Music Production BA (Hons)

• Overview

  Course subject to validation – for September 2021 start.

  The BA in Music Production is intended to prepare you for a growing, and ever-evolving industry which contributed £4.5 billion to the economy in 2018. The course is specifically designed to ready you for a range of potential avenues of music creation, for example working in the video game industry or in the world of live music, or working as an educator. We aim to provide you with the broad range of transferrable skills required to be a self-producing Artist. You will develop a breadth of skills within the digital domain, the studio environment, and – perhaps most importantly – academically.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  Course

  Highlights

  • Opportunities to work in real-world situations across Northampton
  • Extra-curricular masterclasses in music production
  • Interaction with partner degree in Popular Music
  • Industry expertise from published and researching music team
  • Contemporary specialisms in many areas of EDM
  • Cutting-edge software: Native Instruments, Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, SoundToys, Mac OS X
  • Field Trips to events such as BBC Music Introducing Live, and visits to professional recording studios.
  • Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.

  HP Laptop and software included with this course.*

  *Terms and Conditions apply

  Open Days

  
• Course Details

  Music Production at the University of Northampton is split into three stages. In the first stage you’ll develop proficiencies across all areas of the music production domain.

  In the second and third stages you’ll have the opportunity to specialise; choosing from a range of areas, including music production, composition, live sound and sound for media and gaming industry, sound design, and music education.

  Our modules are informed by staff actively researching, composing, performing and publishing in their specialist areas within the music industry. These modules introduce you to music principles and techniques which will help you develop the necessary analytical and creative skills, to aid you when evaluating and implementing real-life practise.

  Music’s role in culture is critically and philosophically examined throughout this course. Using musical examples, you will learn to engage with esoteric and difficult concepts around inter alia genre, gender, race, politics, capitalism, culture, power, evolution, and science.

  The first year focuses on fundamental principles across all areas, including sequencing in the DAW, audio and MIDI, acoustics and psychoacoustics, studio engineering, hardware implementation, synthesis, critical listening skills, and reasoning, writing and debating. In the second and third year you are able to specialise and focus on areas that you are particularly interested in.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Open Days

  Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

  Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying at The University of Northampton.

  To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

• Careers and Events
  • The Northampton Employment Promise.

    *We promise to secure paid experience for you, if you need it.

    We work with employers to understand what they’re looking for and we’re confident that if you follow one of our structured awards, as well as committing to your studies you’ll be in a competitive position when it comes to applying for graduate jobs.

    We’re so confident, that we promise to secure a paid 3-6 month internship for you, if you need it. Find out more about the Northampton Employment Promise, including how it works and who is eligible.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    This course will open up a range of career opportunities, including; working musician/artist, teaching, lecturing, music journalism, composer / arranger, live sound engineer,  music producer, gaming and sound for media, sound designer, TV, film, advertising, YouTuber, online personality, freelancer, entrepreneur, academic, critic, writer, studio engineering and music therapy.

    
• Requirements

  Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer is BCC at A-Level or DMM at BTEC. All qualified applicants will be invited for interview. We welcome international applications and applications from students with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications.

  For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  Foundation Study Framework Entry Requirements

  Admission to this foundation programme is normally DEE at A-Level or MPP at BTEC. However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Reading List
    • Chion, M. (2009) Film, a sound art, New York; Chichester: Columbia University Press
    • Haidt, J. (2012) The Righteous Mind: Why good people are divided by politics and religion. Pantheon Books
    • Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Macmillan
    • Katz, B. (2002). Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science. Focal Press
    • Levitin, D. (2006) This is your Brain on Music. Penguin
    • Owsinski, B. (2014) The Mixing Engineer's handbook. Boston, MA
    • Pinker, S. (2016). The Blank Slate (2002/2016). New York, NY: Viking
    • Roads, C. (2004) Microsound. MIT Press
    • Sacks, O. (2007) Musicophilia. Knopf
    • Storey, J. (2018) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction, Routledge.
    • Willingham, D. (2009). Why Don't Students Like School? Jossey-Bass, San-Fransisco

  Course subject to validation – modules to be updated in due course.

  Methods of Learning

  We aim to make learning an engaging and enjoyable experience from our extensive online resources, active blended learning, and face to face teaching. Teaching and learning occur through a variety of methods, with studio practical workshops, learning how to use new software in our Mac suites, seminars, masterclasses and lectures. We pride ourselves on knowing how the human mind works, and how to best foster learning, and we believe that education is a technology that tries to make up for what the human mind is innately bad at. All modules have two hours of contact time per week, but sometimes sessions can be longer or shortened depending on the activity e.g. all afternoon practical masterclasses.

  All of the module tutors use our virtual learning environment (NILE) to provide additional resources to facilitate your independent learning. These include screen capture tutorials, and access to audio and software.

  Assessments

  Assessment methods include writing specific reports, blogs, articles, screen capture video blogs, giving presentations, engaging in debates, and taking a couple of time constrained assessments and exams.

