Fast-track your route into industry with our two-year FdA (Foundation Degree), designed to give you the practical training and experience you need for a successful career in studio recording and music production.
This is a two year full-time course, equivalent in level to the first two years of a BA (Hons) degree. It is a stand-alone qualification suitable for those who may have limited experience or qualifications in the subject but are looking for a vocational ‘hands-on’ course to enable you to get all the practical skills and industry knowledge needed to work successfully within the creative industries..
On completion of the two-year course you will graduate with an FdA Music Production. Foundation Degrees offer a flexible approach to study. Many students choose to ‘top-up’ their FdA to a BA (Hons) degree by going on to complete the 3rd year of our BA (Hons) Music Production course. On completion of the ‘Top-up’ 3rd Year you would then graduate with a BA (Hons) in Music Production. Or choose to take time out, or launch your career after two years of study.
You’ll have access to thirteen on-campus recording and mixing studios and six Apple Mac Labs, equipped with over 100 high-specification iMacs, as well as numerous composition, rehearsal and performance spaces. All of these facilities are open until late during term-time, giving you a dedicated, flexible environment in which to develop your recording and producing skills, as well as becoming well-versed in Apple Logic and Avid Pro Tools software.
Each year, a number of industry professionals deliver masterclasses to our students. Recent sessions have been given by Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Mandy Parnell (Björk, Brian Eno, The XX) and producers Jagz Kooner (Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers, Kasabian) and Will Hicks (Ed Sheeran, Lily Allen, David Guetta).
In a year-long project spanning your second year, you will research career opportunities relating to your own area of specialism and conceive and produce a market-ready product with input from an industry mentor.
Studying Music Production in a conservatoire environment ensures that you are never short of creative musicians to work with. You will have opportunities to collaborate with performers, composers and entrepreneurs on independent
projects, which may draw you into gig nights, festivals and many other creative enterprises around the city.
As a producer you’ll be in demand amongst our community of over 1,200 musicians, allowing you to build a portfolio of experience and establish your professional career long before you graduate.
Graduates from Music Production degrees at Leeds Conservatoire have gone on to a wide variety of careers including Recording Artists, Sound Designers, Broadcasters and Producers. Find out more in our Alumni section.
“I have loved every minute of this course so far. All the tutors are very engaging and will try their best to help in any way they can. There are also lots of opportunities to get involved in workshops and music projects with other students across all different courses. I’ve been hugely inspired and my creativity has blossomed so much from being surrounded by all the talented people, both students and teachers. Overall it was a great decision coming here and I would recommend to any music lover.”
Ellie Bishop, FdA Electronic Music Production student
The Foundation Degree in Music Production modules focus on developing you as a professional producer through small group work and creative projects. The professional studies strand will develop your core business skills, and other optional modules will introduce additional cross-genre capabilities.
You will explore the theoretical principles of audio recording and music production to support your practical work in the recording studios and computer suites. Visits from industry professionals will contribute to the contextualisation and the theoretical content in a contemporary production framework.
You will be introduced to the integrated recording studio environment and explore the techniques necessary to record a variety of acoustic and electronic musical sources. You will develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills by engaging in a series of activities that simulate real world recording and music production scenarios.
You will explore industry standard computer music production software (e.g. ProTools & Logic) and develop the computer-based music production skills necessary to work within the creative industries. You will focus on appropriate MIDI and digital audio recording and editing techniques and will contextualise these skills within a vocational setting.
You will place your core practice into context through analysis and research of musical style/genre. You will consider key producers of recorded music and their production techniques, along with techniques and compositional variants that define genre and sub-genre.
Industry Studies 1 is a module that compliments the programme’s practical and theoretical music production focussed modules and is designed to orientate the students with opportunities presented within the creative industries along with important skill sets that can be applied to further study.
Industry Studies 1 - Module Specification
The module will allow you to devise and create a portfolio of work to showcase your skills and develop your career. Supported by both academic staff and industry professionals, you will contextualise and refine your business, management and music production skills, by creating a marketable product specifically aimed at your chosen area of the industry. This will enable you to source work and establish a foothold in the industry.
You will develop your ability to demonstrate theoretical and practical considerations when recording and producing music. By sourcing musicians and artists for your projects and building a working relationship with them you will also develop your project management and communication skills.
