BA (Hons) Popular Music with Music Technology
When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements
Why choose this course?
- You'll explore popular music performance, composition and production together with music technology.
- We'll help you to develop your creative and entrepreneurial flair so you can respond to technological and artistic innovations in the industry.
- You'll have regular opportunities to perform in public, and we'll encourage you to take part in the local music scene.
About the course
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 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.
If you don't have the appropriate qualifications to start this course, you can study the Technology Foundation Programme for a year first.
Your career
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.
If you want to carry on studying you could move on to a postgraduate course, such as our MA Music Production degree.
What our students say
"The good thing about the course at Derby is not only do you learn to be a better musician but you learn the technical side as well. You learn to handle yourself on both sides of the mixing desk." - Ian Harris
How you'll learn
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.
Start dates
If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:
- September 2012
If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:
- September 2012
UCAS code
W340
W3J9 with foundation year
Fees
This is a resource intensive course.
UK/EU students
- Full time: £7,495 (each year)
- Part time: £935 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total).
International students
- Full time: £9,975 (each year)
*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.
More information about our fees for September 2012 and the support available
Course length
Full time: 3 years, plus an additional year if you have to do the Technology Foundation Programme.
Part time: 5 years minimum.
Direct entry into later stages of the programme is available for applicants with a relevant HND or equivalent qualifications.
Entry requirements
Our entry requirements are usually 280 UCAS points from A levels, including Science, Maths, ...
