Music Production FdA
- Level(s) of Study: Foundation degree / Undergraduate
- Typical Offer: 64 UCAS tariff points
- UCAS Code(s): W377
- Start Date(s): September
- Duration: Two years, full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: Confetti Nottingham
Introduction:
Learning in world-class studios, packed full of industry-standard kit, you'll explore music creation from a technical and creative standpoint and discover and nurture your own creative path. You’ll learn practical music theory and apply to your own compositions, whether that’s individually or collaboratively in your work in employable fields such as media composition or songwriting.
You'll understand and work within commercial parameters to ensure you graduate with the best chance of working within music, but you'll be encouraged to explore the more experimental ends of recording, production and composition to truly find your own identity.
You'll have plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice, through live projects, masterclasses and guest lectures. You’ll also benefit from being assigned an industry mentor in your final year.
This course is taught at Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in Nottingham.
What you’ll study
The course curriculum balances theoretical study alongside practical application. Throughout the course you’ll be challenged to develop your decision-making in new, and at times, complex and unpredictable contexts. The content of the course also closely reflects current working practices in industry, and aims to prepare you for work in a highly competitive workplace. Students in audio and music technology will increasingly be faced with freelance and self-employed models of work upon graduation.
Introduction to the Studio (20 Credit Points)
You will begin your journey into the studio environment by developing your understanding of the fundamentals of recording. You will learn about large format consoles, signal flow, connections, microphone types, and DAWs to record audio.
You’ll be able to apply these skills whether you’re in a traditional studio or have a small home set up: get this right now, and it will set you up for all of your future studio work.
Studio Practice (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you’ll discover the magic of recording various artists using different styles of recording such as multitracking and overdubbing, in session and in your own time, to form a portfolio of studio work.
Pro Tools Techniques (20 Credit Points)
In the professional audio world Pro Tools is the DAW of choice. In this module, you’ll learn how to use this powerful application by covering Pro Tools navigation and operation, setting you up for the rest of your course and career in audio, and paves the way for Pro Tools accreditation.
Creative Music Technology (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you will explore the creative potential of various music technologies. You will exercise your creativity through music production, and learn a variety of techniques and technologies, such as sampling, synthesis, improvisation and composition in the DAW, hardware controllers, sound design, and remixing.
You will also gain a deeper contextual understanding of electronic music, through a global and ethical lens.
Music Composition and Theory (20 Credit Points)
Composing music is like painting on a blank canvas, and depending on the genre there are certain rules to be aware of. This module will provide you with the guidelines that will form the foundation for your music to be functional with these forms, as well as allowing you to build in your own creativity and originality.
This module will teach you the fundamentals of music theory such as harmony, melody, accompaniment and arranging, enabling you to communicate emotions and feelings through your compositions. You'll demonstrate your understanding though portfolio tasks and explore a genre of interest and compose a representative piece as well as research the genres context in a short negotiated practical research submission.
Your Industry (20 Credit Points)
You will explore contexts of working in the international world of sound and music and how you might establish a career by exploring the flow of money through the industry and relevant current and emerging trends. You'll assess your current skill set and discover what you need to do to improve your chances of success on your employable journey.
You'll choose work like briefs lasting at least 80 hours to enable you to experience working opportunities in a field of interest, then reflect on your learning to set you up for the rest of your course in an employable mind set. Your future starts now!
Studio Production (20 Credit Points)
You will explore digital, analogue, and hybrid studio technologies, developing recording and processing techniques to take on a variety of productions over the module: this could be using traditional studio environments (on-site or external) or your own DIY production set ups.
You will collaborate with performers, artists, and other students to work on a wide base of genres, selecting a range of your productions for a portfolio that should be approaching commercial standards.
Mixing (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you'll work to client supplied briefs as well as your own self sourced material, engaging in technical and creative post production and mixing processes to create a portfolio of work. You'll critically compare your mixes with industry outputs from around the world and learn approaches to help you meet commercial benchmarks.
You'll cover techniques with compression, effects and automation with additional production skills such as vocal editing and production, drum production and other genre specific approaches of additional production through a range of projects.
Contextual Studies in Music Production (20 Credit Points)
The history of music technology has informed where we are and where we might go next. In this module, you will be exposed to decades of key recordings, technologies, events, artists and the movers and shakers involved in shaping modern popular music as we know it.
You will choose your own specific area of interest in music technology and production and explore how it's impacted creativity and the development of the wider world of music within an essay, accompanied by practical assets to illustrate your understanding.
Music Composition Portfolio (20 Credit Points)
In this module, you will learn how to compose music for a wide range of purposes, including songwriting and music for media with both solo and collaborative approaches.
You will develop an understanding of the wider global, historical and ethical contexts whilst building on your existing technical and artistic skills . You will continue to develop your ability to express yourself artistically, while also understanding the needs of a demanding and ever-changing industry.
By the end of the module you will have deployed your artistic, technical and commercial skills in the creation of a range of finished pieces to form a varied portfolio.
