Got a passion for the latest music technology? Hoping to pursue a career as a live or studio sound technician? This intensive popular music production programme will allow you to top-up your existing music production qualifications into a full honours degree in just one year. Students spend the year working on both studio recording and live sound production techniques while undertaking intensive academic study of music history, popular culture and industry best practises.
Students will learn technical production skills by working alongside our experienced course team on a range of different equipment. Available facilities include:
- five recording studios and four mix workstations, all equipped with Pro|Tools HD and NI Komplete,
- three ICON DCommand worksurfaces,
- an analogue studio with Audient ASP8024,
- outboards by Neve, Lexicon and Universal Audio,
- microphones by Neumann, AKG, Coles, Rode,
- plug-ins by Waves, McDSP, Sonnox,
- Yamaha M7 and LS9 digital live mixers,
- and a Music Technology Lab with 25 Apple Macs, Pro Tools, Logic and Sibelius.
At the heart of Solent University’s popular music production top-up programme is the ability to customise the curriculum. Students are encouraged to develop specialisms related to their future career paths by taking part in practical projects and choosing from a range of optional units. These optional units cover topics including freelance practice, popular music history, songwriting, and advanced live music production. Optional units focus on helping students to underpin their technical skills with a firm grasp of wider industry contexts.
Each section of the curriculum is delivered by our experienced course team, many of whom are active industry experts with a wide range of on-the-job experience. Staff also regularly engage with on-going research in music composition, performance and production, putting them in an ideal position to aid students who are looking for work experience opportunities throughout the course.
Students may also have the chance to collaborate with creative students from other disciplines, creating music and sounds for a range of media projects.
What does this course lead to?
Previous graduates have gone on to roles including assistant artist manager, audio engineer, marketing and promotion executive and record production assistant at organisations including Bang Post-Production, Sony Music, Columbia Records, Metropolis Studios, EMI Music Licensing and Stage Miracles.
Who is this course for?
This top-up course is the ideal way for students with a relevant qualification at HND level (or equivalent) to upgrade their qualification and earn a full honours degree in one year.
Applicants should aspire to careers in live and outdoor sound production, studio engineering, music publishing, label administration or other related roles.
