BA (Hons) Music, Sound, Enterprise

Summary 2012/13

• Join a programme which prepares you to excel within the music industry in its widest sense;
• Experiment with contemporary practices, ideas, tools and software to prepare you for employment;
• Study in a supportive learning environment, developing your individual talents and become a music and sound creator of the future.

This degree has a strong emphasis on developing the range of creative skills and ideas required today by music, media and theatre industries. To develop personal aptitudes there are opportunities for you to explore particular interests. You can work with the moving image, in live theatre performance, or in education, depending on your future direction. You will learn how to work with confidence, distinction and enterprise in the digital media and performing arts industries. You will be able to act in equal capacites as a composer, arranger, editor, studio producer, sound designer and project leader.

2012 Entry Requirements

Typical offer 280 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include Music or Sound or a related subject, although relevant experience will be taken into account. All offers are made on the basis of an interview. A portfolio of music created by you (perhaps on disc) is desirable.

Summary 2013/14

• Join a programme which prepares you to excel within the music industry in its widest sense;
• Experiment with contemporary practices, ideas, tools and software to prepare you for employment;
• Study in a supportive learning environment, developing your individual talents and become a music and sound creator of the future.

This degree has a strong emphasis on developing the range of creative skills and ideas required today by music, media and theatre industries. To develop personal aptitudes there are opportunities for you to explore particular interests. You can work with the moving image, in live theatre performance, or in education, depending on your future direction. You will learn how to work with confidence, distinction and enterprise in the digital media and performing arts industries. You will be able to act in equal capacites as a composer, arranger, editor, studio producer, sound designer and project leader.

2013 Entry Requirements

Typical offer 280 UCAS tariff points overall, preferably to include Music or a Sound related subject, although relevant experience will be taken into account. All offers are made on the basis of an interview. A portfolio of music created by you is desirable.

Details

Who is this course for?

This programme will appeal strongly to those who have an interest in music and sound and want to develop this for a career in the creative industries or education.

You may already play instruments, sing or improvise with software. You don’t have to be a virtuoso or necessarily even read music - we will help you to do that as part of the programme. However, you should be able to show a clear interest in creating music and a fascination for the way that music and sound can be used creatively.

What will I gain from this programme?

Successful completion of this degree will give you confidence in using software programmes together with the ability to utilise your creative skills in the application of music and soundscapes to other art forms.

The course will also immerse you in studio recording techniques, in arranging music for other musicians, in instrumentation and conducting and the ability to demonstrate your capacity to meet deadlines.

How we will support you

You will be allocated a personal tutor who will have regular meetings with you throughout your studies at Edge Hill University and provide support for you in a pastoral role. You are also able to make use of the learning support offered via specific study skills (such as referencing and revision techniques) at the Edge Ahead Centre based within the University library.

What will I study?

Year 1 - Building Sound Foundations

During this year you will be provided with an opportunity to establish and enhance core skills and understanding in your study of music and sound.

Year 2 - Fine-tuning

In Year 2 you will explore a range of creative practices and begin to identify individual interests and directions.

Year 3 - Sound Future

In Year 3 you will develop independence in your choice of projects and specialisms. You will also consider the direction of the music and ways in which you can forge careers based upon your study.

How will I study?

You will study through a wide range of teaching styles, from formal lectures and seminars to practical workshop classes, production and studio projects, independent creative work and personal research.

You will acquire critical and creative skills which will be of use in a wide range of future careers. You will develop a personal portfolio and prepare practice CVs for employment, supported by dedicated sessions in personal development planning.

Our lecture programmes include friendly seminars, which provide an opportunity to study and discuss key performance pieces in the history and practice of music and sound.

Placement

You will be encouraged to take up work placements in the region and the course tutors will advise you on what options are available should you wish to do so.

Who will be teaching me?

A range of staff with professional, industry and research experience will teach on this programme, together with guest practitioners and industry contacts.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is through a mixture of practical and written work, including essays, portfolios, seminar presentations, studio and computer based projects, workshop performances and full scale performances. All practice demands theoretical justification, so most modules will require either a piece of writing or an oral presentation. Students are required to reflect upon their learning in each assessment and summarise their development regularly.

What are my career prospects?

Possible career paths include composer, teacher (further training required), creative project manager, arranger, producer, researcher or youth worker.

Further study at Edge Hill University

• PGCE Secondary Music

Related Programmes

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

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.

How do I apply?

For the full-time programme, apply online through UCAS at www.ucas.ac.uk.

