Progression Options
University name: Chester University
Course Title: Popular Music Performance
Entry requirements: UCAS points: 104
Required grades: DMM
List of all modules:
Year 1
Key concepts that may be covered are:
· Playing music of different genres within the broad heading of Popular Music.
· Listening Skills
· Instrumental Technique
· Performance Skills
· Communication and rehearsal techniques.
The aims of the module are as follows:
· To advance and diversify the student’s instrumental/vocal skills
· To develop the student’s understanding of the etiquette of playing with other musicians.
· To encourage effective rehearsal and practise skills.
· To enable the students to use musical skills to interpret and perform music of varied styles.
· To develop the student’s basic understanding of the application of music theory in popular music practice.
Year 2
Key concepts that may be covered are:
· Authenticity in some forms of popular music;
· Popular music and ethnicity;
· The reception of popular musical forms;
· The mediation of popular musical forms;
· The influence of new technologies on the development of the field.
The aims of the module are as follows:
· To provide students with a set of critical and analytical tools through which to study the history of popular music.
· To develop the individual student’s critical awareness of the conventions of popular music.
· To enable the student to contextualise a series of approaches to the practice of popular music.
· To make students aware of the contexts in which they will be establishing careers in music
· To make students aware of the roles and purposes of established organisations such as, for example; MU, PRS, MCPS and PPL.
Year 3
· Key concepts that may be covered are:
This module will provide students with a detailed, theoretically informed vocabulary with which to analyse the development of popular music in performance in the time period covered in Popular music: genres and contexts.
The aims of the module are as follows:
· To provide students with a set of critical and analytical tools through which to study the performed event
· To develop the individual student’s critical awareness of the conventions of contemporary popular music in performance.
· To enable the student to contextualise a series of contemporary approaches to popular music in performance.
Reasons for applying:
I have chosen to apply for Chester University, as the University as a whole, has been highly recommended to me. I am familiar with the area, as I have visited frequently, from my sister attending for the past three years. The course specifically enticed me, as it is the most relevant to my interests and the future job that I intend on pursuing. I would like to build my knowledge within the industry, and I feel that attending this University would massively improve this. The Instrumental and Performance aspect in year one intrigues me the most as it is highly practical, and allows me to improve physically, to prepare me for the further aspects of the industry.
University name: Leeds Beckett University
Course Title: Music Performance and Production
Entry requirements: UCAS points: 112
Required grades: A Level / BTEC achieved in music.
List of all modules:
Year 1
· Concentrate on four themes: performance (group and individual), composition and arrangement, technology and production, and contextual studies
· Work alongside students and staff both in the studio and at live music venues, building a portfolio that will help you achieve your professional ambitions as a musician
· Work in conjunction with students from music production in the studios as well as working in live venues
· Have access to workshops and industry professionals through our links with JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support) and the Music Producers Guild.
· Throughout your course you’ll be encouraged to perform externally in the many venues that Leeds has to offer. Previous students have performed at events including the Live at Leeds festival, which attracts thousands of visitors to venues across the city every year.
Year 2
· Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study.
Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources.
You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Year 3
· Both in the studio and on stage, you will gain plenty of practical experience to hone your production and performance skills.
You could progress on to a postgraduate course in music production at the University, or you might decide to train to be a teacher.
· The Artist in Residence programme gives our students an opportunity to work with professional artists and gives them a taste of what is it like to work on a professional music project.
Reasons for applying: This University interests me due to the variety of experiences available throughout the course, such as the potential to perform at Leeds Festival in year one. I will gain plenty of skills in various aspects throughout the course, including practical, (on stage) production (song writing) and many more.
University name: Huddersfield University
Course Title: Popular Music
Entry requirements: UCAS points: 104
Required grades: DMM
List of all modules:
Year 1
· You will gain hands-on experience of a variety of key musical skills: improvisation; aural awareness; ensemble performance; and evaluating your own and others' performances.
A wide range of styles and genres will be explored, and you will work with musicians relevant to your specialism as a pop, classical, or jazz performer.
· Song writing 1 · Desktop Music Production 1 · Studio Engineering and Mixing Essentials
· Introduction to Music Research Solo Performance 1 Supported by regular individual lessons with one of our professional visiting instrumental and vocal teachers, you will develop your technical skills and musical insight as a solo performer.