You will develop more advanced production, mixing and editing techniques and will be introduced to the concepts and methodologies of synthesis and automation processes.
Live Performance Project - Module Specification
DJ Project for Producers - Module Specification
You will further develop your skills and knowledge of a wide range of composition and production techniques, along with an appreciation and understanding of the social, historical, cultural, and commercial context of music.
This module further develops skills acquired at level 4, such as entrepreneurial skills and knowledge that is required for both the development of a business venture and preparation for a career in the creative industries.
Recognising the importance of the portfolio career of the musician, this module is designed to afford students the opportunity of designing a bespoke career plan relevant to their particular areas of specialism.
On completion of the Foundation Degree in Music Production, you can apply to join the third year of our Music Production degree and achieve a BA (Hons) Music Production. See our BA (Hons) Music Production (Top-Up) for more information.
These module specifications are for applicants choosing to start their course in the 2020/21 academic year. In compliance with University of Hull regulations, the conservatoire retains the right to make minor amendments and improvements to course, programme and module content year on year. This may result in minor changes to these specifications by September 2020.
Course Studied: FdA/BA Music Production
With over 100 million streams on Spotify and a Platinum record to boot, Eden burst onto the scene with a series of inspired reworkings of hits by various artists including fellow Leeds Conservatoire graduate John Newman.
Maintaining a fairly mysterious public persona, Prince began leaking his smooth, club-ready covers of songs by Michael Jackson and Britney Spears, among others, around 2015.
Since then, Eden has been invited by Jonas Blue to play at Cream Ibiza.
See more from graduates
Courses taught: FdA Music Production, FdA Electronic Music Production
Read more
Courses taught: BA (Hons) Music (Production), FdA Music Production, FdA Electronic Music Production, Short Courses
Read moreCourse Type: Undergraduate, Foundation Degree
Duration: 2 years
Study Mode: Full Time
Start date: September 2022
Validated by: University of Hull*
*Note for applicants for 2023/24 entry onwards:
Leeds Conservatoire plans to apply to the Office for Students for Degree Awarding Powers. If we are granted Degree Awarding Powers, your degree may be awarded by Leeds Conservatoire rather than validated by the University of Hull.
64 UCAS tariff points from level 3 studies or equivalent.
A minimum of three GCSEs including English Language at Grade C / Grade 4 or above or equivalent international qualification, eg IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each component).
UK applicants to certain courses at Leeds Conservatoire will need to audition, interview or submit a portfolio of work.
Find more information and course-specific audition guides for UK applicants and International Applicants.
Apply via: UCAS Undergraduate (not Conservatoires)
UCAS Code: W306
UCAS Institution Code: L30
Read our step-by-step application guide
Visit our Fees and Funding section to find out more about Tuition Fees, Scholarships and Fees & Funding for International Students.
If you are an international applicant, visit our dedicated International section of the website for information on:
Our Production students have access to 13 recording and mixing studios, equipped with Audient, SSL and Neve equipment, and Logic and Pro Tools recording software, including one with 5.1 surround sound setup and an HD projector, making it perfect for cueing up your sound effects and music with film footage.
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Our Production students perform at venues throughout the city, including the Brudenell Socal Club, Belgrave Music hall, Oporto and Nation of Shopkeepers, as well as showcasing their work in our Live Lounge event, live-streamed from our SSL Studio.
Find out moreFind out what it's like to study at Leeds Conservatoire by coming along to one of our Open Days.
As well as talks and tours specific to the courses you're interested in, you can also chat to our staff and students.
Plus, get immediate access to our On-Demand Open Day.
Open Days
The Libby Raper Elevate Award in Music Production 2021: Interview with Megan Brown and Holly Dale.
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Ben Hennessy-Garside, lecturer on the BA (Hons) Popular Music programme at Leeds Conservatoire, has recently released a new podcast in collaboration with two Production graduates.
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We spoke to Leeds Conservatoire MA Music student Emma Clarke about her new podcast 'Before the Bar Opens', which will be released on the 20th of October.
Find out moreLeeds Conservatoire Principal Lecturer Jamie Taylor & alumnus Sam Dunn join forces on 9 Dec, as the Jazz Guitarists… https://t.co/jf2CU8DWYm
