The FdA (Foundation Degree) 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 teach them the skills they need to progress in the industry.
On completion of the two-year course you will graduate with a FdA (Foundation Degree). 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.
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 3am 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 conceive and produce a market-ready product – equipped with a plan for marketing and promotion – with input from an industry mentor.
Only at Leeds College of Music will you get the unique opportunity to collaborate with musicians from a variety of genres and with a multitude of specialisms. 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 College of Music have gone on to a wide variety of careers including Recording Artists, Sound Designers, Broadcasters and Producers. Find out more in our Alumni section.
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.
Working in the Creative Industries
You will be introduced to the professional framework and mechanisms of the creative industries while developing your project management skills and understanding of the legal and commercial issues likely to impact on your future employability. Additionally you will enhance your core information, digital and media literacies.
Working in the Creative Industries - 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
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.
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 2019/20 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 2019.
Course Studied: BA (Hons) Music (Production)
Year of Graduation: 2015
Alex Carrie graduated in 2015, and with his band KRRUM was signed to label 37 Adventures just as they finished their study at LCoM.
Meet our alumni
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 2020
Validated by: 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).
Applicants will be assessed by UCAS application. Some applicants may be invited to submit a portfolio for assessment.
Apply via: UCAS
UCAS Code: W306
UCAS Institution Code: L30
Application Deadline:The UCAS equal consideration (‘on time’) deadline is 15 January 2020. We may still accept applications for all of our courses after this date, although this may change at short notice as places fill up.
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 College of Music 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 members of our Student Support Team about your application, support for students with disabilities, tuition fees and more.
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Leeds College of Music has held a successful appeal for musical instruments, which will be redistributed to young musicians across the region who cannot afford their own.
Find out moreLeeds College of Music is proud to be bringing conservatoire acting training to West Yorkshire, with our BA (Hons)… https://t.co/8FzdPqDeW4