An in-lesson technical test and end of year recital will be used to assess your progress, and you will have access to a variety of masterclasses and workshops.
Theory and Analysis of Popular Music You will explore the musical building blocks of popular music, developing an understanding of key theoretical principles such as melody, harmony, rhythm, arrangement, and form. This will allow you to investigate a number of key works in detail, giving you an insight into how music works in ways that will also help to develop your creativity as a performer or composer.
Coursework will be used to assess your progress.
Year 2
Songwriting 2 This module explores a range of advanced compositional and vocal techniques in contemporary songwriting.
You will study vocal styles from different times and traditions, and examine the role of accompaniment in more detail, learning how to write effective backing vocals, string parts, and brass arrangements.
You will explore ideas about identity and authenticity in the songwriting world and gain hands-on experience of collaborative techniques and approaches.
Performance Skills 2 You will choose one practical option from an array of ensembles, bands, and approaches to performance. Options typically range from conducting, music theatre, and improvisation through to groups like orchestra, big band, brass band, classical and pop choirs, and a huge variety of pop, rock, soul, funk, and folk bands.
Specialist performance tutors will coach you towards assessed performances that are open to the public.
Critical Approaches to Recorded and Electronic Music. This module will introduce you to a range of electronic music and music production practices, looking at them from technological, cultural, and musical perspectives.
You will study a variety of critical frameworks, analytical techniques, and production contexts which will help you understand the relationships between technology and music-making.
Music for the Moving Image B This practical module will develop your key skills in screen composition, arrangement, and orchestration, including the art of creating quality mock-ups using sampled instruments.
Classes will examine a range of approaches to composition for film, videogame, television, animation, and music video, and will work towards a portfolio of your own original compositions.
Year 3
Final Year Project This double-weighted module gives you a flexible opportunity to showcase your skills, either as an individual or collaboratively.
Working with the support and guidance of a specialist tutor, you will devise your own criteria, manage, and deliver your project independently.
Whether your interests lie in performance, production, composition, research, or songwriting, Final Year Project gives you the freedom to create the work that best represents you as a musician.
Performance Skills 3 You will choose one practical option from an array of ensembles, bands, and approaches to performance. Options typically range from conducting, music theatre, and improvisation through to groups like orchestra, big band, brass band, classical and pop choirs, and a huge variety of pop, rock, soul, funk, and folk bands.
Specialist performance tutors will coach you towards assessed performances that are open to the public.
Explorations in World Musics (Final Year) Vietnamese pop, Baltic folk music, the British Bhangra scene, Aboriginal country music - popular music varies hugely across the globe.
Drawing on techniques from ethnomusicology, anthropology, and post-colonial studies, you will gain the analytical tools to understand diverse musical styles and place them within their social and political contexts.
You will also investigate the wide-ranging, multicultural musical life of Huddersfield itself, working with a group from the local area as a musical collaborator, ethnographer, or producer.
Solo Performance 3 Supported by individual lessons with one of our professional visiting instrumental and vocal teachers, you will continue to develop your technical skills and musical insight as an advanced solo performer.
You will participate in a variety of masterclasses and workshops to increase your understanding of a range of musical performance contexts and issues and will work towards two assessed solo recitals.
Reasons for applying
After completing research upon Universities, this stood out as the music course compiles many aspects of the music industry that intrigued me to completing further research. Year 2 intrigues me the most through the Song writing and Performance aspect specifically. The song writing aspect would help me build my skill in the production side of Music, whereas the performance aspect would help me strengthen my confidence and stage presence.
University name Liverpool University
Course Title Popular Music
Entry requirements UCAS points: 104
Required grades: DMM
List of all modules
Year 1
Semester 1 · This module provides an overview of key developments in Anglo-American popular music particularly during the latter part of the twentieth century and the early twenty-first century.
Students are introduced to the musical characteristics of key styles and genres, as well as significant social/cultural movements and critical issues that are relevant to an understanding of the music in question.
The module also provides an introduction to key perspectives and issues in popular music studies.
Semester 2 · This module will introduce students to the structure, history and contemporary challenges of the music industries, as well as potential careers available in this sector.
Students will be introduced to key debates around the commodification of music, and the influence of technology, managers, artists and market forces on the development of the music industries.
