Music Production and Performance
Entry requirements
A level
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
UCAS Tariff
A typical offer will be a UCAS Tariff score of 88 - 112. A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.
About this course
If you have a passion for music and want to turn that into a career of composing, performing and recording original pieces, then this course could be for you. BA (Hons) Music Production and Performance is designed to help you develop a wide range of music production and performance skills, making use of technologies to compose, perform, record and produce original music. Upon graduation you’ll leave with a substantial portfolio of original work in performance, composition and production.
**Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?**
As BNU has been delivering courses in the music industry for over 25 years, we have a wealth of expertise from within our network of lecturing staff, guest speakers, and alumni, all with a track record of success in a wide variety of roles in the music business internationally.
Like the industry, we put collaboration at the centre of what we do. You will get the chance to work with other BNU courses, such as the Film and TV students. You’ll record sound and work on post-production which will give you experience of working with a wide variety of genres to help you perfect your production skills. During your time with us you’ll learn hands-on practical skills to help you stand out to potential employers. You’ll get to grips with industry-standard equipment including in our Dolby Atmos accredited sound lab, helping to prepare you for roles in the industry.
You’ll also benefit from our work-opportunities. Previous students have worked with companies such as Sony, Sennheiser and Universal Music. As well as this our industry advisory group, BIGMusic, regularly reviews our courses which means you'll graduate with up to date skills and knowledge relevant for today’s industry demands.
Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.
All our music degrees at Buckinghamshire New University come with membership of UK Music’s Music Academic Partnership (MAP).
**What facilities can I use?**
Our state-of-the-art recording studios and Dolby Atmos certified sound lab give you access to the space and technology you need. From individual edit rooms up to large Pro Tools Ultimate studios with attached live rooms and vocal booths, we have it all to help you gain hands-on experience. Studio 1 boasts a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 speaker system and an Avid S6 console. We are one of the first Universities in the UK to adopt Dolby Atmos into a music environment. Studio 2 boasts an Avid D-Command control surface and 24 channels of Focusrite ISA828 microphone preamps. Studio three and the Electronic Music Studio are based around Avid S3/S4 control surfaces and UAD Apollo x8 audio interfaces. The edit booths are equipped with microphone preamps from Avid.
Visit our course website for full details of our studio equipment.
**What will I study?**
This course will help you to develop many of the skills required the creative industries, preparing you for life in music environments, including studio-based music production, live sound, composition, performance and music-related entrepreneurial ventures. You’ll study key elements of music production and performance, including studio production, music performance and composition, critical listening and analysis, and live audio production techniques.
By integrating studies in creative music practice, critical listening and audio production our BA (Hons) Music Production and Performance course will help you to understand the connections between these different activities and how they can be integrated into future careers.
Modules
**Year one**
**Core**
Audio Production Technologies
Live Audio
Performance Practice & Reflection
Recording & Mixing Techniques
Entertainment Industry Framework
**Opportunity Modules**
You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.
**Year Two**
**Core**
Advanced Performance Practice & Reflection
Creative Audio Production
Research Methods
**Optional**
Songwriting Techniques
Live Production Technology
Performance Development
Music Publishing
Music Publishing (Placement)
**Opportunity**
In addition, you must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 5 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.
**Year three**
**Core**
Performance Application & Strategy
Professional Production Project
Dissertation/Independent Work
**Optional**
Creative Performance Technology
Immersive Audio Techniques
Creative Audio Project
Songwriting Techniques 2
Digital Marketing
Assessment methods
Our teaching staff have a wealth of professional and academic experience, with many still actively working in the music industry. You’ll also engage with our dynamic programme of visiting lectures and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and plenty of networking opportunities. You’ll also benefit from our expert-lecturers who have a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry.
You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only could you make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world.
A variety of assessment vehicles will be used as appropriate to the modules you take, including assignments carried out in your own time, in-class assignments, workshops and presentations. Assessments will be appropriate to the task, achievable, motivating and vocationally focussed, forming a constructive part of your learning process.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
Buckinghamshire New University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.bucks.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/financial-support-bursaries-and-scholarships
The Uni
Buckinghamshire New University
School of Creative And Digital Industries
What students say
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How do students rate their degree experience?
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Music
Teaching and learning
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Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Music
What are graduates doing after six months?
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Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Music
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£15k
£18k
£20k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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