Popular Music BA Welcome Pack
Welcome to Popular Music BA 2025.
Thanks so much for joining us and welcome to Popular Music at UON. You’re about to undertake a three-year degree in popular music. In year 1 you’ll receive twenty 30-minute lessons on your main instrument or voice.
Throughout your three years you’ll get to complete a range of interesting and exiting assignments including: solo performance to performing on stage in front of a live audience, learning music theory, how to use creative music technology software and how to use the recording studio.
You’ll learn to understand and apply music theory in your own creative compositions, songs and tracks. As well as learn academic skills and important employability and music industry skills.
At the end of the three years, you’ll have a wide and deep set of skills, knowledge and experience that will set you up for a career in the creative industries or further study.
This course is accredited by Joint Audio Media Education Support (JAMES) – the industry standard for popular music, music production and media.
Your Course Leader
Dr Stace Constantinou
Senior Lecturer in Popular Music
Stace.constantinou@northampton.ac.uk
Welcome and Induction Sessions
This is your induction timetable with online sessions starting on Monday, 22 September 2025. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Stace Constantinou: stace.constantinou@northampton.ac.uk
Monday 22 September – Friday 3 October
Welcome Week activities
From karaoke to outdoor cinema, wellbeing walks to Silent Disco, and much more – there’s something suitable for everyone.
See our Welcome timetable to find out more.
Monday, 22 September
Session: “Orientation”
- Time: 10am – 12noon (BST)
- Location: Creative Hub, CH206 (second floor), Waterside campus.
Please go to the Creative Hub building and head to the second floor – back left you’ll find CH206. Please phone me on 07834 406340 if you can’t find it and I’ll send out a scout to find you!
Session: “In Harmony”
- Time: 1 – 3pm (BST)
- Location: Development Hub, Music Department Booths
Tuesday, 23 September
Session: Your First One to One Session
- Time: 1pm onwards (BST) – you will be given a tutorial slot.
- Location: Development Hub, Music Department Booths
Session: “Bandeoke” optional social event at the Charles Bradlaugh
- Time: from 8pm onwards (BST)
- Location: The Charles Bradlaugh, 1 Earl Street, Northampton, NN1 3AU
Wednesday, 24 September
Session: Meet 2nd and 3rd Year Music Students
- Time: 11am onwards (BST)
- Location: Development Hub, DH020 (ground floor)
Equipment
- A musical instrument. We have a supply of guitars, basses and keys, but we recommend you get your own. (Price varies).
- Vocal microphone. We have a good supply of microphones, but we recommend you get your own. (Price varies but from around £80).
- Headphones (approximately £60-100).
- External portable hard drive (approximately £60-80).
- Batteries for portable recording equipment – not needed immediately though so hold off buying for now.
- SD cards/USB Flash drives (£10-20 for two) – not needed immediately though so hold off buying for now. (£10-20 for two).
- Core textbooks and sheet music (approximately £80).
- Consumables for individual instruments: Jack leads, capos, plectrums, drum skins, drumsticks, reeds, strings, mutes, patch leads etc. (Price varies).
Enhancing skills, building networks and engaging in the wider University community
Every year we run opportunities for music students to get involved in performance opportunities, including the annual Northampton Music Festival, at the Saints Football Stadium and more! Please speak to me for more information about this.