Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Audio Midi Theory and Practice
You develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills of audio and MIDI sequencing, studying the theoretical principles of digital audio and MIDI specifications and how these apply to the practice of sequencing. You learn about MIDI compatible and virtual instruments to create musical sequences and how to process audio for the purpose of music creation.
Bootcamp: Music Post-production
You extend your knowledge and skills within a recording studio environment for music post-production. You learn about the fundamental theory and practice of how to safely operate relevant hardware and software, such as hard disk recording systems, signal processors, mixers and digital audio workstations. You develop professional and personal skills through a range of activities relevant to music post-production. You gain a solid foundation of how to operate within a professional music production facility. You explore the theoretical content in lectures, which is supported by regular studio sessions where you take part in practical production activities and your progress is monitored.
Bootcamp: Music Production
You develop the fundamental knowledge and skills to accurately record typical sound sources within a recording studio environment for music production. You learn about the fundamental theory and practice of how to safely operate relevant hardware and software, such as patchbays, hard disk recording systems, microphones, mixers and digital audio workstations. You develop professional and personal skills from undertaking a range of activities relevant to music production. You gain a solid foundation of how to operate within a professional music production facility. You explore the theoretical content in lectures, supported by regular studio sessions where practical production activities take place and your progress is monitored.
Music Technology and Culture
You learn about the development of music technology and its impact upon music culture. You study a variety of technological developments and explore how these impact music from cultural and social perspectives. This includes music genres, the structure and operation of the music industries and how revenue is generated by Rights ownership and commercial exploitation. You develop academic and personal skills by undertaking a range of research activities as individuals and in groupwork. You gain an understanding of the development of music technology and how it impacts music culture. You explore the theory in lectures, which is supported by regular seminar sessions with exploratory discussions and practical activities where your progress is monitored.
Music Theory and Composition
There are two themes in this module. The first is to gain an understanding of music theory for careers in music technology, and to facilitate musical communication within the composition and production processes. You take part in a series of facilitated music lab sessions and practical exercises using a number of music production applications with MIDI controllers and keyboards. The second theme is composition, where you consider the application of the earlier music theory sessions. You apply your knowledge and skills to create original musical work, with reference to chosen artists. Lectures explain the principles and discussion of applications, and provide guided technical solutions. Laboratory sessions give you the opportunity to practise suggested techniques. Music theory assessment is by practical assessment and composition is assessed by assignment.
Sound and Perception
You explore the theoretical and practical relationships between sound in air (acoustics), the perception of sound (psychoacoustics) and audio signals (electroacoustics). Time (waveform) and frequency (spectral) descriptions of sound are offered and the relationship between the two is investigated. You are also introduced to acoustic ecology to examine the relationships between yourselves, sound and the environment and to improve their sonological competence. The importance of hearing conservation is stressed throughout.
You are assessed on your understanding of acoustic principles, acoustic ecology, electroacoustics and perception. Your lectures provide an explanation of principles and discussion of applications. Your tutorials provide guided solutions of relevant examples and IT laboratory sessions explore the analysis of sounds. You are assessed by two assignments.
Year 2 core modules
Electroacoustic Music Composition
You explore the context and concepts of a particularly unique genre of music. You develop your understanding of the genre, and explore your creativity in electroacoustic music compositional and production techniques, specifically those techniques made possible by contemporary digital audio workstation sequencing applications. You explore the context, concepts and techniques associated with electroacoustic music, and you focus on developing intellectual understanding and openness to the musical concepts of the genre. The contemporary analogue compositional techniques of electroacoustic music are reworked in the context of modern digital audio and in creating original compositions.
Lectures and demonstrations explain concepts of extant work, principles of composition, discussion of applications and provide guided technical solutions. You take part in facilitated practical exercises in the music labs and explore the concepts and practise suggested compositional techniques. You are assessed by two coursework components with compositional and written elements.
Mixing and Mastering
This module develops your skills, knowledge and understanding of mixing and mastering techniques in stereo and surrounds formats.
You run a series of recording sessions in which you work with clients to fulfil a client brief, recording a range of acoustic and electroacoustic sources.
Using programme material provided by tutors or clients, you create a portfolio of mixes and mastered stereo or surround recordings, in which a range of prescribed creative (and corrective) mixing processes and mastering techniques are explored.
The module consists of a short series of seminars on recording session organisation skills, followed by a series of recording studio sessions with real clients.
A number of lecture and seminar sessions are included, which cover the issues of working with clients and theoretical aspects of mixing and mastering.
