Media, Music & Sound Production
Music BA(Hons)
Campus Sighthill Campus
Qualification SCQF Level 10
Study mode Full time
Duration 41 weeks
Start date
Aug 2022
Course enquiry form
Course overview
Based at Sighthill, our Music BA (Hons), delivered in partnership with Kingston University London, allows students who have an HND in Music to gain an honours degree in one year.
Our purpose-built Music Box boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including practice booths, classrooms, midi suites, rehearsal rooms, recording studios and an auditorium.
We welcome applicants from all musical backgrounds and disciplines, including classical, popular, traditional and jazz.
There are three core modules, each of which allows students a great deal of flexibility and creativity in their learning: they can shape the content in each case to suit their own interests, strengths and ambitions.
Professional Project makes up 50% of the year's work. In this module students complete and disseminate substantial self-led projects such as solo recitals, composition or songwriting portfolios, research dissertations or studio recording work, under the guidance of expert supervisors.
Creative Arrangement: Shapes, Structures and Styles are worth 25% of the degree. Here students analyse pieces of music in various styles and go on to arrange and re-work music for their choice of instruments and/or voices. The work may involve traditional notation, or be realised in performance without notation - or lie somewhere in between. Students take advantage of each other's experience in practical sessions as they craft and hone their arrangements.
Engagement in Music Making: The Emerging Practitioner makes up the final 25% of the work. In this module, students gain an understanding of music education and musical leadership in formal and informal settings. They then design a series of activities to be delivered in an appropriate setting; there is a fantastic range of placement opportunities both within and out with the college.
You can read about our staff in the downloadable pdf at the bottom of the page.
What you will learn- Professional Project
- Creative Arrangement: Shapes, Structures and Styles
- Engagement in Music Making: The Emerging Practitioner
Placement information
- Placements will suit your area of interest. They may be completed in primary or secondary schools, in community music projects or within other music organisations as appropriate.
How the course is assessed
- Project based course work (50%)
- Written assessment (20%)
- Practice-based assessment (30%)
Number of days per week
- 15 hours per week taught
- 7 hours per week student led-learning
Entry requirements
- HND Music
- SQCF L8/RCF L5 equivalent i.e. FdA Music (please contact our admissions team for more information)
Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements
External applicants are asked to provide a portfolio of work appropriate to their chosen Professional Project specialism.
For those wishing to specialise in performance, your portfolio will consist of a video or videos of you introducing and playing or singing two contrasting pieces. These should be of Grade 8 or post-Grade 8 standard, but please note that they need not be taken from a current syllabus.
For those wishing to specialise in composition or songwriting, your portfolio will consist of recordings or scores of at least two of your finished pieces/songs as appropriate.
For those wishing to specialise in academic writing, your portfolio will consist of one or more substantial essays or written projects with appropriate referencing.
For those wishing to specialise in recording or other technology projects, your portfolio will consist of at least two contrasting samples or finished pieces of appropriate work (with descriptions).
Applicants who wish to specialise in performance:
Please record a video in which you
a) introduce yourself and b) play or sing two contrasting pieces on your first instrument.
In your introduction:
· give your name and say where you are from
· say a little bit about your musical experience (including how long you have been playing or singing, and any experience of playing with other people in bands or ensembles)
· say which pieces you are going to play or sing, and (if you can) say why you chose them
In your playing or singing:
· please use backing tracks or live accompaniment as appropriate.
The video should be uploaded to YouTube as per instructions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go_HDCANWf8
Please be careful to upload the video as ‘unlisted’ rather than ‘private’. Please then send the link to your video to annette.chapman@edinburghcollege.ac.uk
All other applicants
You may send files, or if these are too large to send by email, please send links, to annette.chapman@edinburghcollege.ac.uk
Our staff will review your application and, in some cases, they will follow up by giving you a phone or video call. If you don't get a call, don't worry! It will be because the staff have got all the information they need from your video and the rest of your application.</
English Proficiency Requirements IELTS 6.5 required.Further information regarding IELTS levels and certification is available from our admissions teamProgression and Articulation Routes
- Post-graduate teaching programmes (in secondary music teaching or general primary teaching)
- Post-graduate performing programmes
- Post-graduate academic programmes
Career options
Possible careers include performing musician, instrumental music teacher, music producer, composer, songwriter, community musician, classroom teacher (after further study) and music therapist (after further study).
Study Options
| Campus | Study mode | Start date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sighthill Campus | Full time | 29/08/22 | 41 Weeks |