To study part-time, apply directly to Edge Hill University. Download the application form (pdf) and notes for guidance (pdf).

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

Fees and Finance

Full-Time Study

For academic year 2012/13, Edge Hill University will charge £9,000 for full-time BA, BSc and LLB degrees. Eligible full-time 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 full-time students in 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.

Part-Time Study

Tuition fees for part-time study on this degree are £75 per credit for academic year 2012/13; i.e. £750 per 10 credit module, £1,125 per 15 credit module, £1,500 per 20 credit module and £2,250 per 30 credit module. A total of 360 credits are required to complete an undergraduate degree.

Eligible part-time 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 a year.

For more information on the financial support available for part-time undergraduate degree students in academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/undergradfees2012pt.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only.

Not got the entry requirements?

If you are returning to education you may present your previous experience in work to support your application. Those with access to Higher Education qualifications are welcome to apply.

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

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:

• Richard Witts, Media Department, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 594374
• Email: wittsr@edgehill.ac.uk

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

Modules

Year 1

Software Studies introduces you to sound and music software applications and gives you a basic understanding about audio placement, arrangement and layering of sounds.

Music Literacy is designed for those who cannot yet read conventional music notation. It will introduce time-based and pitch-based notation in addition to modulation, transposition, instrumentation and four-part harmony.

Ear and Voice will develop your musicianship skills through 'ear training' - that is, listening, imitating, improvising, and inventing.

Is this Music? Understanding Sound in Society covers a wide range of musical customs. It helps you to understand why they take place and how your own musical activities appear in the context of other practices and theories.

Music Since 1945 surveys the main historical, technical and cultural developments across a range of music genres. You will be introduced to the output and ideologies of artists while exploring the significant musical texts from the fields of popular music, jazz and 'modern' music.

Year 2

Composing / Designing / Arranging develops your skills in the representation, realisation and organisation of music and sound design. Employing the basic software skills and contextual knowledge gained in the previous year, you will examine options and compare methods in the creation and design of applied composition.

Studio Production will introduce you to the practical workings of the recording studio and to the editing suite. Through practical and theoretical study, and realisation of recording techniques, you will gain insight into the practicalities of working and operating in the studio, recording instruments, bands and vocalisation. The second half of the module will focus on multiple microphone techniques for the capture of performance in a venue or studio based environment, such as a theatre or TV studio.

Sonic Arts examines how the development of digital technology over recent years has both contributed to, and radically changed, the expressive medium of sound in performance. This module offers you the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge critical and theoretical perspectives on the role of the artist within the discipline of sound art.

Music for Learning and Learning Music involves undertaking the role of a professional practitioner working alongside others in an educational setting. You will develop a broad range of skills including teaching, project development, implementation, and critical evaluation.

Music Industry - Recording and Live Music in Business is designed to guide you through the principal issues surrounding the organisational, economic, legal and ethical aspects of music industry activity.

Music in Theatre Performance will introduce you to the theory and concept of what constitutes music in theatre. The module will enable you to learn about the different genres and style associated with the discipline and how historical advancements have developed contemporary practice. You will gain essential knowledge and experience by performing a section of a musical, opera or staged performance in order to realise the finer qualities of a musical performance and how it is created.

Soundtracks is a module organised around a series of films, television programmes and key readings, centered chiefly on the use of sound and music in American, European and Hindi film. The module offers you a range of perspectives on the notion of 'the soundtrack'.

Year 3

Applied Music and Sound Projects allows you to engage in an in-depth practical project either independently or in relation to a specific area/discipline within the media and theatre contexts. You will therefore be encouraged to apply your chosen art-form in a focused and specific manner dependent upon your own interests.

Independent Research Project allows you to engage in an in-depth independent research project, simultaneously narrowing and concentrating your focus on an area of interest generated from your programme of study.

Music Management, Policy, Subsidy, and Media Law explores the organisational, legal, financial and ethical dimensions of the international business environment in terms of personal entrepreneurship. You will also examine the broader principles of management in terms of planning and co-ordination. In particular, you will develop an understanding of the structures of subsidy and an awareness of policy-making at different levels that affect the production, presentation and circulation of music.

Employment Strategies in the Creative Industries examines and evaluates methods to optimise opportunities for employment, commissions and interventions such as 'clean-up' tasks. You will acquire strategies of how to plan for sustainability, maintain relations with institutions, and gain sources of finance for projects. Comparative methods of planning, networking and campaigning will be studied and work-shopped, with narratives offered by industry professionals.