BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting)

Program Overview

This three-year program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of music theory, production, and performance. Through collaborations, industry partnerships, and hands-on projects, students develop essential skills for careers in music, including recording, live events, education, and performance. The program culminates in a major project that showcases students' artistry and research abilities.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Year 1
• Creating Recorded Music: Work with fellow musicians to fully realize a musical recording.
Learn collaboration, project management, and music software.
• Creating Live Music: Channel creativity into a live music event.
Collaborate with music and music production students to create a unique event. Develop skills in project management, repertoire development, and artistic presentation.
• Core Music Techniques: Develop proficiency in music theory, notation, harmony, melody, rhythm, and listening skills.
Form a portfolio for assessment.
• Applied Music Skills: Gain an in-depth understanding of music structure and harmonic principles.
Develop analytical and listening skills.
• Year 2
• Individual Creative Project: Bring your individual project to life with support from experts.
Create a performance, composition, recording, songwriting EP, educational practical project, or piece of sound design.
• Collaborative Creative Project: Explore key methods used in creative industries to organize and manage complex projects.
• Specialist Music Skills: Develop core music research skills and specialist techniques.
Hone practical skills through focused study. Develop a critical approach to thinking about these.
• Case Studies in Contemporary Practice: Interrogate the concepts, methods, philosophies, and motivations that underpin contemporary practices.
Benefit from sessions with leading practitioners.
• Professional Music Skills: Explore roles, discover what professionals do, and maximize future employment opportunities in the music sector.
• Year 3
• Major Project (Music): Carry out a substantial piece of work in your chosen area.
Create a large-scale live performance, original album, critical dissertation, portfolio of compositions, music for film or game, or cutting-edge research project.
• Working in Music: Gain essential insight into your future career through a placement or freelance experience.
Explore roles in performing, broadcasting, live events, teaching, and more.
• Questioning Music: Challenge assumptions about music and its value.
Develop transferable skills and prepare for a range of career paths.
• The Future of the Arts: Reflect on your own creative practices and gain skills to shape the arts practices of the future.
Consider the environmental cost of arts and culture. Define your topic, explore it in detail, and share your insights.

Assessment:

• Examinations
• Coursework
• Presentations
• Group projects

Teaching:

• Expert staff
• Industry-standard recording studios and performance spaces
• Partnerships with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera North
• Masterclasses and career advice from RPO
• Ensemble coaching, one-to-one tuition, and work experience

Careers:

• Musician
• Composer
• Singer-songwriter
• Recording artist
• Promoter
• Producer
• Events manager
• Music therapist
• Teacher
• Journalist

Other:

• 100% of students in work or further study 15 months after graduating
• Top 10 in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction

Tuition fees

£9,250 per year The amount you pay may increase each year, in line with inflation - but capped to the Retail Price Index (RPI).

International fees

£16,500 per year