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  • Two Mac Suites: running Logic Pro X, Ableton 10, Native Instruments Komplete 12, Pro Tools SoundToys bundle, Arturia V studio, Universal Audio Ultimate, Spitfire Audio Hybrid, Steven Slate Drums
  • Two recording studios: running Pro Tools and Audient 8024 mixing console, Neve 1073LB preamps, SSL VHD preamps, Apollo 8P, Apollo Satellite Octo, Rupert Neve Designs 5043
  • Microphones: U87 condensors, AKG414s, Telefunken FET M60s, AKG 451s, Radial DI boxes, Radial SGI and re-amp boxes, and a full range of other industry mics.
  • Hardware synthesisers: Arturia DrumBrute, Novation Circuits, Roland TB303, Behringer Deepmind 12, Roland Juno DS, Novation Bass Stations, Ableton controllers – Launchkey 49s, Launcontrol XLs, Launchpad Mark 1 and Mark 2
  • Three fully kitted rehearsal rooms.
  • Live performance hardware: Vox amps, Marshall MG 4×12 amps, Orange Crush Pro amps, Peavey Amps, Ampeg PF500 Bass amplifiers, Yamaha Stage Custom kits, Gretsch Drum Kit, Studio AAX, full PA, three rehearsal rooms.
  • Two grand pianos: Beckstein Boudoir Grand, Steinway Studio B, two Yamaha upright pianos.
• Further Studies
  • Research

    We are committed to delivering outstanding research that makes a difference to society. Our Research Institutes and Centres work closely with external partner organisations, locally, nationally and internationally. We produce internationally renowned and relevant research and disseminate knowledge on an international scale.

    Visit our Research Hub page for more information.

    
  • Opportunities for growth

    Opportunities Available

    We are committed to supporting and encouraging business growth and we are involved in a variety of initiatives which seek to benefit the wider community as well as students and staff of the University.

    Discover what businesses we work with and what opportunities may be available to you on our Business and Enterprise pages.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  Course subject to validation – for September 2021 start.

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,450 per 20 credit module
  Foundation: £6,750 as part of a four year programme (subsequent years will be charged at standard BA rate)

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Additional Costs

  • 1TB portable hard drive (approximately £50)
  • A good pair of closed back headphones (approximately £60-100)
    core texts for first year modules:Bennett et al. The Popular Music Studies Reader – £28.99
  • John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture:  An Introduction – £27.99
  • Consumables for individual instruments (jack leads, capos, plectrums, drum skins, drum sticks, reeds, strings etc.)
  • USB Flash drives (data sticks) for submitting coursework (£10-20 for two)
  • £50 towards travel costs across three years

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,400 per 20 credit module
  Foundation: £6,600 as part of a four year programme (subsequent years will be charged at standard BA rate)

  Course subject to validation – for September 2021 start.

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,900
  International Foundation Fee: £12,900

  For information on the scholarships available to you as an international student, please see our International scholarships page.

  Additional Costs

  • 1TB portable hard drive (approximately £50)
  • A good pair of closed back headphones (approximately £60-100)
  • Core texts for first year modules:Bennett et al. The Popular Music Studies Reader – £28.99
  • John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture:  An Introduction – £27.99
  • Consumables for individual instruments (jack leads, capos, plectrums, drum skins, drum sticks, reeds, strings etc.)
  • USB Flash drives (data sticks) for submitting coursework (£10-20 for two)
  • £50 towards travel costs across three years

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,500
  International Foundation Fee: £9,800

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  Sir Thomas White Scholarship

  The Sir Thomas White scholarship will support and acknowledge an academically gifted student, with the proviso that the selection panel is confident that there is…

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

  Wilson Endowment Scholarship

  The Wilson Endowment Scholarship provides a £1,500 scholarship to undergraduate students from the Northamptonshire area. The endowed scholarship was donated in memory of Mr Lynn Wilson,…

• Foundation

  Course information

  The Foundation Study Framework offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements for Popular Music we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year Popular Music programme which includes a Foundation Study Framework Year. The Foundation Study Framework will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

  Course Structure

  In your first year of study on the four year Popular Music you will study three 40 credit modules that form the Foundation Study Framework. These are:

  Investigations into your subject 1 – Academic & Investigation skills.

  Introduces the concept of research and provides the tools of how to do it, with short assessment tasks involving identifying resources and describing how they would be used.

  Investigations into your Subject 2 – Employability and Professional Context.

  Provides a framework and opportunity to start relating research to own practice and employability – making connections.

  Investigations into your Subject 3: Changemaking, Introduction to Social Innovation.

  Focuses specifically on the generation and development of ideas around our social development aspirations.

  Upon successful completion of these modules, you will progress to Stage two Popular Music.

  Typical timetabled week of study

  Foundation Study Framework teaching will be a combination of lectures, seminars and/or workshop based sessions. Each module involves a teaching contact time of 12 hours per week and you are also expected to engage in approximately 12 hours of independent study, to support your learning experience.

  Foundation study will help you to build a solid understanding of the study skills and general theoretical and practical aspects that will underpin Popular Music. Throughout all stages of your programme you will also be supported by a Personal Academic Tutor, to guide you through the learning experience and help you make informed study choices.

  Foundation study will enable you to acquire the necessary study skills to succeed in higher education, as well as developing your understanding of key subject concepts delivered through taught sessions, tutorials and online support.

  Visit our Foundation Framework page to learn more.

  Read more

*Course data provided by Unistats