BA (Hons) Popular Music with Music Technology

UCAS code: W340

Start date: September

Course length: full time: three years, plus an additional year if you have to do the Technology Foundation Programme, part time: five years minimum.

Campus: Markeaton Street site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

This course is designed for practising musicians who want to understand the technical environment within which commercial music takes place. It covers subjects like popular music performance, composition, improvisation, arrangement, song writing, production, music business and management and studio techniques.

You'll explore a wide range of aspects of popular music. With a balance between composition, technology, performance and critical practice, you will develop the skills and techniques you'll need for a variety of roles in contemporary popular music making and production.

You'll develop your skills on your chosen instrument through group based learning activities. You'll also develop your expertise in composition and song writing and will study the social and business context of the world of commercial music.

The music technology part of the course covers the technology of the recording studio, video production, along with the application of music software on digital audio workstations and the production/post-production of music for a variety of commercial applications.

There are regular opportunities to perform in and out of the university environment within student managed open mic nights, through studio recording sessions and formally assessed ensemble performances.

If you don't have the appropriate qualifications to start this course, you can study the Technology Foundation Programme for a year first.

You could also enhance your skills further, by going on to study our MA Music Production.

You'll study a total of 120 credits per year. This will be made up of single or double modules.

Stage one

You'll study modules such as:

• Musicianship Skills
• Songwriting
• Principles of Arrangement
• Performance Studies
• Music and Creative Technologies (Personal Development Planning)
• Digital Audio Workstations

Stage two

You'll study modules such as:

• Contemporary Composition
• Music and Technology in Popular Culture
• Computer Music Systems
• Ensemble Workshop
• Video/Audio Production
• Professional Practice
• Studio Techniques
• Music Business and Management (Personal Development Planning)

Diploma in Professional Practice (optional)

You'll study modules such as:

• Applied Professional Practice (Work based learning)
• Contemporary Issues in Professional Practice (E-learning)

Stage three

You'll study modules such as:

• Creative Studies in Popular Music (double module)
• Entertainment Industry: Professional Practice (Personal Development Planning)
• Live Performance
• Recording Project
• Studio Post Production
• Multichannel Sound and Auditory Perception
• Research Project

Our entry requirements are usually 260 UCAS points, of which at least 220 will be from your core A2s (full A levels), including Science, Maths, Computing or Technology, or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.

We'll accept up to 40 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.

You must be able to read  and perform music with at least ABRSM grade 6/Rock School and ABRSM grade 5 theory.

We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.

We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.

Your points at level 3 will be in addition to five GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all information included in your application and from your interview. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

Direct entry into later stages of the programme is available for applicants with a relevant HND or equivalent qualifications.

Fees for 2013/14

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

• Full time: £8,250 (each year)
• £1,030 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total)

International students

• Full time: £10,225 (per year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

The timetable contains around 10 hours of contact with staff a week, with the remainder of the academic week engaged in directed study. All modules are supported through UDo, the University of Derby Online, so you have access to essential support materials at any time of the day or night.

If you want to gain work experience, you can take an optional work placement between stages two and three during which you'll study an additional qualification, the Diploma in Professional Practice.

Find out more about placements

During this course you'll develop the knowledge and skills in performance, composition, and technology that you'll need in the commercial world of the music industry. It's a diverse industry with many specialised fields - by the time you've completed this course you'll be able to adapt to any area of the industry.

You could go on to work as a freelance instrumental performer, session musician, recording engineer or producer. Or you may choose to go in to media, composition, teaching, journalism, or broadcasting.