Popular Music, Songwriting and Performance
University of Central Lancashire
UCAS Code: J281 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
64 points at A2.
64 points from Access to HE course.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
You should also have achieved Grade 4 or above in GCSE Maths and English, or an equivalent (UK equivalents include key skills level 3 or functional skills level 2).
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
UCAS Tariff
64 UCAS points at A2 or equivalent.
About this course
From songwriting to the stage, producing tracks in the studio, to branding and marketing, this comprehensive course covers everything you’ll need to excel as a versatile artist in the modern music industry.
Our brand new Popular Music, Songwriting and Performance course brings together theory and practice, allowing you to explore music creation and production, songwriting and stagecraft, while gaining a solid understanding of how the music business works. You’ll learn the fundamentals of music theory and analysis, exploring various genres, styles and approaches in popular composition and songwriting. You’ll gain hands-on experience with our industry-standard facilities and equipment in our venue and studios, learning current trends and techniques in live performance and music production. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of the music industry, helping you develop strategies to promote yourself and your music.
Whether you’re an artist looking to develop your own style, a producer wanting to record songs to a professional standard, or a songwriter looking to work with other artists, this course will equip you with the practical skills, knowledge and creativity to break into the industry.
**About Spirit Studios**
Spanning over four decades of iconic music history in Manchester, our early days as a commercial recording studio and rehearsal space saw the likes of local legends The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Simply Red and many more passing through our doors. Spirit Studios then became the first music production and sound engineering school in the UK (formerly known as School of Sound Recording), and since then we’ve continued to nurture the next generation of producers, engineers, artists and business owners.
Our purpose-built facilities, expert insight, professionally active tutors and creative partnerships enable us to offer the most up to date and relevant training and provide you with real career opportunities.
**Assessment method**
We pride ourselves on providing a variety of assessment methods; these are balanced between industry standards and an academic range that is aimed at varied student profiles and abilities. Some modules may include an overall portfolio, others may have several varied assessments that encompass practical and written elements. Students may work on a solo project or also have the opportunity to work collaboratively in class or within external partnerships. All portfolios and written material are submitted electronically via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), practical exams are undertaken within studio or venue settings on a live basis. Feedback is delivered electronically directly to the student in a written and matrix format. There is an opportunity to discuss your feedback in a one-to-one tutorial. We use a variety of the following assessment methods:
● Portfolios
● Practical coursework
● Practical Exams
● Presentations
● Written Tests
● Written Reports
● Written Essays
● Professional Discussions
● Viva Voce
The Uni
Spirit Studios
School of Arts and Media
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Music
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
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?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
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.
£12k
£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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