BA (Hons) Media, Music and Sound

Summary 2012/13

• Discover a range of media, music and sound production techniques;
• Explore your passion for media and music and study its impact on the creative and cultural environment;
• Develop expertise for a career in the music and media-related industries.

Music, sound creation and performance is enjoyed and pursued in a number of forms, from DJ work and musical performance to the mixing and composition of music and sound using electronic and digital technology. This degree is aimed at music and sound enthusiasts as well as conventionally trained musicians.

You will develop a range of practical production skills in sound design and music production and also explore the social and theoretical context of music production and consumption. No formal music training is required, but an enthusiasm for music in all forms is essential.

2012 Entry Requirements

280 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include creative arts subjects.

Summary 2013/14

• Discover a range of media, music and sound production techniques;
• Explore your passion for media and music and study its impact on the creative and cultural environment;
• Develop expertise for a career in the music and media-related industries.

Music, sound creation and performance is enjoyed and pursued in a number of forms, from DJ work and musical performance to the mixing and composition of music and sound using electronic and digital technology. This degree is aimed at music and sound enthusiasts as well as conventionally trained musicians.

You will develop a range of practical production skills in sound design and music production and also explore the social and theoretical context of music production and consumption. No formal music training is required, but an enthusiasm for music in all forms is essential.

2013 Entry Requirements

280 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include creative arts subjects.

Details

Who is this course for?

We are looking for students with a passion for all kinds of music. If you want to study the dynamics of music, sound production and its relation to media, then this is the programme for you.

What will I gain from this programme?

Using cutting edge technology, you will develop specialist knowledge - in context and in practice - of media theory, popular music and sound. Combining an appreciation of the characteristics of media, music and sound with essential skills in music and sound production will be a significant advantage in securing future employment opportunities within the music and media industries.

What will I study?

In Year 1 you will be introduced to key theories in media, music and sound. You will explore and investigate the relationships between media and music and society, and actively engage with media production and sound design. You will develop an in-depth understanding of the social production of music and its place within culture, investigating the impact of new technologies on the creation of new creative outlets for music and sound design.

Year 2 develops knowledge of the production, dissemination and consumption of music by engaging in music composition and sound design, as well as further considering media theory and its relevance to popular music. Through the study of representation and the relationship between producers and audiences, the second year also offers you the chance to produce your own music video, as well as developing 'soundscapes' for visual media.

Equipped with considerable expertise in media, music and sound, in Year 3 you will undertake further advanced music and sound projects and a dissertation, whereby you can specialise your skills and develop a portfolio of work for the career path that you wish to pursue.

How will I study?

You will be taught through a wide range of lectures and seminars, practical workshop classes, performance workshops and small group exercises and production projects.

Who will be teaching me?

The programme will be taught collaboratively between the Media and Performing Arts teams. Recognising and acknowledging the collaborative nature of industry disciplines, students will benefit from the experience and knowledge of both teams.

The Media and Performing Arts teams consist of a wide range of research active full-time academics, practitioners and technical staff, together with part-time industry professionals and academic specialists, offering a wide range of learning experiences.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is made through a mixture of practical and written work, including written reports, research projects, essays, individual and group practical projects, assessed presentations and performance pieces.

What are my career prospects?

There are many career options available to graduates such as research or the administrative and organisational side of these creative industries. Alternatively, you may progress into production and sound technology, choosing film and TV sound, theatre sound or web and new media development. You will also have the option of progressing onto postgraduate study in an associated area.

Related Programmes

• BA (Hons) Music and Sound with Drama
• BA (Hons) Music, Sound, Enterprise

A Great Study Environment

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities, more than 1,400 rooms in halls of residence and fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

The Media Department runs its own annual film festival, Tinnes, each year and publishes 'The Deal', a weekly entertainment guide produced by Media students. Edge Hill also has its own student film review magazine, Iris, waiting for your contributions.

How do I apply?

Apply online through UCAS at www.ucas.ac.uk.

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/apply for more information on the application process and our Admissions criteria.

Fees and Finance

For academic year 2012/13, Edge Hill University will charge £9,000 for full-time BA, BSc and LLB degrees. Eligible students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000.

Eligible full-time students can also apply for a maintenance grant, subject to household income, and a non-means-tested loan to help with living costs.

Edge Hill University offers a range of scholarships for prospective full-time students. These include £2,000 Entrance Scholarships rewarding determination, commitment and achievement in creative arts, performing arts, sport and volunteering. Eligible entrants with outstanding grades are recognised through the £1,000 High Achievers Scholarship.

The University will also be offering awards, worth £3,000 in cash benefits and fee/accommodation waivers for academic year 2012/13, to eligible prospective full-time students through the National Scholarship Programme.

For more information on scholarships, including eligibility criteria for each award, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships.

To find out more about fees, grants and loans for academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/undergradfees2012.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only. International students should check the fees and finance information at www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationalfees2012.

Not got the entry requirements?

