towards a major final performance or significant portfolio of compositions.
Group Study provides students with the opportunity to develop their band based rehearsal techniques and performance skills through all three years of the course. In year one, bands are encouraged to develop a foundation in both cover and original performance skills. Throughout years two and three, bands will continue to work across a range of style, ultimately focussing on a final major performance
Musicianship
The Musicianship strand consists of:
– Popular Musicianship: Integrated core music skills including theory and harmony, composing and arranging, aural skills and historical and cultural studies
– Musicianship Options: e.g. Computer Based Composition, Composition and Production for the Moving Image, Music and Ideology, Electroacoustic Composition and Musical Direction
In years one and two you will study the specialist musicianship skills needed to support your development as a popular musician in the 21st century. Core skills will be learnt through integrated projects which will enable you to apply fundamental musical skills and knowledge to contemporary popular music.
In years two and three, option choices will also give you the opportunity to apply your musicianship skills in a range of cross genre environments allowing you to develop the broader musical skills essential to sustain a successful portfolio career.
Professional Studies
The Professional Studies strand consists of:
– Working in the Creative Industries: This year one module will introduce you to the professional framework and mechanisms of the creative industries as well as developing essential personal skills such as project management and learning literacies
– Professional Studies Projects: In year two you will have option choices that enable you to study a range of topics designed to help you explore potential career opportunities as well as developing essential business and marketing skills.
In year three you will undertake a substantial independent project in Community Music, Music Journalism or Events Management
Auditions and Interviews
If you are called for an audition or interview, you should ensure we receive the fee by the date specified in your offer of audition/interview letter and make every effort to attend.
You must let us know well in advance if you are unable to attend on the designated day and we will endeavour to re-arrange the audition. Please note that we do not audition/interview every applicant but no applicant will be made an offer without being auditioned or interviewed.
View additional information about auditions and interviews here
Admission Requirements
The normal entry requirements for this course is 240 points.
240 points is equivalent to grades of C, C, C at A2 Level or MMM for the BTEC National Diploma. Applicants will be required to achieve a C grade in Music if taking A2 levels.
Applicants will also need a minimum of 3 GCSEs at grade C or above including English Language.
All applicants will need to demonstrate through audition that they are of ABRSM Grade VIII standard or equivalent in their principal study instrument. All applicants are also required to have ABRSM/London College of Music Popular Music Grade V theory or equivalent. Please note these do not count toward the 240 tariff points.
All international students must have a British Council English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.0