Topics covered within the module will typically include: the roles and functions of record labels, the digital watershed, the relationship between live and recorded music industries, as well as exploring how professional music workers have forged careers in the sector today. ·
This module will examine how and why music matters as a cultural expression, intimately linked to the contexts of its production, dissemination, and reception.
The scope and breadth of the study of music will be introduced along with various academic approaches and methods employed in such study, along with key terms and concepts used in the study of music in relation to culture.
The module will provide students with a foundation for the further study of music and culture at levels two and three, and helps students to understand interdisciplinary approaches to the study of music.
Year 2
Semester 1 · This course continues to develop students’ performance skills, with a particular emphasis on developing technique and an awareness of historical performance practices. Ultimately, the course intends to benefit students’ own practice, performance, and ensemble skills.
Semester 2 · Students will continue to improve upon the listening and technical skills developed during Semester One.
This module will delve further into the relationship between theory, technique, and a mature professional approach to the practice of each student’s individual instrument.
Students work with the module leader and an assigned instrumental or vocal teacher to further develop their technical, aural, practice and performative skills. ·
Students will learn how to effectively compose and arrange music for film and television.
The module will cover practical issues such as: working in a software programme such as Logic Pro to compose with synchronised video clips; arranging instrumental parts using sample libraries, working with tempo, speed and appropriate harmonic languages. The coursework will involve a series of compositions to written briefs and video clips, totalling 4-8 minutes in duration.
Each composition assignment will address a different challenge and style aspect of film or TV music and be accompanied by a written commentary explaining the reasons for the approach and style taken in the music.
Year 3
Semester 1 · An overview of central orientations and key texts in the aesthetics of music, from ancient to modern.
Lectures will guide students through influential ideas in the history of music philosophy and intellectual history; and seminars will afford an opportunity to reflect upon and discuss this material in greater depth and detail.
The module will consider how popular music is presented as heritage in different contexts such as museum exhibitions, library collections and DIY online archives.
It will examine the different ways in which popular music heritage has been represented, mobilized and interpreted.
Taking a case study approach, it will explore who is invested in discussions of heritage, how heritage is defined, and what this can tell us about representations of the popular past.
The module will have a particular focus on the context of gallery and museums and will examine curatorial approaches to popular music and its related cultures.
Semester 2 · The module examines and explores musical form, rhythm and time in a range of repertoires – pop, classical, jazz and film.
It uses recent music theory to provide new ways of thinking about these issues in a cross-repertoire environment.
It will explore pre-existing compositions and encourage students to use the module to supplement their other musical activities – composition, performance and musical appreciation – to give a greater insight into how musical forms are constructed from rhythms to structure.
We will explore issues such as repetition, ‘form as becoming’, cinematic montage forms, ‘two-dimensional forms.’
Repertoire will vary but will cover a range of Music from Arab Strap and LCD Sound System’s “cyclic forms” to Beethoven’s Eroica; from Pulp and Arcade Fire’s “terminally climactic forms” to the “two-dimensional” sonata forms of Franz Liszt.
There will be opportunities for improvisers to participate in workshops focusing on rhythm.
Reasons for applying For Liverpool University, I am particularly interested in strengthening my performance skills within Music. The Year two module : Composing a composition for film and television also peaks an interest of mine, as it allows me to illustrate my creativity in building an atmosphere for a given piece.
University name Salford University
Course Title Popular Music and recording
Entry requirements UCAS points:
104 Required grades: DMM
List of all modules
Year 1
Fundamentals of Composition, Arranging and Technology.
The core aim of this module is to provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary for composing and arranging music in a variety of styles.
You will gain a working knowledge of the key aspects of instrumental voicing, score layout, formal design and the manipulation of texture.
The module also provides an introduction to location recording techniques, appropriate sequencing software, musical acoustics and their relationship to music technology.
Popular Music Style and Genre.
This module provides an overview of the history of English-language popular music and interrogates and problematises the concept of genre in popular music.
You will develop an understanding of music style analysis and improve aural skills.
Performance Studies (PP&R).
Continuing from Musicianship Skills in Semester 1, Musicianship Skills in Semester 1, this module consists of Individual Performance (weekly one-to-one instrumental tuition), Ensemble Musicianship, and Session Musicianship.