Creative Music Technologies 2 (20 Credit Points)
This module focusses on the creative use of music technology hardware, in the production of original work and recreation of key historical techniques. You will learn the particulars of hardware production techniques, investigating modular, patchable instruments, hardware sequencing and sampling devices, and drum machines.
We take a creative, experimental approach to creating and manipulating sounds, using a range of vintage, vintage-inspired, and cutting edge contemporary technology. The module also builds on the contextual research undertaken in year 1, as we pick apart in detail and recreate a piece of musical history, researching as we do so the people and techniques concerned.
Industry Practice (20 Credit Points)
During this module you will source and execute appropriate self-directed projects, working individually and collaboratively on creative work, allowing you to directly apply the research, knowledge and skills learnt throughout the programme in the context of the workplace. This module aims to develop your overall professionalism and provide you with the knowledge and resources to begin a career in the creative industries. The nature of creative industries is increasingly defined by freelance and self-employed models of work.
Consequently, individuals seeking work in industry need to appreciate the pressures of working on multiple projects to strict deadlines and the subsequent demands this place on time and resources. Similarly, an understanding of professional practice and the legal and economic imperatives in industry is important, as is effective communication, self-efficacy and autonomy.
This module aims to develop these skills and knowledge by challenging you to develop a range of self-directed projects along with analysis of the processes involved along the way.
Do It For Real at Splendour
How you’re taught
Teaching and learning will take place in a range of bespoke studios, IT suites and classrooms. You’ll develop your practical, technical and critical thinking skills through a mixture of lectures, workshops, seminars, academic tutorials and guest lectures. In these classes you’ll explore the core aspects of the module subject areas whilst also reporting back on your individual progress and research findings.
The audio and music industry is embedded in the course, with industry and work-related opportunities including live client briefs, Confetti’s Industry Week, guest lectures and short work placements. These will be offered in addition to your studies. By the end of your studies, you’ll have developed the skills to independently gain industry experiences.
Industry Week
As a Music Technology student, you'll take part in Industry Week where you’ll meet a range of professionals within your field of interest, as well as other areas of the creative industries.
Previous guests include:
- Michael Eavis
- Professor Green
- DJ Yoda
- Mandy Parnell (Bjork, Aphex Twin, The White Stripes)
- Jon Kelly (Paul McCartney, Kate Bush)
- Goetz Botzenhardt (Bjork, Sugarbabes, Faithless, Dido, Pet Shop Boys)
- George Shilling (Oasis, Primal Scream, James Brown)
Check out our talks OnDemand here.
Degree Show
In your final year you will exhibit your work as part of Confetti's Degree Show. This event includes all final year students across Confetti's courses and is a great platform for you to showcase your work to key influencers across the creative industries.
Careers and employability
Graduates will be ready to enter the music industry in roles such as music producer, sound engineer, podcast producer, composer for media, sound designer, library composer, commercial songwriter, studio owner, musical director, performer, or music entrepreneur.
The great thing about studying at Confetti is that you'll have the option to top-up on the final year of our BA (Hons) Music Production in either Nottingham or London.
Campus and facilities
Study Music Production at Confetti and you'll learn in our very own live music and events venue, Metronome.
With its unrivalled reputation for the quality of its sound and visuals, Metronome hosts a successful commercial programme of live events throughout the year – and it’s here where you’ll learn from the best and gain real work experience.
This world-class venue is home to some amazing facilities, jampacked with recording studios, rehearsal rooms, performances spaces, and a 400-capacity venue.
Industry kit and facilities
- Exigy and MPC ATC monitors
- Specialist IT and production suites with software such as Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton
- Industry-standard recording, mixing and mastering studios including SSL Duality, Neumann and Schoeps Studer equipment
- Specialist IT Suites with Logic, Pro Tools, N.I Komplete M4L and Ableton software
- Performance rehearsal rooms
- 400 capacity live events venue
- Post-production suites including Soundfield, 5.1, Foley Room, Binaural and VR technology
- Synth Lab: a shrine to the synthesiser
Entry requirements
- 64 UCAS Tariff points; and
- GCSE - English and Maths Grade C / 4
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
You will also have at least one of the following music qualifications:
- A level or other level 3 qualification in a related subject such as BTEC Extended Diploma in Music Technology or Production (or similar, e.g. RSL Awards)
We welcome suitable applicants without standard entry requirements. Once we receive your UCAS application we may be in touch to request you evidence your relevant experience and interest in using Music Technology in this straight forward way:
- A short 2 – 3 minute video where you talk through a production you have been involved in on a DAW or where you have recorded live instrumentation
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
This course is not suitable for International applicants.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
This course is not suitable for International applicants.
How to apply
Application for this course is through the UCAS application form.
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Selection for this course takes place through UCAS application form.
Application deadline
This course starts in September and applications should be submitted by the UCAS deadline.
Applications received after this date will only be considered if places are still available, after all applications received by the deadline have been assessed.
Mature students
We welcome applications from mature students (over the age of 21) for this course. We will assess applicants of this nature on an individual basis.
If you are a mature student, you will still need to apply to us by UCAS form, but you don't necessarily need to meet our minimum entry requirements.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades,
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It's your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You've got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you're applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
This course is not suitable for International applicants.