Music BA(Hons)

Course description

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 (rather than the 2 year top up from an HND typically offered through Scotland).

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. This module is led by Annette Chapman. 

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. This module is led by Finlay Hetherington.

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. This module is led by Jess Abrams.

What you will learn

• Professional Project (60 Credits)
• Creative Arrangement: Shapes, Structures and Styles (30 Credits)
• Engagement in Music Making: The Emerging Practitioner (30 Credits)

Learning outcome

• Post-graduate teaching programmes (in secondary music teaching or general primary teaching)
• Post-graduate performing programmes 
• Post-graduate academic programmes

• Performing musician
• Instrumental music teacher
• Music producer
• Composer
• Songwriter
• Community musician
• Classroom teacher (after further study) 
• Music therapist (after further study)