MA Music Production

Start date: September and January.

Course length: full time: one year, part time: two-three years.

Campus: Markeaton Street site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

During this challenging course you'll develop the academic knowledge and practical skills you'll need to take advantage of current and future opportunities in the music and media production industry sectors.

Music and sound production are integral to the creative industries sector both in the UK and internationally and are at the forefront of a diverse range of commercial, educational and research developments. Representing a significant area of commercial innovation and creative practice, the growth of new media platforms provides exciting employment opportunities and requires up to date approaches to the development of appropriate professional expertise.

Professional judgement, technical and creative ability, and appropriate knowledge and understanding are key to success in the music and media sector. Increasingly characterised by sophisticated technical systems and close integration with a range of media, music production encompasses a number of distinct specialisms and provides a dynamic field of postgraduate research activity.

You will study both as an individual and as part of a group, to give you experience of working within multidimensional teams and managing leadership roles.

This course is made up of three stages – Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MA.

Postgraduate Certificate

You’ll study these modules:

Research Methods, Application and Evaluation

This module will advise, guide and develop you in the various elements that constitute the skills required for identifying and applying appropriate research methods and developing an overall research plan. The learning will include how to identify, evaluate, and apply different research philosophies, research approaches, research strategies, research methods, data collection and data analysis methods. The module will cover both quantitative techniques and qualitative techniques in this respect.

Perceptual Technologies

You’ll focus on the study and application of auditory perceptual theories and phenomena in real and artificial sound fields using scientific investigative methods combined with aesthetic analytical approaches. You’ll also develop the knowledge you’ll need to understand the perceptual consequences of artificial sound field production techniques and technologies.

Music Production Systems

This module focuses on the enhancement of technical skills and creative possibilities by specific music production and authoring tools. You’ll explore and exploit the techniques involved in modern music production through practical and theoretical study. Independently developed portfolio projects will form the basis for your analytical and creative work.
 
Postgraduate Diploma

You’ll study these modules:

CPD and Strategic Management

This module is designed to develop your managerial skills in preparation for work in a global industry environment. You will study strategic concepts and be able to transfer them into your own industry/specialism through a structured approach. Emphasis is placed on managing the global future by analysis rather than by instinct. You will become adept at forecasting, financial analysis but still operate with regard to business ethics. The CPD (Continuing Professional Development) element allows you to contextualise and concentrate your studies in your own discipline adding to your employability in the work place.

Studio Production

This module covers sophisticated technical and creative approaches to studio based music recording and production. You’ll explore the recording studio as an integrated technical system, as well as an environment requiring spontaneity and professionalism of thought and action.

And you’ll choose one of these optional modules:

Digital Signal Processing and Sound Design

This module provides a detailed technical review of leading DSP systems, software applications and procedures. With a specific focus on sound design as a creative and professional discipline with wide-ranging industrial application, technical insight is evaluated within a range of applications and study is developed through a series of practical projects and design briefs. The module prepares you for the professional world of commercial sound design, including spatial sound design approaches, DSP research, and related communications industries.

Negotiated Module

The Negotiated Module encourages you to engage with a specific aspect of professional practice that should complement or extend your academic studies at Masters level. The module includes aspects of negotiation, project management, target setting and implementation of objectives situated in practical experience realised in the context of work-based learning. The alignment of the agreed project aims and objectives with the required Learning Outcomes for the module is an important and integral requirement for the successful completion of this module.

MA

You’ll study this module:

Independent Scholarship (Technology)

This module will provide you with an opportunity to use and enhance the knowledge and intellectual skills you’ve already gained during your course by completing an extensive investigation of a topic related to the course material. This can take the form of a dissertation, research based technical design and development project or the exhibition of creative design artwork.

You'll usually need an undergraduate degree (at least second class), or an equivalent qualification.

UK/EU students

• £495 per module (you usually take 9 of these modules in total)

International students

• Full time: £10,760 (in total)

*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.

"Success as a music producer requires professional knowledge and tools, personal creativity, technical understanding and interpersonal skills."
- Danny McCormack, Professional Music Producer