Within the Ensemble component, you will have the opportunity to form your own Popular Music group (writing and rehearsing original material to be presented at a concert at the end of the semester).
Applied Composition and Technology.
This module will provide you with a strong understanding of advanced diatonic harmony, melodic writing, and technical skills concerned with rhythm as applied to the broad field of composition.
You will explore the creative uses of a range of microphones in relation to musical instruments and acoustic environments and be introduced to techniques of sound synthesis using a range of hardware and software-based synthesisers.
Interpreting Popular Music.
This module explores the social, political, and economic contexts impacting upon the production of popular music.
It presents key ideas from Culture Theory, Critical Theory, and Postmodernism in order to understand popular music in these various cultural contexts.
You will be introduced to a systematic and rigorous method by which to critically examine popular music and develop abstract thinking.
Year 2
Professional Development in the Creative Industries.
Focusing on current economic structures and potential development, this module provides an in-depth examination of the UK creative economy.
You will explore concepts of copyright, authorship and ownership and gain an understanding of the processes involved in successful personal development planning.
Advanced Musicianship Skills (PP&R) · This module consolidates and expands your performance development within the three assessed areas of Individual Performance (weekly one-to-one Instrumental lessons with your specialist tutor, based on an advanced syllabus), Ensemble Musicianship, and Session Musicianship.
The Ensemble component allows you to form your own Popular Music group.
The Session Musicianship component now places the emphasis on you leading the band through the arrangement, guided by your tutor. Compositional Practice.
During this module, you will examine theoretical issues and practical skills concerned with the manipulation and control of modal harmony and melody within composition.
This will introduce you to the principles of contrapuntal composition as well as provide you with the opportunity to explore and experiment with harmonic and melodic processes.
Studio Composition.
Studio Composition allows you to compose directly with studio-based technology, moving away from the need to represent compositional material through a traditional score.
The technology investigated will have a direct influence on compositional output, and although human performances on traditional instruments can be integrated into the composition, there is an expectation that much of the work will be constructed within a Digital Audio Workstation.
The module investigates synthesis deeply and requires students to demonstrate creative use of both hardware and software. The technology is investigated covering a broad range of defined genres, with the intention that students begin to develop a distinct individual compositional voice.
Audio for Media.
· This module will encourage you to use your unique skillset as a musician to create soundtracks for film and audio drama productions.
You will be introduced to sound design, foley, scoring for film and recording dialogue and sound effects in the studio environment.
You will also apply and develop digital audio editing, synchronisation and mixing techniques to refine your final stereo soundtrack.
Studio Recording and Production.
This module is designed to give you a solid foundation in studio engineering and production practice.
Particular attention will be given to microphone technique, signal flow and an investigation of strategies by which the needs of both engineer and performer(s) can be reconciled in the studio environment.
Students will gain an understanding of historical developments in the field, exploring many musical genres.
As aspiring producers, students will be guided through the process of developing a clear production aesthetic from the outset of a recording project.
Popular Music and Identity.
This module explores ways in which gender and ethnicity are constructed in popular music texts as well as enhances your awareness of international music, including instruments, styles, and patterns of organization.
You will apply analytical critique to a range of repertoire and engage with cross-disciplinary approaches to the study of music. Popular Music and Identity (PP&R).
This module introduces a range of methods currently employed in the analysis of popular music, such as formal analyses, historical analyses and discourse analysis.
These methods will be used to examine themes such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity and cultural identity.
Year 3
Project Scope (PP&R).
This module enables you to undertake a comprehensive project encompassing two areas of specialist study (choose from: Performance, Composition, Studio Recording & Production, Studio Composition, Audio for Media, Arranging, Dissertation, Arts Administration, Collection of Writings, Collaborative Practice).
It assists the realisation of creative work (practical and/or written), encourages the development of a personal style within the chosen fields of study, and hones your artistic and academic skills base.
Professional Practice (PP&R) · By broadening your work experience in areas requiring a leadership and/or team role, this module gives you the opportunity to further develop your own professional practices.
You will gain experience in one of the following areas of professional practice: music events management, sound reinforcement, business enterprise, and community music in its broadest sense.
Negotiated Major Project (PP&R).
This module enables you to undertake a comprehensive project encompassing two areas of specialist study (choose from: Performance, Composition, Studio Recording & Production, Studio Composition, Audio for Media, Arranging, Dissertation, Arts Administration, Collection of Writings, Collaborative Practice).