Students returning to education may present their previous experience in work (paid or unpaid) to support their application.

Students with relevant study through either a professional body or appropriate academic course can apply to join the programme at an advanced stage.

For personalised advice based on your circumstances, please contact us or come to an event.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many national careers fairs and UCAS events.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Phil Jackson, Media Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 584454
• Email: jacksonp@edgehill.ac.uk

Overseas students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk for further information.

Modules

Year 1

MED1207 Media and Society. Interrogating the complexity of interaction between media and society, this module introduces you to 'media-worlds', critically examining the connections between the media and social experience. Investigating the relationship between 'personal politics' and the political constraints of media industries, you will develop a more sensitive appreciation of the relationships between media and society.

MED1208 Moving Image Production. The module introduces you to the basic principles of moving image production in the form of single and multi-camera operation, lighting and editing.

MED1050 Music and Society. The module allows you to explore a variety of perspectives on the role of music. Introducing you to the key theories, art movements and practitioners that have shaped modern music, the module also considers the cultural contexts of the study of music, the production and purchase of music in modern society and the impact of technology on sound and music as a means of communication. You will investigate the impact of new technologies on the development of music genres and explore how music has driven technological innovation. The main objective is to develop an in-depth understanding of the social production of music and its place within culture.

MED1051 Music and Sound Practice. Providing an introduction to the theory and practice of music and sound within an interdisciplinary culture, this module will allow you to understand and discuss musical practice through an exploration of different musical styles, genres and compositional approaches. Your understanding of the theoretical aspects of the module will be reinforced by the practical application and realisation of a musical arrangement.

MUS1001 Music Genres and Sound Systems. This module analyses the ways in which music is categorized and formally recognised. In doing so it will develop your knowledge of a variety of music styles and consider the social, cultural, economic and political influences that order our musical expectations. In addition, you will examine the technological developments that have influenced the sonic landscape of music and sound production.

Year 2

MED2201 Cultural Representations and the Media. This module gives you the opportunity to study cultural representations across a range of different media forms. It will develop your understanding of representational systems and encourage critical engagement with issues of naturalisation, marginalisation and exclusion. You will also also be introduced to a range of representational forms and practices, identifying links between representational systems and the production of meaning / identity. At the end of the module, you will have knowledge and understanding of various representational systems and theories in a range of different contexts. Moreover, you will have learnt how to express these understandings with persuasion and cogency in your oral and written work.

MED2204 Music Video. This module introduces you to the academic and cultural theory of popular music applied to the production of music videos. Combining your understanding of the industrial contexts in which music videos are produced with the development of technical skills gained in year 1, you'll produce a music video of your own, able to satisfy the various needs of multi-channel, niche-audience music television. Issues relating to copyright will be discussed and the planning of post-production will also be included.

MUS2001 Music Technology. Digital, and more often, computerised technology is used to create modern music. Through the analysis of such technology, this module encompasses audio theory and historical development, recording and sampling, audio synthesis, MIDI sequencing and drum programming. Attention is also given within the module to music consumption via the Internet.

MUS2002 Music Composition and Sound Design. The aim of this module is to create traditional musical compositions, experimental music, sound designs or sonic art installations. You will have the opportunity to experiment further using our recording studio, computer suite and portable recording equipment to collate and produce compositions / sound designs, ensuring a deeper level of understanding of the technologies and techniques involved in constructing musical compositions are explored.

MUS2003 Music, Sound and the Moving Image. Music is central to most visual media, as either a definite narrative device or as incidental 'mood music'. As such it is important to analyse the placement and use of music within visual media and how it consolidates or amplifies meanings for audiences / viewers. Equally the use of soundscape, incidental music and song is a significant tradition in live performance and theatre. The combination of music with different media, enabling new forms of expression and developing new musical functions, is the focus of this module.

MUS2004 Music and Media. This module develops year 1 considerations of the mediation of popular music by offering a detailed analysis of the key media influences that are involved in the industrial activities of the music industry. Key areas will include music press, music television, radio, advertising, fanzine culture user generated content (Web 2.0) and the impact of digital media.

Year 3

MUS3001: Music Ethnographies. You will undertake a detailed ethnographic research project during which time you will observe the performance practices of a particular musician or group, or how music fans interact with a particular music interest.

MUS3056 Advanced Music and Sound Projects. This module allows you to complete an in-depth practical project either independently or in relation to a specific area or discipline within the media and theatre contexts. MUS3057 Dissertation. A 7,000-8,000 word dissertation (or equivalent) allows you to explore contemporary discourses in the field of music, sound and media / drama production.

MED3204 Media Policy and Political Communication. This module develops your awareness and understanding of a variety of issues relating to policy making from 1945 to the present.

MED3205 Identities and Creative Citizenship. This module takes the concepts of public / national and private / personal identities as its key themes. You will be encouraged to critically investigate the nature of identity and encouraged to consider how ideas surrounding identity impact upon cultural production and practices.