Why study this course?
Commercial Music Production at the Warrington Campus offers a three-year programme aimed at developing student knowledge in key aspects of music production.
The purpose of the programme is to provide a realistic outlook on the industry, covering studio production and engineering, the music business and music creation. Additionally, some aspects of music marketing, artist development and record promotion may be developed.
The course will give you a good grounding in key aspects of music production and related areas. Among other things, we aim to provide you with the opportunity to produce professional-quality music recordings, using industry-standard equipment and proven methods and practice.
The Facilities
Our studios are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week (during term time) in order to simulate true industry recording scenarios, and give you as much flexibility as possible. Also, our Warrington Campus is well situated between the musically and culturally significant cities of Manchester and Liverpool, which, in addition to the scene in Warrington, will provide you with access to a wide range of music that is closely linked to programme activity.
We believe that our course should not just be insular and campus-based, which is why we make external recruitment of musicians key to our modules and regularly get in guest speakers from the industry. In recent years we have also put on an annual music Showcase in Manchester or Liverpool, and heavily promoted student work, which is sold online to attempt to get it into the music charts.
Digital recording studios
Music production students are able to make use of a range of industry standard equipment in computer-based music production facilities and three purpose-built digital recording studios. The first has a large live area that is suitable for recording an entire band simultaneously, the second is similarly equipped but has a smaller live-recording area, whereas the third has a much greater range of processing equipment available. This third facility is dedicated for mixing purposes. Students learn on industry standard recording equipment that they are likely to find in other studios.
Programme Structure:
The emphasis of the course is on the commercial aspects of music making. Students are encouraged to develop a range of studio-based production skills. Skills include digital multi-tracking, hard disk recording, automated mixing and music creation. Students may be given the opportunity to specialise in studio production or less technology-orientated roles in their final year of study, such those relating more closely to A&R and marketing. In Year 3 you may have the opportunity to develop your own in-depth dissertation study on a relevant academic topic of your choice, and choose from a range of specialist options, which are likely to include creating music and sound to accompany moving visuals.
Modules may include:
Year 1 (Level 4)
- Mixing and Computer Music
- Introduction to Recording
Year 2 (Level 5)
- Recruiting, Recording and Remixing
- Approaches to Academic Research
- Work Based Learning for Academic Credit
Year 3 (Level 6)
- Music Production Development
- Music, Sound and Visual Production
- Dissertation
- Working in the Media
- Fan Culture
Programme assessment is designed to develop and enhance graduate characteristics and be of value as you move into the workplace. Across all of our programmes we adopt a mixture of formative and summative assessment, which means assignments will range from formal written exams through essays, formal and informal presentations, to taking part in feedback sessions with staff and other students.
These take place at various intervals throughout the course and not solely at traditional exam periods.
Much of the assessment of practical production modules is through coursework, and sometimes takes place in groups, although the emphasis is firmly on individual assessment. Some examples of assessment activities you are likely to be involved in include mixing, computer music creation, band recording and remixing.
Verbal and written feedback on completed assignments is provided.
Music recording industry, business related positions, management, professional audio, postgraduate study, music journalism, education, media and communications.
Graduates acquire key transferable, analytical, organisational, personal, writing and communication skills, which will always prove to be of value.
| UCAS points: |
A minimum of 240 - 280 UCAS points from GCE A Levels or equivalent |
| BTEC: |
BTEC National Diploma/Certificate: merit/distinction profile |
| Irish/Scottish Highers: |
B in 4 subjects |
| International Baccalaureate: |
26 points |
| QAA: |
QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma, Open College Units or Open University Credits |
| OCR: |
OCR National Extended/Diploma: merit/distinction profile |
| Extra Information: |
The Advanced Diploma: acceptable on its own
Welsh Baccalaureate (core) will be recognised in our tariff offer
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