
Program description
BA (Hons) Popular Music
You will explore performance, composition, production and music technology on this accredited BA, with a specific focus on popular music. There will be regular opportunities to perform in public.
The BA (Hons) Popular Music programme is one of the few courses of its type in the country and is designed to equip you with the ability to interact and innovate within a vibrant environment, nurturing a specialism in popular music and related industries. The area of popular music is a dynamic, well established creative aspect of the music industry involving sophisticated craft, technical, analytical and scholarly approaches.
You will develop a wide range of disciplines through performance, composition, technology, media production and musicology. You will also develop an in-depth appreciation of the increasing significance of popular music in economic and professional terms.
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
Popular Music is accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES), a consortium of industry professionals that promote excellence in music education. You will study a wide range of subjects, including popular music performance, composition, improvisation, arrangement, song writing, production, music business and management and studio techniques. Expect to perform in public regularly – at our annual music show, at social and formal events and at venues across the city. These experiences will help you learn and grow.
IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU?
This dynamic course is for practising musicians keen to explore performance, composition, production and music technology in our industry-standard recording studios and rehearsal spaces.
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Admission requirements
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
QualificationOfferFurther informationUCAS TariffA levelPearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)Access to HE DiplomaGCSE/National 4/National 5112 pointsYour offer will be based on your predicted grades from your core A2s (full A levels), BTEC Diploma etc. We will accept up to 16 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project, or Music qualifications. In addition you are required to have 5 GCSEs grades A-C or grade 4 including Maths and English. For Access to HE please see the specific credits required in the section for Access to HE. You must be able to read and perform music with at least ABRSM Grade 6/Rock School and ABRSM Grade 5 Theory.BBCDMMD: 15 creditsM: 24 credits
P: 6 creditsPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits with 45 at Level 3:GCSE Maths and English Grade C/Grade 4 (or above) or equivalent qualification
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio - required
English language requirements
IELTS overall score at a minimum of 6.0; with at least IELTS 5.5 in each band (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing) or another Secure English Language Test(SELT)at CEFR level B2 or above
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Learn moreProgram content
What you will study
You'll study modules such as:
Stage one
- Art and Science of Recording
- Innovations in Commercial Music
- Music, Institutions and Audiences
- Performance Redefined
Stage two
- Performance and Studio Production
- Spatial Sound and Music Perception
- Industry: Research and Practice
- Composition by Design
Stage three
- Research Project
- Production Portfolio
- Creative Project
Program delivery
How you will learn
A variety of assessment methods will be used. Some Popular Music modules are assessed through coursework only, others by a combination of coursework, portfolios, assignments, case studies, oral and graphic presentations, collaborative and interdisciplinary team work projects, computer testing and examinations, so providing a flexible and effective means of assessing your progress. Assessments are designed to enable you to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes for your module. An assessment component may sometimes take the form of a number of small submissions eg lab reports or short in-class tests.
The two major music projects during your final year will focus on developing your professional practice in both performance and composition. The aim is to maximise your potential for securing employment in the creative industries.
You will be taught by very experienced lecturers, many with international research portfolios and current professional experience.
Tuition fees
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Channel Islands£9,250Year 1EU£14,045Year 1International£14,045Year 1England£9,250Year 1Northern Ireland£9,250Year 1Scotland£9,250Year 1Wales£9,250Year 1Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.Career opportunities
Careers
Our graduates are equipped for employment within the modern commercial music sector as performers, composers, producers, educators, promoters, publishers, academics, recording studio engineers and entrepreneurial freelance musicians. They also work in a range of media organisations.
Others have gone on to further study, at MA, MSc or PhD level, or successfully completing PGCE for school of college level teaching, some gaining QTS teaching qualifications for primary or secondary education. This enables them to become teachers, entering the primary and secondary education sector, lecturing for colleges of further education and freelance instrumental teaching.
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About this institute

University of Derby
Here at the University of Derby we believe anything is possible. With a broad range of courses at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level, we can help you get your career off to a great start. We know how important it...
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University of Derby
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