Course details may be subject to change.
Take the first step to being centre stage with our music industry skills course.
Explore the core elements of being a musician or vocalist, such as different genres of music, performance skills and self-promotion in the music industry.
Entry Criteria
4 GCSEs at grade 3 - this will include English and maths at a minimum of Level 4 or Functional Skills at Level 2.
Additional Costs
You will be required to provide your own microphones, cables, drumsticks, plectrums, spare strings etc.
What are the next steps?
You will meet with a course tutor in our Music Department which is on the first floor of the Music & Sport building.
Please come prepared with a short piece of music demonstrating your technical ability.
This will be followed by an informal discussion regarding scales and rudiments as they pertain to your instrument or voice.
Study Aims
Our music industry skills course is designed to prepare you for progression in the music industry by providing you with the core element of being a musician or vocalist.
Modules Studied
Mandatory units:
- Exploring Music
- Skills Development for Performing Arts
- Self-promotion in the Music Industry
- Music Project (Synoptic Assessment).
Elective units
- Music Performance
- Music Production.
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching will include a combination of:
- Practical workshops (band rehearsals)
- Assessed live music performances
- Lectures
- Seminar-style surgeries
- Portfolios of projects using MIDI workstations
- Essays
- Logbooks
- Videoed rehearsals
- Presentations.
Industry Links
We have strong links with a range of local businesses within the music industry. Previous students have benefitted from our strong links and have secured part-time and full-time jobs.
Partnerships include:
- Beamish Museum
- Bishop FM
- Pathways Durham
- Durham Music Service.
Placement
You will be encouraged to gain work placement in a music-related role, such as:
- Music venue
- Music retail
- Radio station
- Rehearsal/ recording studio
- Drama/theatre group or stage school (as musical director or musician for hire)
- Performing music for the community e.g. care homes, primary school workshops etc.
You could progress to a Level 3 course at New College Durham.