The module is assessed through a studio log book and two mixing and mastering exercises.
Music Industry Project
You gain real-world experience through devising and pursuing a music industry project. You negotiate and agree your project with your module tutor. You develop as autonomous learners under the guidance of a client and your tutor. You design a project that devise appropriate learning outcomes. Once your project is underway, you maintain an online reflective blog to record your progress. You explore initial theoretical content in lectures, which is supported with regular seminar and supervision sessions throughout the academic year. The module prepares you for independent study at Level 6.
Sound Design for Film and TV
You develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills in sound design for film and TV. You explore your creativity in the creation, production and post-production of sound that is synchronised to video. You create programme material that requires Foley, sound design, ADR and music composition that is mixed to stereo and surround formats. You learn about sound design for film and TV. Lectures provide the theoretical content of the module that are supported by regular practical sessions in specialist facilities.
Sound Synthesis and Software
You develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills in controlling sound through synthesis and software. You explore techniques and practice of a range of sound synthesis and processing techniques to be able to edit and program in both hardware and software contexts. You learn how to program ‘patches’ to create sonic textures that could be used in live performance contexts. Lectures provide the theoretical content of the module that are supported by regular practical sessions in specialist facilities.
Optional work placement year
Work placement
You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.
You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.
Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:
· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.
If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.
Final-year core modules
Audio and MIDI Control
You develop your knowledge, understanding and application of digital audio and musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) as a means of creative audio and performance control. You do this using a cross-platform, visual, object-orientated audio and MIDI processing application. Using visual programming, you create a range of digital audio and/or MIDI artefacts (patchers) that can be controlled by MIDI data.
Visual programming platforms allow you to create different types of artefacts to understand different disciplines within music technology. Lectures and demonstrations explain principles and discuss applications. Facilitated practical exercises provide guided technical solutions and give you the opportunity to practise suggested techniques. You are assessed by two coursework components with written and practical elements.
Composition and Performance
You develop your technical skills and understanding of creative music production through exercises involving advanced sound capture and manipulation techniques. Exercises include surround sound reproduction, remixing, mix reconstruction, advanced sampling techniques and advanced signal processing, MIDI and video control using a range of software – all in the context of a live event, such as an audio, MIDI or video performance or sound installation.
In your lectures and demonstrations you investigate technical issues in site theatres, recording studios, and audio and MIDI programming suites. Regular tutorials and seminars explore concepts, monitor progress and give formative feedback on your work. Your assessment is based on plans for a live performance or installation, which includes research and implementation of a focused performance concept, and the live performance or installation. You are assessed through a written document outlining your performance and a live performance.
Music and Sound for Games
You develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills in generating music and sound for games. You explore your creativity in the creation, production and post-production of audio assets for use in game engines. You learn about a range of specialist hardware and software and apply specialist techniques to create a portfolio of appropriate audio assets. Lectures provide explanations of principles and discussion of applications and guided technical solutions. Studio and IT laboratory sessions give you the opportunity to practice suggested Game Audio techniques. You are assessed by In-course Assessment (ICA) consisting of theoretical and practical components, which include a technical presentation of advanced production techniques and creation of a portfolio of audio assets for use in a game engine.
Music Event Promotion and Production
You pursue a professional portfolio and career promotion strategy. You develop a range of artefacts from advanced and creative use of music technology in accordance with your career aspirations. You promote and produce a music event and develop appropriate materials to showcase themselves. Lectures provide explanation of theoretical principles and discussion of applications. IT laboratory sessions provide guided practical tasks and technical solutions. There are opportunities for discussions and support in tutorials, exploration of concepts, your progress is monitored and you are given formative feedback on your work. Assessment is by 100% In-course Assessment (ICA) through a professional portfolio and music event showcase.
Music Technology Project
You put into practice the music technology-related knowledge, skills and techniques learned in previous modules in addition to exploring new areas of interest to support the project objectives. You negotiate your topic for this project with your tutor and use the institution’s facilities. Initial tutorials focus on devising your learning outcomes. Once your study is underway, you maintain an online blog to capture your progress. You are assessed through a presentation to peers and a written project report that assesses practical outcomes and offers a self-evaluation of the experience of independent study. Seminars offer you input on study and time management skills and opportunities to share ideas. Regular tutorials help you evaluate your progress and formative feedback on practical and written work in progress. You are assessed by a practical exam (a presentation to peers) and a written report of practical outcomes.
