Bath Spa University

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Music Production (Foundation Degree)

You will develop skills and a specialised understanding of music and audio production techniques relating to commercial trends and current technologies.

For more information about this course please visit the School of Music and Performing Arts website.

This two-year full-time programme is taught at our FE partner institutions, and is currently available at Weston College. Students develop skills and a specialised understanding of music and audio production techniques relating to commercial trends and current technologies. The curriculum covers three broad areas of learning - practical/professional skills development; recording and production activities; and core academic skills, incorporating aural awareness, acoustics and music industry studies. Applicants need not be performing musicians, but are expected to demonstrate a high standard of music technology literacy and a body of recorded work that demonstrates their music production skills.

Course Structure and Content

The programme aims to equip students with a broad-based set of skills relating to music production, including software literacy, studio production techniques and live sound. These subject-based skills are developed through practical assignments which include studio projects, front-of-house mixing for other students' performances (see the 'Popular Music' sister programme opposite) and work placements with local music industry employers.

Some modules (#) are shared with Popular Music (opposite); here, students will have opportunities to collaborate with performing musicians from this course.

Year 1

• Advanced Audio Software Skills;
• Studio Techniques#;
• Aural Awareness#;
• Advanced Audio Software Skills 2;
• Studio Project#;
• Acoustics.

Year 2

• Sound Design;
• Live Sound Techniques#;
• Marketing#;
• Integrated Media Project;
• Live Sound Project#;
• Music industry Professional Studies#.

Resources

Students have access to industry- standard equipment throughout the course. All the partner colleges provide fully-equipped digital recording studios, running Pro Tools and Logic Pro on Apple Macs. Apple Mac labs support class teaching, including Logic Pro, Pro Tools and Reason. Live sound modules are supported by large-scale PA systems, which for some projects are provided by local employers and venues.

Year 3

On successful completion of the Foundation Degree you can apply for a 'top-up year' qualification to a full honours degree at our Newton Park campus. Entry to Year 3 is by interview, and is normally restricted to applicants who have completed the Foundation Degree in full.

Assessment Methods

Live events, audio/web-based submission, website, written work and seminar presentation. There are no formal examinations.

Entry Requirements

160-200 UCAS Tariff points (eg BC; CD+ASc) with at least 60 points from a music-related qualification (including BTEC Music Practice / Music Technology / Performing Arts or A-level Popular Music, Music Technology or Music.

Candidates who do not have the standard qualifications but who are over 21 and have music industry experience will be considered.