It assists the realisation of creative work (practical and/or written), encourages the development of a personal style within the chosen fields of study, and hones your artistic and academic skills base
Reasons for applying In Salford University, the year one modules interest me most, with: the Popular Music Style and Genre, Applied Composition and Technology and Interpreting Popular Music modules specifically. Furthermore, the Studio Composition and Studio Recording and Production in the Year two modules interest me, as working in a studio has been a strong interest of mine since the start of my journey in Music.
Alternative Options
Job/Apprenticeship
Title Drum Teacher
Application requirements At least a degree in music.
May need a Grade 6 or above on the instrument.
Overview of roles & responsibilities
Teach students proper grip and hand placement for drumming.
Show students how to hold the sticks correctly.
Introduce different sticking patterns and rudiments.
Explain how to produce various sounds on the drums.
Help students develop a good sense of timing and rhythm.
Work on developing coordination between hands and feet.
Help students develop stamina and endurance while playing.
Encourage students' musical creativity.
Help students to learn sheet music.
Incorporate music theory into lessons.
Play along with students to help keep the tempo.
Correct posture and form when necessary.
Reinforce positive behaviour.
Offer constructive criticism.
Encourage practise outside of class.
They ensure the student performs / rehearses safely.
Reasons for applying One reason I chose this job role, is because it is a good opportunity to teach and inspire younger generations to learn the drums. It would enable me to introduce new skills and abilities to the student. Another reason I chose this job role is because music theory is a strong interest of mine. I would also like to help build students’ creativity in all aspects of music, from practical to theory.
Job/Apprenticeship
Title Sound Engineer
Application requirements Degree in relevant music technology.
Experience in audio software.
Overview of roles & responsibilities
An audio engineer is responsible for recording, mixing, and mastering sound for a variety of media productions, including music albums, films, television shows, video games, and live events.
These professionals work closely with artists, producers, directors, and other creative individuals to achieve the desired sonic quality and artistic vision for a project.
They use a combination of technical expertise, creative flair, and specialized equipment to capture and manipulate sound elements, ensuring clarity, balance, and acoustic cohesion.
Audio engineers may specialize in various aspects of sound production, such as recording, editing, sound design, or live sound reinforcement.
They may work in recording studios, post-production facilities, broadcasting companies, concert venues, or freelance settings, depending on their area of expertise and career goals.
A career as an audio engineer offers opportunities for creativity, technical innovation, and collaboration across a wide range of industries, contributing to the immersive and engaging audio experiences enjoyed by audiences worldwide.
Recording: Audio engineers are responsible for setting up and operating recording equipment to capture high-quality sound recordings. This may involve working in recording studios, live concert venues, or on-location settings to record music albums, film dialogue, voiceovers, or sound effects.
Mixing: Audio engineers mix multiple sound elements together to create a balanced and cohesive audio mix. They adjust volume levels, apply equalization, add effects, and manipulate sound dynamics to achieve the desired sonic quality and artistic vision for a project.
Editing: Audio engineers edit and manipulate recorded audio files to remove imperfections, enhance clarity, and ensure seamless transitions between different sound elements. This may involve tasks such as cutting, splicing, time-aligning, and pitch-correcting audio recordings.
Sound Design: In certain contexts, audio engineers are responsible for creating and manipulating sound effects to enhance the overall auditory experience of a production. This may involve recording or synthesizing custom sound effects, as well as layering, processing, and spatializing sound elements to create immersive audio environments.
Live Sound Reinforcement: Audio engineers may work in live concert settings or other live events to set up and operate sound reinforcement systems. They are responsible for ensuring clear and balanced sound for performers and audience members, as well as managing sound levels and addressing any technical issues that arise during the event.
Equipment Maintenance: Audio engineers are responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting audio equipment to ensure optimal performance. This may involve routine maintenance tasks such as cleaning, calibration, and equipment repairs, as well as staying abreast of advancements in audio technology and industry best practices.
Reasons for applying One reason I chose this job role is because I would like to build on my skills with sound in music, as it interests me greatly. I would also like to to introduce new skills into my music knowledge. Another reason I chose this job role, is because this may involve travelling, which is something, alongside music, that I enjoy doing